Why can't a sinner establish righteousness through their own deeds?
Answered in 1 source
A sinner cannot establish righteousness through their deeds because all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, making perfect obedience impossible.
Romans 3:20 states, 'by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight,' which underscores the futility of attempting to achieve righteousness through personal effort. The law only reveals sin and our inability to meet its demands. Every person's sinful nature prevents them from rendering the perfect obedience that God requires. This understanding drives home the necessity of looking to Christ for righteousness rather than relying on oneself, reaffirming the biblical truth that only through faith in Jesus can one attain the justification needed to stand before a holy God.
Commentary