Why is believing in Christ's righteousness essential for salvation?

The righteousness of Christ is central to the gospel and essential for salvation because it is through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death that sinners are justified before God. As stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21, 'For he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' This means that only through faith in Christ's righteousness can we stand acceptable before a holy God. Our own works or righteousness are inadequate, as Romans 3:10 reminds us that 'there is none righteous, no, not one.' Thus, faith in Christ alone secures our standing before God and our hope for eternal life.