In Leviticus 11:44 (KJV), God commands,
Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.
But then Job complains about everyone's lack of holiness (Job 15:15-16, KJV),
The heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
Yikes! We're supposed to be holy, but we're so far removed from that standard that it might seem hopeless. Paul laments this situation (Romans 7:24, KJV)...
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
... and then answers the question for the reader (Romans 8:1, KJV)...
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
And that, itself, is the message of the gospel! It is impossible for us, through our actions, to achieve the level of holiness that God demands. Even the very best people are "abominable and filthy." How then do we achieve the impossible? Though faith in Jesus. As Jesus himself said (Matthew 19:26, KJV),
With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
