So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
— Romans 10:17 (KJV)
Does our birth, background, qualification, or morality make us worthy of righteousness? That is what many people think and why they do not see their need for forgiveness. The Apostle Paul was like that too until he realized that these were hindrances to true righteousness. Thus, he counted them as loss and pursued after Christ as the only Way, for God’s standard of righteousness can only be fulfilled by Christ. Do you think you can be righteous and have no need for forgiveness outside of Christ?