The fact that we must try harder after we’ve failed the first time demonstrates how desperately we need salvation. If we could save ourselves, we wouldn’t need to do something a second time.
We must understand salvation only happens by grace, not by works of the law:
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law (our doing and trying harder), although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to itā the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation (appeasing and satisfying God’s wrath on our behalf) by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. ~Romans 3:20-26
“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9:22
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4
“For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” Romans 2:13
“For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.” Romans 2:14-15
“Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Romans 3:27-28
“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” Romans 3:31
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.” Romans 4:13-14
“That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspringānot only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,” Romans 4:16
“āDo not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” “and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.ā And they were greatly distressed.” “and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” “And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” ” the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,” Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:21; Matthew 20:19; Luke 9:22; Luke 18:33; Luke 24:7; Luke 24:46
“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,” Romans 5:20
And this is what makes Christianity unique and True: Jesus came to save all those who believe in Him by fulfilling the law for us and in our place. And it is by grace we are saved through faith in Jesus. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~Ephesians 2:8-10
What other religion can offer you salvation that does not require you to do anything but believe in Jesus?