The most common way to gain God's approval around the world is to be good or to do good. But the inability of man to keep God's law and "be good" proves man isn't capable of meeting God's standard of righteousness -- only Christ can do that. He fulfills the law making it possible for all of mankind to have a relationship with God and gain his favor without ever doing a good deed -- "for it is by grace that you are saved, not by works so that no man can boast." Ephesians 4:6