"But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."

The promise is given to those who believe, not those who keep the law. The law is ANYTHING WE DO to make ourselves righteous. When God says love God and love your neighbor, He's giving a law that we cannot keep for righteousness.

First, no one is accepted by what we do. Not before God. We can impress people, but His standard is perfection. One sin in thought, word, or deed disqualifies us forever. Therefore, our sinful works cannot make us righteous anymore than a murderer can be aquited for raping the corpse. Our self righteousness, before or after we've trusted Christ is unacceptable.

We have to stand before God in Christ entirely, or we're on our own, and Christ will not help us. Galatians 5:4, "You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace." He will not be a partial Savior.

Secondly, righteousness is by faith. The person who believes is as righteous as the once virgin Mary and the Apostle Paul. It's the righteousness of faith [Phil 3:9]. God is righteous to declare us righteous because His Son has paid for sin [Rom 3:25-26]. Therefore, He can accept us by faith, even as the lambs were accepted to make atonement for the people [Leviticus 1:4]. There's nothing left to punish. Sins have been paid in full.

It's contrary to our thinking, but it's grace. Christ wants to help the sinner, not condemn him. He desires to heal our broken hearts freely, not to make us pay for it. God wants us to glorify His grace and be astonished in His love [Jeremiah 9:24]. He wants us running home from the temple forgiven, not hard, cold, and self-righteous. He wants us dealing with people from grace and marveling in God.

Thirdly, the gospel is for sinners right now. Faith needs no preparatory work, other than to know your need of Christ. The Law's purpose is to say, "There's no salvation here. Do not look to me or to your merit. Look to nothing that you've done." Galatians 3:24, "The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith." Christ says contrarily, Isaiah 45:22, "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the Earth. For I am God, and there is no other."

Salvation, in all its COMPLETENESS will be given to you by the Son, if you only trust Him for it. According to your faith, it will be unto you. He'll give you the full thing, if you only believe, including justification, sanctification, and glorification. He'll give you the Holy Spirit, not because you've earned it, but He's gracious [John 16:7]. He'll grant us the joy and peace of believing. As we obey, He'll reward our obedience that He gave us! Oh, the wonders of the gospel and the greatness of grace. He died, so He can give us grace to honor Him.

These good things, including salvation from hell, are God's good gifts to every believer. Galatians 3:26, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."