Salvation by merit or perfection is impossible. The great people in the Bible who are our examples of winning the race (see Hebrews 11-12:1) are people who were imperfect yet they won the prize by faith in Christ. God rewards faith. God is very pleased when a man puts his faith in Christ. When we put faith in God, then salvation becomes quite doable, not hard or impossible; salvation is very attainable, because the merit secured by the perfect Christ Jesus.