Under the Curse of the Law.

     For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
                               Galatians 3:10 KJV

     There are great numbers of people who are trying to become "good" people by reforming their lives. They may sincerely believe that they are trying as hard as they can to follow God's laws, and that this will be enough to gain entrance into heaven someday. Sadly, they are laboring under a grave deception.
     The above verse tells us that those who are trying to become righteous through obedience to the law are under the curse. The reason being is that God requires perfection. If we manage to keep the whole law, and yet slip at one point, we are guilty of all of it (James 2:10). James uses the example of one who does not commit adultery, but commits murder, is still a lawbreaker in God's eyes. Likewise, we could say that one who has never stolen might have coveted things in his heart; someone who has never committed adultery physically, may have done so in his heart as well (Matt 5:28). One may keep the commandment prohibiting theft, but be guilty of lying. He may not be a thief, but a liar is still a lawbreaker in God's eyes, and God requires perfect obedience continually, to the entire law. 
     This verse tells us that one must continue in the perfect keeping of the law if we would be righteous. Not only would we have to keep the law externally, but our inward motivations would need to be right as well, as the law is summed up in loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as our self (Matt 22:37-40). Any obedience to the law done in a spirit of self preservation rather than done out of love for God and our fellow man, is selfish, and cannot be pleasing to God.
     If we would be honest with ourselves, we would see that by the time we decide to be obedient to the law, we have already broken it; we are already guilty of it; we are already under the curse of the law, guilty, and condemned under its just sentence.
     This passage in Galatians also tells us that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. He became cursed for us, so that we could be released from the curse. In other words, when He died upon the cross, He took our sin, our guilt, upon Himself, thus making it possible for God to forgive those who turn to Jesus in repentance and faith (Galatians 3:13).