The Word of God declares in Hebrews 11:6 that βwithout faith it is impossible to please Himβ.
There is nothing that will haunt a man like the fear that God may be displeased with him, nor any joy comparable to the assurance that He is pleased. It is foolish, however, to suppose that we can please God with the things we think He desires. We must give Him what He says He desires. Thank God, it is not difficult to determine this, for He tells us again and again in His Word that it is faith He desires most of all. He wants us to trust Him, to take Him at His Word.
The Bible tells us at length how God loved us in spite of our sin and gave His blessed Son to die on Calvaryβs tree to clear our title to heaven, but alas, instead of taking Him at His Word, thousands turn away from His gracious offer, βgoing about to establish their own righteousnessβ (Rom.10:3).
They do βgood worksβ and make great sacrifices, thinking that a God of love will surely accept their efforts and overlook their sins. But this is presumption, not faith. How can a just God overlook sin? We should thank Him that in His matchless love He himself paid for our sins so that we might be free, and that salvation is βthe gift of Godβ, obtained by faith alone. source
