Romans 5:1-2 KJVI think realizing our shortcomings is like an unfolding revelation and doesn't seem to begin to happen until we start to grow - the bible says blessed are you who mourn now for you will be comforted. It's a necessary part of maturing. We don't begin to seek what we don't realize we need until we start to realize it. Brother, I believe we are covered by grace like children who are provided for and protected and not expected to perform at an adult level by their parents while they are still children. But there comes a time when we each need to be doing better than we were as children in the faith....growing up and bringing fruit to perfection. But see if what I said about being tutored by the word/law makes sense.
1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The same faith we are saved with is the same faith that brings us into God's grace by which we stand, gloriously rejoicing.
But if we are lacking in faith, God has His ways.
1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
"a way of escape" that is pertinent to that temptation, "a way of escape", that is, "a save haven from the storm". A particular one. Each temptation/testing we face there is a particular desired result. Hebrews 12 speaks of that also of course, God does a particular work to give a particular result of the fruits of righteousness in us.
Matthew 6:13 KJV
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Jesus taught to pray that God would not lead us into peirasmos temptation/testing, but that He would deliver us from evil.
I don't see us being "covered by grace", to me that thinking only really relates to the OT sacrifices that "covered" sin, but did not remove sin. In Christ our sin is removed.
Law provokes flesh towards sin. I believe that's true whether the Mosaic Law, or a compilation of NT "Law". And if in fact our acceptibilty to God is determined by our obeying all the NT imperatives, I'll stick to just one, and ask who has attained that?
Be ye holy, as He is holy.
The only way a man can attain to the holiness of God is to obtain the holiness of God, and I don't see that happening by my getting better and better behaved, I only see that in walking in Christ's Spirit. I don't see that I walk in His Spirit by trying hard enough, I only find it in trusting in my reconciliation through His death.
Much love!