Every pious Jew tried to be 'in the right' with God by keeping the rules (as written in the first five books of the Old Testament).  But that was unsatisfactory for two reasons: firstly, they could never keep on doing everything right; and even when they did, the legacy of their sins weighed them down so that God still felt remote.  Yet God has implanted a deep desire into all human beings to find Him (Job 23:3).

Paul quoted Deuteronomy 30:11-14 to show his Jewish readers that the presence of God was not far away from those who trusted in His Law.  God spoke through His Word in the Old Testament, but now has spoken through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2).

There is nothing we can do to make Christ come down to us, because He has already done that without us even asking!  And there is nothing we can do to raise Him from the dead, because He is already risen! All we must do is believe in Him and trust Him for everything.  Legalistic religion urges people to do 'holy things' to get right with God.  But Jesus said that could not be the way.  When religious people asked Jesus, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." (John 6:28-29).

So, the primary 'work of righteousness' is simply to believe that Jesus is God's appointed Messiah and that His death was the punishment for our sins.  Let us not make it complicated for people to follow Jesus ... we simply need to tell them the Gospel and invite them to believe in Jesus (www.crosscheck.org.uk).  Do not shy away from telling people about Him because you are afraid you may not be able to answer all their questions.  Do not deprive them of the opportunity of knowing who Christ is and what He has done.  When their faith is ignited, they will trust in Him and be saved.