Man can NEVER emulate God. That is the flesh talking.
When you are confronted with the true holiness of God you know you can never even come close to HIS holiness . Remember the lie of Eden ?
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
OUR righteousness is as filthy rags. The thought that a man by law keeping can purify himself or make him self holy is just like the lie of Satan .
Our call to holiness originates in the saved heart and is fully dependent on Him.
Your statement would be true if you added "alone" to the end of it. The teachings of the Scripture are clear that men CAN be righteous and follow Christ's walk IF the Spirit of Love comes to us and we cooperate with His graces to the degree we are capable of.
When you are confronted with the true holiness of God you know you can never even come close to HIS holiness .
Only someone working for salvation is required to be perfect. Those who are children of God are not held up to a perfect standard, just like we don't hold our own children up to such a standard.
Our call to holiness originates in the saved heart and is fully dependent on Him.
I am not aware of anyone here making the claim that Pelagius made - that we can come to God and be holy without graces.
Regards
No one denied that man cannot come close to God's holiness. However, does that mean that you should not try to be good? Does that mean that since you cannot come close to God's holiness, you should head off in the opposite direction -- to sin? Is that what you mean?