What do millions of people today do instead of accepting grace?
Millions of people today turn their backs on grace and choose self-effort instead. They say they will do the best they can and keep the commandments, relying on legalism rather than accepting grace. The context contrasts this with grace, showing such law-based efforts cannot replace the ministration of righteousness.
Les explains that people by the millions turn their back on grace and instead say, "Well I'll do the best I can, and I'll keep the commandments." He calls this a sad commentary. The passage contrasts the law's ministration of condemnation and death with grace, which has taken its place, and says the ministration of righteousness exceeds in glory. Legalism was the way God mandated to Israel, but compared with grace it is nothing.