Can anyone be justified before God by keeping the law?
No. Scripture declares that by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight. The law is good and perfect, yet it works death and conviction in the sinner, bringing the knowledge of sin. It cannot justify anyone before God; it only exposes sin.
Les explains that Romans 3:20 settles the matter: "by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight." The law itself is good and perfect, but it was not given to justify sinners. Instead, it works death in the old Adam, convicting him and making sin exceedingly sinful. Its purpose is to give the knowledge of sin, not to provide justification. Therefore, no one can be justified before God by keeping the law; the law only exposes sin and cannot justify.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
More Questions
Why can't a person be justified by keeping the law?
By the deeds of the law no flesh is justified before God; the law only gives the knowledge of sin and shows that man falls short of the righteousness God demands.
Can anyone be saved or justified by doing the works of the Law?
Because all the world has become guilty by the giving of the Law, no flesh—not one human being—can be saved or justified by the deeds of the Law.