Is there any justification in a church or religion that requires you to do something to be saved?
No. Scripture declares that by the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified. If any church or religion requires you to do something to be saved, the Bible says there is no justification in that, but only condemnation. Such a system cannot provide salvation; it only pronounces guilt.
Les explains that the Law was given to those under it—Jews, Israel—but its ramifications did not stop at Israel’s borders; they reached the whole human race. The Law’s purpose was not to justify anyone but to stop every mouth and declare all the world guilty. It could only pronounce guilt, never provide justification. Therefore, when people trust in works religion and say, “My church, my religion will do it,” the Bible says it will not. If a church or religion holds a person to something they must do to be saved, there is no justification in that requirement—only condemnation. The Law cannot save; it can only reveal guilt.
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.