Could a person be righteous enough for heaven by keeping the whole law?
No. The law itself promised that if a person kept it in its entirety, they would be righteous enough for God's heaven, but no man can do it. Scripture concludes the whole human race, Jew and Gentile, under sin, and the promise is by faith of Jesus Christ to them that believe.
Les explains that if a person could keep the law in its entirety, they would be righteous enough to be in God's heaven, but no man can do it. Consequently, the whole human race is under the condemnation that all are sinners. Scripture concludes all, Jew and Gentile, under sin, so the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Believing is faith; faith is believing, making the two words synonymous. Before faith came, we were kept under the law, and all the way back to Adam the one criterion for salvation was faith.