No — by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in God's sight.
Scripture and Les Feldick both show that the law's only role is to condemn and expose sin. Keeping the commandments, doing good, or trying to obey cannot save, justify, or make anyone fit for heaven. The law gives the knowledge of sin, not the knowledge of salvation.
Romans 3:20 — This verse directly answers the question: by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified, and the law gives only the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:19 — The law stops every mouth and makes all the world guilty before God, showing that commandments cannot justify anyone.
In Romans 3:19, Paul writes that everything the law says, it says to those under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Then Romans 3:20 gives the direct answer: "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." The law does not produce justification. It exposes sin and leaves every person guilty before God. Romans 7:12 still affirms that the law is holy, just, and good, but that does not change its purpose. The commandment itself is not evil, yet it cannot make a sinner righteous.
Les Feldick teaches that the law, especially the Ten Commandments, was never given to save anyone. It had one purpose: to reveal man's sin and show that all the world is guilty. He points out that the law cannot help a person keep it and cannot stop anyone from stealing, committing adultery, or breaking it in other ways. All it can do is condemn — "Guilty, guilty, guilty." Les emphasizes that by the deeds of the law — meaning doing what the law commands — no flesh will be justified in God's sight. Instead, the law gives the knowledge of sin, not the knowledge of salvation. He also explains that even though the law was given through Israel, it convicts the Gentile just as thoroughly as the Jew, because everyone except Christ has already broken it. Many people in the Bible Belt still believe they can be accepted by doing their best or keeping the commandments. Les counters that the law only shows the old Adamic nature and leaves every person guilty before God.
According to Les, when God gave the Ten Commandments, they literally showed the old Adam how he really operates. The law showed that man is bent to take God's name in vain, to worship idols, to be envious, to steal, and to break all the other things the law prohibits. That is all the law was intended to do: to show man his sin. It was never intended to save or justify.
Scripture says that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. Les explains that while the law was given to Israel, it convicts the Gentile just as thoroughly as the Jew. Every human being who has ever lived, other than Christ Himself, has already broken the law, and so they are condemned. No one is excused just because they were not under the children of Israel.
Les defines "deeds of the law" as doing what the law commanded — refraining from stealing, committing adultery, and other forbidden things. Even doing that, he says, no flesh can be justified in God's sight. That is legalism. The law has nothing in it to save; its only result is the knowledge of sin.
No. Les points out that the law, the Ten Commandments, is holy, and the commandment is holy, just, and good. But even though the law is good, it does nothing but give us the knowledge of sin. The problem is not the law; the problem is that sinners cannot be justified by it.
All Are Under Old Adam
Les teaches that people avoid the light of the Gospel because it reveals their sinfulness; studying the Book shows we are fallen creatures, which explains why human effort cannot justify.
By Deeds of the Law No Flesh Justified
Les explains that the law cannot help anyone keep it and cannot stop sin; all it can do is condemn, and it convicts Gentiles as much as Jews. By the deeds of the law, no flesh is justified — the law gives knowledge of sin, not salvation.
No Justification in the Law
Les contrasts the old Judaic system with Paul's teaching: by the law there is no justification. The law has no power to save; it has no power to do anything but condemn.
The Law's One Purpose
Les says the Ten Commandments literally showed how the old Adam operates — bent to idolatry, thievery, envy, and taking God's name in vain. That was all the law was intended to do: show man his sin.
All the World Guilty
Les emphasizes that the law's only purpose was to condemn mankind and show that he is not fit for God's heaven. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, no flesh is justified; the law gives the knowledge of sin, not salvation.
The Knowledge of Sin
Les highlights that the law makes everyone guilty, and the keeping of the law cannot justify anyone. The law's closing statement is not salvation but the knowledge of sin.
The Law Condemns Every Human
Les teaches that every human being other than Christ has already broken the law, so the law condemns everyone — even those not under Israel. He also cautions that being a 'doer of the law' being justified is under the law, not the Christian position.
Old Adam Blinded by the Law's True Purpose
Les says old Adam had kept even Saul blind to the law's true purpose, which was to convict. The law is holy, just, and good, but it does nothing but give the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:19: Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Shows that the law stops every mouth and makes the whole world guilty before God — the necessary prelude to the question of justification.
Romans 3:20: 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.
Directly answers the question: by the deeds of the law no flesh is justified; the law only gives knowledge of sin.
Romans 7:12: Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Confirms the law is holy, just, and good even though it cannot justify anyone.
No. Les teaches that by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in God's sight. The law only gives the knowledge of sin; it has no power to save anyone.
God gave the law to show man his sin. The Ten Commandments reveal the old Adam's bent toward idolatry, thievery, envy, and taking God's name in vain. The law was intended to condemn, not to save.
Yes. Les explains that the law convicts the Gentile just as thoroughly as the Jew. Every human being other than Christ has already broken the law, so all the world is guilty before God.
Watch the Teaching: Justification by Faith: What Does It Really Mean?