Keeping the Law CANNOT Save! - Romans 3-4

 Romans 3:19-20 (ESV)

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Keeping the Law CANNOT Save!

Chapters three and four of Romans are written by Paul to begin his argument that justification (being justified, declared righteous by God) is a matter of faith in Christ ALONE.  He is writing to tell us that man CANNOT be justified by keeping the law.   His argument is that:

1. God is holy. 

2. God’s law(s) is holy.

3. Man is a sinner. 

4. The best God’s law(s) can do is show man he is a sinner. 

5. Man needs Christ to intervene for him. 

6. Man benefits from Christ’s intervention only by faith in Christ’s work (Christ kept the law and that qualifies Him to represent us). 

That is the essence of Paul’s argument throughout Romans. In the above verse we read a very clear statement: 

“... by the works of the law no man is justified in God’s sight ...”.   It cannot be stated more concise or clear.  Yet, mankind still thinks they can keep the law (be good) and that will merit him favor with God.   That thought pattern is completely contrary to what God is telling us in the book of Romans.   Paul goes on to prove his point in chapter four by demonstrating that Abraham was justified by God THROUGH FAITH and Abraham was BEFORE the Law was even given to Moses.   The Law serves as the teacher ... it teaches us God’s holiness and introduces to us that we are sinners.   Man is only justified by faith in Christ.  Only!!