After realizing that both Jew and Gentile are under sin, as clearly taught in previous verses (as well as in Romans chapters 1&2), and that no one keeps or is even capable of keeping the law, we come to a conclusion:
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.
Let's look closely at this verse. The word "therefore" is a helping word to bring us to a conclusion. Paul says THEREFORE, by the deeds (works; trying to keep the law) of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. Paul is telling us that NO MAN IS CAPABLE OF KEEPING THE LAW (except for the Lord Jesus Christ). But why? Because the law is given to reveal to us our sin nature. He goes on to say, "FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN."
How many churches today actually understand this? 🤔 Not many! Most of Christendom has put people UNDER the law! Even if they do teach that we are saved by grace through faith alone, they will later on put you back under the works of the law and not teach believers how to walk in the Spirit. This happened to me as a little girl. I was given the gospel, I believed it and was saved! But, a short while later, I began to be taught that I needed to 1) do my best to "keep the 10 commandments" 2) beg God daily to forgive me of my sins 3)ask Jesus into my heart as I was later taught that just believing wasn't enough... I was NEVER taught anything from Paul's Epistles about justification, eternal security, my identity in Christ etc. Eventually, I would walk away from the faith for many years! When I did come back to the Bible, at first I was super legalistic! That is until I, thankfully, saw that Paul's Epistles taught grace and not legalism and I began to be established in sound grace doctrine. But there were MANY YEARS between the moment I was saved and the moment I began to be properly established in sound grace doctrine! That's awful! If we don't have sound grace doctrine in our inner man, we will think, act and behave just like the world!
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