QUOTE : Jesus and Paul contended with Jews who taught that salvation was earned by obeying the law. That error lives on today in the minds of many Christians. Paul reveals the illogic of this position: If law is the standard, then obedience to law must be perfect in order to attain salvation. And perfect obedience is impossible for fallen humans. “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:20, 23). The only path to salvation, Paul asserts, is to claim the grace of Christ by submission to Him, for there is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1). Those who claim justification by law sign their own death warrant, for the law itself will condemn those who fail to obey it perfectly.