Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
There are no good works that can make us right before God. Keeping of laws never justifies. We are made right before God instead, by Christ.
He took the punishment for our sin upon himself. He died, was buried, and rose again the third day to provide the free gift of salvation. We accept this gift by faith.
Still, we are confronted with the false doctrine of works-based salvation in religious cultures all around us. They insist we “do” to be accepted, though Christ has already “done” and made us accepted. Thankfully, the truth is clear in this passage and many others: we are not justified by works.
Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”