³⁹ and ^(A)by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

²⁰ Therefore ^(A)by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Sin’s Advantage in the Law

⁷ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, ^(A)I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ^(B)“You shall not covet.”

^16 (A)knowing that a man is not ^[a]justified by the works of the law but ^(B)by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not ^(C)by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

⁹ It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(A)which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—

Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a ^(A)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, ^(B)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.