Romans 3:20
“Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”
What does Romans 3:20 mean?
No amount of trying to follow rules and laws can make us right with God, no matter how hard we work at it. The real purpose of God's law isn't to save us but to show us where we've missed the mark, to make us aware of sin in our own hearts and lives. Paul is telling us that rules expose our need for grace rather than providing a way to earn acceptance. This is actually good news, because once we stop exhausting ourselves trying to be "good enough," we're freed to receive what God offers freely.