• The law declares righteous standards that reflect the holy character of God. Moses said, “What great nation is there that has God so near to it…[and] has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law?” (Deuteronomy 4:7–8). Paul called the law “holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12). Performing religious works does not provide a ticket to heaven. Paul corrects this error three times in a single verse: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus