About 2,000 years ago, Peter put it in a nutshell with regard to Jews who wanted to gain reconciliation with God through observance of the commandments in the Old Covenant. He told them that they wanted to give people salvation through the Old Covenant:
“Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Acts 15:10-11; NIV)
At that time, no person could keep all the commandments. And today no person can keep all the commandments. Therefore, Peter said that “neither we nor our ancestors” could obey the law / commandments. Anyone who wants to go to heaven by complying with the commandments is fooling himself. Because he will not make it to heaven that way.
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28; KJV)
