The way of the law forever barred

As I have been listening to John Piper's expositional sermon series on Romans, I can't stop wondering about some things I've read and heard concerning lawkeeping as a means of salvation. Now I realize that Dr. Piper is not quite as Reformed as most would wish him to be concerning the law of God. Nevertheless, I don't think he is antinomian and I agree with 98% of his exposition. Not to mention I believe he is the most gifted preacher I've ever heard.

In his sermons on Romans 5-7, the summary statement, paraphrasing Piper, is that we have died to the law, (the law here viewed as the written moral code), as a means of justification and sanctification. Now, when I first heard that, my right eyebrow went up. And it's still up. I can't find enough good literature on the subject. I agree with John Piper that we fulfill the law as we are lead by the Spirit, but I disagree that to read the commandment and obey it is somehow thwarting sanctification. I don't believe we just "let go and let God"; the Christian should delight in the law of God and submit to it, because Romans 8:7 tells us that the non-Christian cannot.

But that's not what this post is about.

My concern here is the idea that if, theoretically speaking, a person were to keep the law perfectly from birth then that would be counted as righteousness for him. I've actually heard the ten commandments used in evangelistic conversations to the effect that "there are two ways of salvation, keep the law perfectly or trust in Jesus Christ as your righteousness." Baloney! Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation for any man after Adam. I know that the promise is blessing to those who keep the commandments, but something happened at the fall that barred forever the way of the law as a means of salvation for any of Adam's descendants. In Romans 5 we read:

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned--

That is to say, when Adam sinned we all sinned. Again we read as follows:

Romans 5:15-19 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

The corollary Paul draws is between the righteousness of Christ given to all those in Christ by way of imputation, in the same way that the guilt and condemnation of the one transgression of Adam is given to all those in Adam (who is everyone save Jesus alone) by way of imputation. So then, the guilt of the one trespass is passed to all men after Adam- so how can anyone say that perfect lawkeeping could, even theoretically, lead to life? We have already broken the law in Adam! We are imputed with the guilt of the one trespass, and the penalty is due, before we are ever born.

Barred forever is the way of the law for salvation. For the penalty for sin is not "keep the law perfectly from now on"; the penalty for sin is death. Jesus Christ is the only way for salvation, philosophically, theoretically, and in reality, to the glory of God. Justification may only be had as a precious gift of God's grace for the sake of Christ.