Don't you think for a second that Paul placed his faith in what he was doing (law) and not the work of Christ? I mean thats what we he finished his sentence in. Least any man should boast, I Boast in Christ. Not what I do. Because what I do is nothing therefore I cannot boast in it. I boast in the work of the cross. Jesus said why do you call me good for no man is good no not one. That includes you and me, I must put my faith in the redeemer, He is my only hope and not what I do.
So why did he say this?
Romans 7:22, "For I delight in the Law of Yahweh according to the inward man;"
Acts 24:14, "But I confess this to you, that after the way which they call heresy--so I worship the Father of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets."
Romans 3:31, "Are we then doing away with the Law through the faith? By no means! Rather, we establish the Law!"
the word Law is: 3551. nomos
nomos: that which is assigned, hence usage, law
Original Word: νόμος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: nomos
Phonetic Spelling: (nom'-os)
Short Definition: a law, the Mosaic Law
Definition: usage, custom, law; in NT: of law in general, plur: of divine laws; of a force or influence impelling to action; of the Mosaic law; meton: of the books which contain the law, the Pentateuch, the Old Testament scriptures in general.
your calling any form of obedience legalism or self justification is a twisting of Scripture.
Luke 16:17, "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one yodh of the Law to fail."
Revelation 22:12-15, "And behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work will be. I am the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who keep His Laws, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and worshipers of gods and everyone who professes to love, yet practices falsehood."