Why does Paul emphasize faith over works?

Paul emphasizes faith over works to assert the doctrine of grace and to clarify that human efforts can never fulfill the requirements of God's law. In Galatians 2:16, he argues that if salvation could be achieved through the law, then Christ died for nothing. This underscores that no one is justified by observing the law but through faith in Jesus. The message is clear: all human attempts at righteousness fall short, and thus God offered His Son as the perfect sacrifice, making faith in Christ the only means for justification. It places the believer's confidence in what Christ has accomplished rather than their ability to adhere to the law.