Why is works-based religion misleading for Christians?

The danger of works-based religion, as illustrated by the Judaizers in Galatia, is that it encourages a reliance on human effort rather than faith in Christ. Works-based systems create a false sense of security and pride, leading believers to believe they can earn God's favor through performance. Paul’s argument stresses that all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse (Galatians 3:10). Historic Reformed theology teaches that salvation is entirely by grace—a grace that is incompatible with any notion of merit from human actions. By clinging to works righteousness, believers inadvertently turn their backs on the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, which is the only basis for true peace and justification before God.