Thank you for the theological question, “Is it possible that obedience to God’s word will save you more than grace will?”
As one thinks about the Saul of Tarsus before he became the Apostle Paul, he certainly believed that he was most pleasing to God. In fact, he was very proud of his personal status and achievement. If there was anyone who thought that he could earn his salvation by obeying the Torah, it was Saul of Tarsus.
Saul lists his credentials before everyone. Philippians 2 says this: “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages).
It is important to highlight that the Apostle Paul states that as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. He followed the letter of the Law to the utmost and beyond any of his own contemporaries. His zealousness led him to ask for letters from the Jewish leaders to persecute and drag the followers of Jesus back to Jerusalem to stand trial for blasphemy. Saul of Tarsus thought he didn’t need God’s grace for he was good enough to earn righteousness before God.
As one already knows, Saul of Tarsus came to a deeper realization that all his “goodness” and “righteousness” was nothing in comparison to the righteousness of God. He came to a realization that all of his own righteousness was like filthy rags before God. He thought that he was good enough, but he fell far short of the glory of God. Few if any of us can say that we are faultless before the Law. We have problems obeying the speed limit. not jay walking or making running stops. I freely admit that I am not faultless before the civil law and certainly not before God’s commandments. Who can say that one has love God wholehearted or even his neighbor as him/herself? I know that I can’t and haven’t. I needed God’s grace and I have accepted God’s offer of salvation by grace through faith through Jesus Christ. In all my journey as a Christian, I am finding that I need more of God’s grace, not less of it. I am over seventy years ago and I have seen a lot as a husband, parent, grandparent, and pastor. Whatever we think that we can do on our own, it is truly by God’s grace.
SUMMARY: No one has enough strength to earn his salvation before God for even what strength and achieved has comes from God. It is all by his grace.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/Is-it-possible-that-obedience-to-God-s-word-will-save-you-more-than-grace-will