As a result of a sinful nature (Mark 7:20–23), human beings do not have the ability to keep God’s law perfectly in all its parts. This means that we cannot render the obedience that God requires for us to be made righteous in his sight (Psalm 15:1–5). Additionally, as a result of our sin, we also stand condemned before God and deserving of his wrath (Psalm 140:1–13). The penalty for our sins needed to be paid if we were to have peace with God.
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.