Scripture
What is our legal status before God?
Scripture makes the problem clear: none of us are righteous by ourselves, and no amount of law-keeping can justify us before God.
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight…” (Rom. 3:20)
The law exposes sin, but it cannot save us. That is why we need Christ.
“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24)
Guilty by ourselves. Justified by faith in Christ.