Galatians 3:22

‘But the Scripture has shut up (concluded) all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.'

Indeed the Scripture declares that through the Law's teaching, and through ‘the Law written in the heart' (the conscience - Romans 2:14), the whole world, indeed the whole of creation (Romans 8:20), is imprisoned by sin (Romans 3:10). It is shut up in darkness. It stands condemned. And this was so that what was promised, which is given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given, not to those who keep the Law, but to those who believe in Him and receive the promise. That is, it is given to those who receive the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; Acts 1:4; Acts 2:33) and the promise of salvation through Christ (Acts 13:23; Acts 13:32; Acts 26:6; Romans 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1; 2 Peter 1:4). They come from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18).

Old Testament passages that demonstrate that man is utterly sinful and ‘imprisoned' by sin are abundant. See for example Psalms 130:3; Psalms 143:2; Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 1:5 compare Psalms 142:7; Isaiah 61:1 Isaiah 42:7; Zechariah 9:11). And that is why in the end One had to come Who was without sin, so that He could bear the sin of the guilty (Isaiah 52:13 to Isaiah 53:12).