"Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin."

This passage says that there is nothing we can do that can redeem ourselves. Nonbelievers think this means that not even "hard work" or "following the law" can make us presentable to God.

Another Bible Passage