We are all infected and impure with sin.  When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.  Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. - Isaiah 64:6 My grace is good enough, my pardon is generous enough to forgive you for all of the wrong you have done.  But it is even bigger than that.  I will forgive you for the good things you have done with wrong motives.  I will forgive your self-righteous efforts to appear devoted to me with no dependence upon me. Self-righteousness is that list you have inside your head of what you've done or who you are that makes you acceptable to me, and certainly better than the average person around you.  I will come and cleanse you of your church attendance and service you were hoping other people would notice, your sacrificial generosity you were hoping would put me in your debt, your vocal stand for a moral cause you were hoping would cover your own failures.  I will credit to you the perfect righteousness of my Son.