No one is good enough for God on their own merits, and Scripture says so plainly. But God justifies the ungodly, so that acceptance rests entirely on Christ's righteousness credited to you rather than on your own record.
The question of human goodness is decisively answered by Christ Himself. When asked about inheriting eternal life, Jesus pointed out that 'none is good, save one, even God' (). Reformed theology, as articulated in both the and the , teaches that even our best works are tainted by the weakness and imperfection of our fallen nature. Because of the infinite distance between a holy Creator and sinful creatures, no work we perform can satisfy the debt of sin or merit eternal life. We are, at our absolute best, merely unprofitable servants.
Scripture is clear: 'There is no one righteous, not even one' (). This reality is not intended to drive us to despair, but to the foot of the cross. As Charles Spurgeon notes in , the gospel exists precisely because we are unable to save ourselves. God justifies the ungodly, not because they have finally reached a state of 'goodness,' but because Christ has provided a righteousness that is perfect. Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, but a gift for those who recognize their need for a Savior. When you stop trying to 'touch yourself up' to be presentable to God and come to Him in your brokenness, you find that His grace is far greater than your sin.