That’s why Jesus said that a person’s righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.
And that’s why works don’t save. If the motivation isn’t right, they’re worthless, even though they may be technically correct.
It’s the heart attitude not the perfection of works.
Even Lot was called *righteous*, hardly a term I’d use for him.
If someone is doing works to earn salvation, they are doing it for the wrong reason. That’s why works don’t save.
If the heart is right, the works will follow. That's why they're called "fruits."