But God's standard is absolute perfection, not good outweighing the bad. That's man's thinking.
Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
James 2:10-11 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Seems that Catholics neglect to post these verses.
Be perfect. The one who fails in one part of the Law becomes guilty of it all.
And we know that the wages of sin is death. That's why our works don't contribute to attaining or keeping our salvation. They are tainted with sin, even the best of them, and cannot erase the debt we already owe. That is only done by forgiveness.
The verse neglected is the one right before:
James 2:23 NKJV
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.