"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."–Matthew 5 :20
I recently saw this interesting definition for self-delusion. It read, Self-delusion is standing on a bathroom scale and holding in your belly hoping to trim off a few more pounds."
Sadly, there are many who are deceiving themselves on a much more important scale, that of true righteousness. When they read the Scriptures, and see that without holiness, no one shall see God, they begin to "suck it in" spiritually, making amends here and there, thinking that somehow this will influence the scale and make them less sinful. They think that because they refrain from doing certain things, or discipline themselves in prayer, fasting, Bible reading, or other duties, that they are somehow trimming away the excess weight of sin, and actually making steps toward their "ideal weight" of holiness.
However, according to God's scale, is it enough to sin less, or must you be sinless? The scale with which God weighs each and every sinner is perfect righteousness, without which no one will see God. So, how can a sinner such as myself or yourself attain unto this standard of holiness that God requires and accepts? The answer is not in trying to trim off a few extra sins here and there, or sucking it in and holding your breath as you weigh in. Actually, you are to come as you are, owning your sin and condemnation, and put on some extra clothing. Not clothing of your own, but put on the robe of righteousness" that is the Lord Jesus Christ's, Ephesians 6 :11. It is His perfect obedience, put to the sinner's account, that gives him perfect standing before the Just and Holy God. Jesus Christ obeyed God's law perfectly, as the Substitute of His people.
Would you rather, a righteousness imputed that is already accepted of God, or one that you endeavor to obtain by your works, but unacceptable to God? The apostle Paul testified that his hope was to be "found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."