When we try to rely on works for our salvation, by ourselves, we will ultimately fail... No matter how powerful or well-intentioned, we cannot hit the mark. The effort may have been a really good try or it could have been way off the mark, but without Jesus, all our efforts fall short.

John 14
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. "

Ephesians 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If we really have faith and believe, we will start to act upon our faith (producing works)...

James 2
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, �You have faith; I have deeds.� Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that�and shudder.
20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

So,
you can't work your way into heaven. You must accept Jesus Christ.
Once you accept Him, and believe, your faith should produce works... Why?

Matthew 5
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.