“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:16,17)
We can do some remarkably good things for God. But God told Israel to first wash their hands that were full of blood before they thought about offering up some good act to Him.
God does not take delight in a life that is a mixture of sacrifice and disobedience. He wants us to “cease to do evil” and only then to “learn to do well.” Once we have turned away from all evil by the Holy Spirit, He can then begin to make us zealous of good works through the inspiration of that same Spirit.
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:14)