Jesus tells us he did not come for the righteous but for sinners
Luke 5:31-32 "And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." [bmh] Jesus’ message (the gospel) is for those that realized that they would not be provided entry into God’s house because of their ‘good’ works, and that even their best efforts they are but unworthy sinners. Jesus tells us he did not come for the righteous but for sinners. We come or rather flee to Jesus because He is the only way the only escape from the wrath to come. We come to him without any pretense, without any worth. We ask for him to heal us, to wash us to make us whole. It is this washing or healing us that is what being ‘born again’ all about. This is where Jesus gives us a new heart and new love for him, His Word and His people.