Oh, friend, what folly to go on without Christ and miss heaven. You can never escape it through the good works of the flesh. You may do many things to gain the favor of God. You may join a church, be baptized, give your money, help people, live a good life. But these things will not save you.
Salvation is an inner thing, a thing of the heart.
The Bible plainly tells us that if we believe on Jesus Christ, the doors of hell will be forever closed to us. You were condemned to die. But God's son could not be satisfied to see you die and go down to hell. I'll suffer the pangs of death in his place. I'll satisfy the demands of the law on him.