Why the Cross Wasn't the End

As a Christian I have sang the song I owed a debt I couldn't pay He paid a debt He didn't owe probably a thousand times. However that song isn't entirely correct.
I can pay the debt. We all always could even before Christ. The Bible say in Rom 6:23 That the wages of sin is death. I have within me the ability to pay that debt and so do you.

So if we can pay the price why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Well paying sin doesn't reconcile us with God. It only makes us free of debt to sin. And God and sin are not the same. And before you can reconcile with God you have to have all debts to your life paid. In much the same way you can't sell a house with a lien on it. But If I pay the debt to sin, I can no longer live so even if I could reconcile with God, I am dead so there is no way for me to even attempt it.
Jesus died on the cross and paid our debt. He is the only one who could because He is the only one who didn't owe a debt. All anyone else could do was pay their own debt. So all we need to do is accept the payment He made for us to be free from sins debt. But that still doesn't reconcile us with God.
This is why we have Easter. The Bible says Jesus was the first born among many brothers, which is in reference to His resurrection. Not only did Jesus pay our debt. But He made a way for life after that payment. He made a way for us not only to be debt free and reconciled to God, but for us to share In His inheritance as heir to the thrown of everything. This was all made possible because Christ rose from the dead and gave us life after the payment of sin.
So if you didn't know. Your debt to sin was paid. It is like receiving a check in the mail for the total amount of your debt. All you have to do is use that check. And all you have to do to have your debt to sin paid is except what Christ did for you and the live in the abundant life given to us through the resurrection. Or you still have the option of paying sin out of your own pocket. But that still leaves you unreconciled to God.

Are you good enough?

I just started a new job a couple weeks ago and found a key in one of my drawers. I had assumed the key was to unlock the elevator. Well this morning I had the opportunity to give it a try, and it seems I am still not sure what the key is for. All this reminded me about something I had thought a while back.
Keys are made for specific locks. A key that is made for my car will not open your car door. (Well, my mom did have one time when a friend of hers had locked her keys in her car and my mom's key opened her door, but that was a miracle and doesn't count.)
The key you have may work well for your life, you might even feel happy and fulfilled. However, when you die you will come to a door whose lock your key will not open. What it comes down to is thinking you are good enough on your own to get into heaven is like taking your own house key and trying to use it on your neighbors door.