Other religions suggest that improving personal behavior is the path to salvation … in hopes that if we are good enough, God will overlook our record of sins. We can improve our moral and ethical behavior … but that doesn’t change our record. Imagine a serial murderer asking to be pardoned because he’s been killing fewer and fewer people each year. Such a defense wouldn’t work in a courtroom … and it won’t work with God. The penalty for our sins must be paid. Justice must be met. Improving our behavior isn’t enough … that only makes our record get worse more slowly.