The Bible describes it this way:

• "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 ESV
  
• "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 ESV
  
• "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 ESV
• Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection: "From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."  Matthew 16:21 ESV
• "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."  Romans 10:9-10
  
• "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'” Romans 10:13