You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. Galatians 5:4

Anyone who endeavours to achieve or earn salvation and its whole package is cut off from Jesus Christ. Salvation is a free gift to be received. Anything apart from this is not good news but a familiar script in a merit based reward system. The best gets the best. You get as much as you give is the denominator.

Salvation is by Grace through faith, not by works.

Paul who is one ardent proponent of the doctrine of grace says

[4]Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt?

[5]But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:4-5

In a generation where everything has to be earned (even love), everything has to be achieved for the glory of the person who achieves

For something as grand as salvation to be free, something as great as forgiveness of sin to be free, for adoption of sinful men in to the holy family of God to be free, for eternal appointment as Joint heirs with Christ to be free, for the assurance of spending eternal life with a Holy God in eternal glory and joy to be free, just doesn't make sense. It’s too good to be true. That is what Gospel is, the good news.

But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Romans 6:23b

The gospel which means good news in the original languages is a mystery. God did the unexpected from a human point of view to offer for free what was impossible for man to achieve or earn by his works or endeavour.