What if Hell isn't a punishment? If Hell isn't a punishment but instead the logical consequence of our rejection of God, if God doesn't send us to Hell, but we choose to go there on our own; how can Jesus' death on the Cross help us get out of Hell?
If the way out of Hell is to love God again, then I can do that with or without Jesus. If Hell's door is locked from the inside, I can unlock it myself without any help from Jesus. If rejection of God comes from me, and repentance comes from me, why do I need Jesus for anything? I can just repent and return to God on my own.
If I go to Hell because God is giving me infinite punishment for an infinite sin, then I can see that I need Jesus to pay the penalty I can't pay for myself. But if I'm headed for Hell because I don't love God, then Jesus can't help me love God again. That has to come from me, not anyone else. Right?
In order to perceive the things of the kingdom of God and enter into that kingdom one must be born again of the spirit.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” - John 3:3-8

The nature that each person is born with on the natural level is a disposition of enmity with God.  That nature fully directs all thoughts, intentions, and actions until it's power is broken by spiritual rebirth.  Therefore it is not possible for those who are in the flesh (only) to please God.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. - Romans 8:5-8 

It is not merely forgiveness for things that we have done which Christ has acquired for us but he has redeemed us from the law of sin and death.  He has opened the way for us to receive a new nature which cries &quot;Abba, Father&quot;.  The access point is to see oneself a spiritual beggar, entirely bereft of merit or ability, entirely enslaved by a sinful disposition and to call on the name of the Lord pleading with Him to trade places with us.  Pleading with Him to come down from the cross and live in us while our old sinful nature is crucified with Him.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. - John 3:14-15

This is pointing back to Numbers 21.  The Israelites grumbled (yet again).  God sent fiery serpents among them and those bitten would die.  Moses pleaded with God for mercy.  God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole.  Whoever was bitten would live if they looked at the serpent.  Jesus said He would be lifted up in the same way.
Question:  Since Moses lifted up an image of what was killing the Israelites, How then is Jesus lifted up on the cross an image of what is killing us?
Answer:  Jesus is the Word of God made into flesh and he hung on a cross crucified by men.  In the garden of Eden Adam put God's word to death within himself when he agreed with the temptation &quot;In the day you eat of it you shall be like God, knowing good and evil&quot; and we are all born the same.  The Word of God is dead in us from birth.  This is what we are meant to understand about ourselves when we &quot;see&quot; Christ on the cross:  the Word of God put to death by Man.  The Word of God in the flesh...dead.  Ourselves.
It is a seeing of faith.  We cannot approach God but by that way which He has decreed.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” - Numbers 21:8