Why is Christ central to the doctrine of salvation?

The message of the Gospel emphasizes that Christ is not just part of salvation; He is the very essence of it. As Paul explains in Titus 3:5-7, salvation is according to God's mercy and accomplished through Jesus Christ. All the works of the law, both the Old Testament and the New Testament moral law, are ultimately pointing towards Christ. If we cling to legalism and do not recognize Christ as our atonement and justification, we risk being caught in a cycle of self-condemnation and missing the true essence of the Gospel. Thus, without acknowledging Christ as the fulfillment of the law, any attempt at righteousness is deemed useless.