The sacrifice of Jesus applied also to people who lived before he died and rose again. Once Jesus rose, he also took to heaven all the people who had true faith in God who were in a place called "Abraham's bosom".

It is only and always people of faith who are accepted by God.

By "generally good", we probably mean somewhere just a little lower than the way we perceive ourselves.

How good are people though when measured against the Ten Commandments?