The verdict

As judge, God had to carry out the sentence. But as Father, he loved us and showed grace, and sent his Son to pay the penalty for our sin. The Son was obedient to the point of death and took the sentence on our behalf. His resurrection proved that the payment had been accepted, and that a new legal status was available to everyone who believes: right standing with God. That is justification.

Read the language Paul uses. "Justified by his grace as a gift." "Handed over for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25). "Justified by his blood." "Justified by faith." Every one of those is passive. You did not justify yourself. It was done to you, and for you.

You will notice your Bible says "the faith of Jesus" in a couple of places where you might expect "faith in Jesus". The Greek can be read either way, and Paul means both: Jesus was faithful all the way to the cross, and you put your trust in him. Either way, the one thing it never says is that you were justified by your own works.

So here is what is true of you now. You are declared righteous. The charge is gone. You are no longer facing the wrath of God, because Christ faced it. "Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Not a truce. Peace. And because your legal status has changed, your relationship has changed with it: "while we were enemies we were reconciled to God" (Romans 5:10), and now you share in the standing Christ himself has with the Father.

Notice where Paul puts the timing. "While we still were sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Not once you had improved. While you were still the problem. And notice what the verdict makes you: "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." No charge, no sentence, no wrath. That is what free means. If you are still walking around feeling condemned, you are arguing with the judge, and he has already ruled.