Christ this accused person becomes unaccused;; he is awarded not condemnation but liberty. ‘Acquittal’ is the meaning of the Pauline justification.”1) In other words, justification does not mean a verdict of innocence and freedom for those who are sinless. It is rather a verdict that pronounces the unrighteous to be righteousness through faith in Christ. Therefore, “a Christian is at one and the same time righteous and a sinner” (M. Luther).
Justification through faith in Jesus Christ means righteousness of God given to the believers through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:12, 22, 26, Phil. 3:9). J. S. Stewart explains well, “In short, the only righteousness which is valid before God is one of God’s own conferring.Itconsists in a radically new relationship to God, and a consequent participation in the life which is life indeed.”2) The God-given righteousness or Godpronounced righteousness is given not on account of human efforts or merits but as the gracious gift of God (J. S. Stewart, H. A. A. Kennedy, J. Knox).3) This gift

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1) A. Deissmann,Paul. trans. by W. E. Wilson(PeterSmith, 1972), pp. 168-169. cf. C. H. Dodd, The Meaning of Paul for Today(London:Collins Clear-Type Press, 1971), p. 119.
2) J. S. Stewart, A Man in Christ(London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1964), p. 249.
3) Ibid., pp. 243-244. H. A. A. Kennedy, op. cit., 136. J. Knox, Chapters in a Life(New York: Abingdon Press), p. 157.