How do we know that justification comes before forgiveness?

The order of justification and forgiveness is critical in the understanding of salvation. Justification is defined as being declared righteous before God, and it must occur before any forgiveness of sins can take place. This is illustrated in Romans 5:1, where Paul writes, 'therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God.' The rationale is that a guilty person cannot be acquitted without first being justified. Thus, the sequence is vital; God's justice demands that one be justified to be forgiven, ensuring that the believer's sins are fully dealt with in Christ's righteousness.