How does faith relate to justification?

Faith plays a crucial role in justification as it is through faith that we receive the righteousness of Christ. Romans 4 highlights that it is not our works, but our belief in the one who raised Jesus that accounts for our justification. This understanding clarifies that faith is not an act of merit but a response to God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Genuine faith looks outside oneself to Christ, recognizing that our salvation hinges entirely on His completed work, not our actions or feelings. It acknowledges that by believing, we are declared righteous before God and reconciled to Him.