What does it mean to be justified by faith according to the cross?

To be justified by faith implies that through Christ’s atoning work on the cross, believers are granted a righteousness that is not their own. This concept is firmly rooted in Romans 5:1, which states, 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Justification is an act of God declaring sinners to be righteous based on Christ’s sacrifice, which fully satisfied the demands of God’s justice. This grace is completely unearned—it comes through faith alone, as articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9. When we trust in Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection, we are liberated from the penalty of sin and can stand confidently before God, assured of our salvation and eternal life.