What is the relationship between mercy and justification?

Justification is a legal declaration by God that a sinner is righteous on the basis of Christ’s righteousness imputed to them. It is only by God's mercy that anyone can be justified. Romans 5:1 states, 'Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' This illustrates that justification comes through faith, itself a gift of God's mercy. A sinner, recognizing his inability to merit righteousness, cries out for mercy, and in doing so, he receives justification as God sees him in Christ. Thus, mercy is a precursor to justification, enabling the sinner to stand righteous before a holy God without any works of their own, as emphasized in Ephesians 2:8-9.