What is the role of Jesus in justification?

In the doctrine of justification, Jesus Christ plays a pivotal role as the one who fulfills the law and serves as the atoning sacrifice for sinners. Romans 3:25-26 emphasizes that God set Jesus forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood. It is through His righteousness that believers are declared innocent before God. In essence, Christ's substitutionary atonement addresses the justice of God, allowing Him to justify the ungodly while remaining righteous Himself. This centrality of Christ in justification highlights the grace of God, as believers are accepted not on their merit but through the merits of Christ alone, solidifying their salvation.