Romans 5:1

Put right with God through faith. Christ's sacrifice changes us, not God. The merit of Christ's sin-offering for us, makes it possible for us to be put right with God through faith. In our union with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are changed from enemies into friends. The faith which puts us right with God: (1) is a faith in Christ as the Messiah; (2) is a faith of the heart (Romans 10:9) which brings the totality of our life into obedience (Romans 1:5). We have peace with God. Outside of Christ, all are rebels against God and enemies. Inside of Christ (Galatians 3:27), forgiveness brings peace and we are friends. Luther says: "Thus we arrive at this result, viz., that faith justifies without any works, and yet it does not follow from this that we must not do any good works, but that genuine works will not be wanting [lacking]. Of these works those who are saints by their own merit know nothing; they frame up works of their own, in which there is neither peace, joy, assurance, love, hope, boldness, nor the quality of any genuine Christian work and faith." Compare Romans 10:1-4.