Romans 3:21–31 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
God has promised to rescue anyone who puts their faith in Christ. The gospel is not a process by which you display certain virtues. The only prerequisite to standing right before God is faith, and that apart from any works. Regeneration, meaning spiritual life, precedes faith, and is followed by repentance, obedience, gratitude, and growth in holiness.
We’ve all earned the wrath of God, but He counts believers completely righteous in his sight, as a gift of sovereign grace, because of what Jesus Christ alone has done. He lived a perfect life to fulfill the law and all righteousness for us. Then he laid down his life as a propitiation for our sins, which means a perfect substitute, to pay the full and just debt we owe. His righteousness is imputed to those who put their faith in him.
Then, Christ rose from the grave, proving that all that he said and did was true, conquering the penalty of sin, which is death, and securing our future resurrection. When he returns, he will dwell with us in perfect peace, on a restored and perfect earth.
Every person since Adam, who believes what God has promised, and trusts him at his word, receives the perfect righteousness of Christ. This means that when God returns, he can be both just and merciful. His wrath on Christ satisfies a debt we could never pay. His grace on us gives a righteousness we could never earn. This is the good news. This is the gospel.