In Romans 5:1, what is the means by which believers are justified?

In Romans 5:1, the apostle Paul articulates that believers are justified through faith. This foundational doctrine emphasizes that justification, which refers to being declared righteous before God, is not achieved through personal merit or good works but solely through faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith in this context entails trust and reliance on Christ's atoning sacrifice, which allows individuals to have a right relationship with God. This teaching underscores the core principle of salvation in Christian theology, which is that it is by grace through faith that one is saved (as expressed in Ephesians 2:8-9), rather than through human efforts or religious practices.

The concept of justification through faith is critical in understanding the nature of the Gospel and the assurance of salvation for believers, as it shifts the focus from human actions to the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross. This perspective fosters an understanding that it is not one's own righteousness that secures salvation, but rather an acceptance of the righteousness imparted through faith in Christ.