Atonement
No one can justify themselves by deeds or comparisons because all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. God declares sinners righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, who stands as the substitute, bearing our guilt and offering his righteousness by his blood. This justification is a not‑guilty verdict that comes from outside us, not from our efforts. Being freely forgiven removes grounds for boasting and empowers grateful service and selfless love, shaping a life marked by rest in God's grace and confident obedience rather than by anxious self‑vindication.