Understanding Justification by Faith !
When scripture states that believers are Justified by Faith or made Righteous by Faith, it does not mean that their act of faith/ believing made them Justified and or Righteous, or that the act itself is their Righteousness , however it doeth mean that the object of our Faith, Namely Christ, hath Justified us and made us Righteous. You see, God hath made Christ unto us Righteousness 1 Cor 1:30
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
So therefore faith in its act cannot at the same time be our Righteousness Rom 4:5,9
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
In fact, The Gospel reveals or makes known our Righteousness to our Faith Rom 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Now that Righteousness of God in Vs 17 that is revealed to Faith, is that same Righteousness of God for those of us Christ was made sin for in 2 Cor 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
So its an contradiction to understand Faith as an act of ours, to be reckoned as our Righteousness and or Justification, but rather as it persuades us that the object of our Faith, whom is Christ, has been made unto us Righteousness / Justification 1 Cor 1:30
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 11