I think this says it best:
Romans 3: 21-26
21But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;
23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;
26for the showing, I say , of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.