This was bible study that I did and this is what was said by different people.  If you are offended by the incompleteness of this post please forgive me.  I posted it to add something to the site.

The question that comes to mind is How can we declare ourselves just or righteous?

Well, the following verses tell us that we are justified by faith and not by our works.

Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Galatians 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Galatians 3:11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

James 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

We are righteous through the blood of Jesus.
No, we cannot declare ourselves righteous, God can only do that, but we still have to rely on Him for that.
Are we bound by the law?
We are not bound by the Old Testament laws where they had to sacrifice animals for different reasons or the condemnation of it.
Can we get to heaven by works alone?
As scripture has told us that we cannot get to heaven by our works, so we have to rely on our faith and that faith we grow as we progress in our walk with Christ.  That is what God wants from us.

God wants us to be reconciled with him and so by sending Christ to take our place on the cross we have become righteous in His sight, through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21, (ESV)  20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

All unrighteousness is sin and no sin can enter into heaven, heaven is sinless.  Nothing we can do, can merit God’s righteousness and all this has to be done through Christ alone.

Observance of the law has nothing to do with justification we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the law that was given to Moses.  Jesus brought in another plan….grace was the original plan, because the law was not good enough, now one could keep the law.
The law was only to show us, our need for a savior.

NASB Romans 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

NASB Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

NASB Romans 4:25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

NASB Romans 5:16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

NASB Romans 5:18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

NASB Romans 10:3 For not knowing about God”s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

NASB Galatians 3:19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

So what are these verses telling us?  These verses are telling us that we have been saved from our transgressions and now we can enter into the kingdom of God.  Adam’s sin brought condemnation to all men.   Jesus’ death on the cross brought justification back to all men.   Jesus was the last Adam. Christ completed what Adam failed to do to start with.   Christ has fulfilled all righteousness.

Is there anything else that goes along with this?
Martin Luther used the term “Simul iustus et peccator” which means “at the same time righteous and sinner.

In other words, God DECLARES that we are righteous even while we are sinners.

Good thought.   I never thought of it that way.

Christ gives (imputes) His righteousness to us, and takes upon Himself our sins.

What do you think?