God's declaration that we are just, is the grounds whereby we can receive that which was lost at the fall -- the sanctifying power and presence of the Holy Spirit. This declaration is made possible by virtue of the fact that we, by faith, have accepted the penalty for our sin and therefore yield up our lives to the cross that we may receive new life from above (Galatians 2:20 says it about as well as it can be said).We tend to think of this declaration as being strictly verbal thing literally coming from God's mouth. Things are more forcibly proclaimed by way of action. Could it be that the greatest utterance of imputed righteousness is when God imparts righteousness to us through the gift of the Holy Spirit? In other words, is righteousness (imputed or imparted) something that God grants as something distinct from Himself, or is it the gift of Himself?Genesis 15:1"After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.'"Also consider the robe of righteousness in light of these texts:Romans 13:14"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ..."andGalatians 3:27"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."Our possession of forensic righteousness is by virtue of the fact that, upon coming to the cross and there surrendering our sin in its entirety to death, we take up a life which is one with the Just One. We must then be declared righteous because He must be declared righteous. It is 100% vicariously through our oneness with Him at the moment we die and are born again. Sanctification is then the practical living out of the virtue that is the basis of our justification -- Christ's righteousness.