No amount of good works, religious ceremonies, or church memberships can justify us.  James says that if we only violate one of God's laws, we are a sinner.  So if we are looking to our performance and behavior to make us justified (right with God) it will never happen. 

Good behavior and holy living will not justify us.  However, once we have been justifed through faith in Jesus Christ, as a result of that justification, we will begin to show forth good thoughts and behavior and to leave behind bad thoughts and behavior.  True justification doesn't just get us into Heaven.  It transforms our thinking and behavior.  It gets Heaven into us.

Though Christ and His blood we can approach God not on the basis of our merit but on the basis of His mercy.  We don't have to hide our sins from Him anymore.  We can confess them, turn away from them, and be cleansed and delievered from them.

What a mighty salvation -- transformed, healed, delivered, made new, given a new heart that hungers and thirst for right living.  Wow!  Thank You Jesus!