As Martin Luther studied Romans 1:17, he only saw the side of condemnation regarding the justice of God. He saw the righteousness of God as a condemnation of sinners. After much studying though, Luther began to realize that the justice of God is a good thing. We are made righteous by faith, not by works or actions. It was the justice of God that sent Jesus Christ to the cross because sin had to be paid for; there had to be a blood sacrifice. Now because Christ paid for all our sins, we are made righteous when we accept Him as our Savior. Romans 1:17 (NKJV)