How will I know that I am justified?

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. - Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible)

Repent

The act of acknowledging your sin before a righteous and holy God, accepting full responsibility for the sin that has separated you from God and the acceptance of Jesus Christ's death on the cross as the only acceptable sacrifice for your sins. His death becomes payment in full for your sins, past, present, and future, and Christ's imputed righteousness allows you to stand sinless before a righteous and holy God who cannot tolerate sin.

Remorse

Present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God.

Heartfelt remorse for my sin that sent God's Son, the only innocent and perfect sacrifice, to this world in the form of a man, to endure the immense suffering of death on a cross for the sins of all mankind. A sorrow that fully grasps it was my sin that caused the righteous Son of God to die in my place. The resulting impact of that sorrow is a true hatred of sin and an ever-consuming desire to remove sin from my life permanently.

Redirect

Do not be conformed to this world and present your body as a living sacrifice.

As a new child of the living God, my citizenship is now in heaven and not of this world. The result is a redirection and a 180 degree turn from following my way to fully embracing the pursuit of Christ-likeness and presenting my body as a living sacrifice.

Refocus

Be transformed and progressively changed by the renewing of your mind.

At the point of justification, the Holy Spirit establishes residence in you, and you begin to experience a growing distaste for the things of this world. Things that once interested you will now lose their attractiveness as the Holy Spirit begins His work to conform you to Christ-likeness in your actions and attitudes. With your justification by faith now complete, it will be validated as your life focus shifts to the pursuit of Christ-likeness through the process of sanctification.

Well then, what shall we say about these things? Just this that God has given the Gentiles the opportunity to be acquitted by faith, even though they had not been really seeking God. But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping his laws, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to be saved by keeping the law and being good instead of by depending on faith. They have stumbled over the great stumbling stone. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, "I have put a Rock in the path of the Jews, and many will stumble over him (Jesus). Those who believe in him will never be disappointed." - Romans 9:30-33 (Living Bible)

You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him. - Hebrews 11:6 (Living Bible)

Be Encouraged to present your body as a living sacrifice to God.

-Jeffrey Thornton