But this is exactly how the New Testament refers to it. This is justification of those who possess no holiness in and of themselves, no personal conformity to the positive demands of the law. The true meaning of justification can be derived from its antithesis in the New Testament. This is exactly the situation. However, because of our connection with Christ, that which judicially follows is justification.
Justification is the nonimputation of sin.
There can only be one answer which does justice to the Biblical evidence. Likewise, we may ask how we are made the righteousness of God in Him. The answer is the same. We are made the righteousness of God by imputation and not by impartation. We are treated as if we were righteous and not because we are, in actual fact, righteous in ourselves.