For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
Jesus was without sin. For our sake God made Him take our sin upon. Himself on the cross in order that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. We were the sinners. Yet God put our sinful acts and nature on Jesus so He could bear them away on the cross. Therefore God, Through Jesus who made it possible, accepts us. His acceptance is based on what Jesus has done and not on either good or bad behavior on our part.
Jesus took our sin on the cross a long time ago. When we accept Him and are born again we are made partakers of Christ and receive a new nature. We no longer have the old hard and sinful heart, but we now have a new soft and pliable heart. Jesus paid the price and we were made forever right with God in and through Him. Right standing with God is now our daily reality.
