Evangelism and Apologetics
Justification

 “To justify” means to make or declare righteous, so “justification” is about restoring righteousness. 
Cardinal Schonborn insisted that the following words from St. Therese be included in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2011) because he believed they "express with incomparable precision the Catholic doctrine of justification by grace" (Loving the Church, Ignatius Press.) 
"After earth's exile, I hope to go and enjoy you in the fatherland, but I do not want to lay up merits for heaven. I want to work for your love alone .... In the evening of this life, I shall appear before you with empty hands, for I do not ask you, Lord, to count my works. All our justice is blemished in your eyes. I wish, then, to be clothed in your own justice and to receive from your love the eternal possession of yourself." (From Therese's "Act of Oblation" in Story of a Soul. Emphasis in original.)
Note that St. Therese says "all our justice is blemished in your eyes," and that she wishes to be "clothed in your own justice." The Catholic Church teaching on justification can be summarized this way: we are sinners who rely solely on God's mercy. 

But justification has several components, as follows. 

The legal component – we are pronounced not guilty. See, e.g., 2 Cor. 3:9, which contrasts condemnation and righteousness; also Jn. 3:18, 5:24, Rom. 4:8, 8:1

Justification as moral transformation – God changes us internally so that we are no longer slaves of sin. Rom. 6:1-7 (lit. “he who has died has been justified from sin” v. 7), 2 Cor. 5:17-18, 6:14 contrasts righteousness with lawlessness; 2 Pet. 1: 3-4, we partake of the divine nature. 

Removal of sin – our sins are actually taken away from us. Ps. 51:2, 103:12, Is. 44:22, Acts 3:19, 22:16, Jn. 1:29

Non-imputation of sin – our sins are not reckoned to our account. 2 Cor. 5:19, Ps. 32:1-2 (Rom 4:5-8)

Re-birth and a new life – justification is our transformation from (condemned) sons of Adam to (freed and forgiven) sons of God. Jn. 1:12-13, 3:3, 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15, Eph. 4:23-24, Col. 1:13, 3:10, 2 Pet. 1:4

Col. 2:13-14 brings several of these together

Justification is based on union with Christ
Union with Christ brings all spiritual benefits (Rom. 6:1-5): justification, sanctification, glorification, etc. Trying to distinguish them is not biblical. See Acts 20:32, 26:18, 1 Cor. 1:2, 6:11, 

Justification is by a living and active faith – a faith “working in love” (Gal. 5:6). Dead faith does not justify (James 2:20-24, Mt. 7:21-23) 

Justification is a process that consists of …
Initial justification – Rom. 5:2, 6:3
Progressive justification – Rom. 6: 19, 22
Final justification – Rom. 6:22 

	… and, in the case of those who fall away …

	re-justification – Jn. 20:23

Justification is a gift from first to last and is never earned (Tit. 3:5)