Romans 1:16-17
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

Romans 1:16-17
¹⁶ Οὐ γὰρ ἐπαισχύνομαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον δύναμις γὰρ θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι ¹⁷ δικαιοσύνη γὰρ θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν καθὼς γέγραπται Ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

The righteousness of God (δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ) has been given several meanings. Luther considered the righteousness of God the gift from God to all who believe. Others think of the righteousness of God as his saving activity. One emphasis is a new status; the other transformation of character due to God's activity.

A solution - why not both? God's gift of a new relationship with him through Christ, a gift which transforms the character and will of the believer.