What does it mean to be justified in the Lord?

Being justified in the Lord means that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are declared righteous by God. This justification is a legal declaration that removes the guilt of sin and places the believer in a right standing before God. Isaiah 45:24 states that 'in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified,' indicating that God's elect are justified based on their relationship with Christ. This act is not contingent on human works but is rooted in God's grace and Christ's merits. Romans 5:1 further elaborates this by stating, 'Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Thus, justification is a transformative work that alters our status before God from guilty to righteous.