# Justified ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible *Justified* ([[romans-02#^romans-02-13|Rom 2:13]]) - *Dikaioō* (Gk.): the verb means to \"acquit\", \"vindicate\", or \"pronounce righteous\" and is used 15 times in Romans and 24 times in the rest of the NT. It can describe how men make themselves out to be righteous ([[luke-16#^luke-16-15|Lk 16:15]]) or verbally acknowledge the righteousness of God ([[luke-07#^luke-07-29|Lk 7:29]]). In a legal context, a judge justifies the innocent when he acquits them of unproven charges ([[exodus-23#^exodus-23-7|Ex 23:7]]; [[deuteronomy-25#^deuteronomy-25-1|Deut 25:1]]; [[1-corinthians-04#^1-corinthians-04-4|1 Cor 4:4]]). Great theological significance is attached to this term when God is the one who justifies. Especially in Paul\'s writings it describes how God establishes man in a right covenant relationship with himself. This was made possible by the death of Christ ([[romans-05#^romans-05-9|Rom 5:9]]), which frees us from sin ([[acts-of-the-apostles-13#^acts-of-the-apostles-13-39|Acts 13:39]]; [[romans-06#^romans-06-7|Rom 6:7]]) through the free gift of grace ([[romans-03#^romans-03-24|Rom 3:24]]). This grace is received by faith ([[romans-03#^romans-03-26|Rom 3:26]]; [[romans-05#^romans-05-1|5:1]]) in the liturgical context of Baptism (1 Cor 6:11). When God acquits the sinner, he also adopts the sinner as one of his own children, making him an heir of eternal life (Tit 3:7). For Paul, the justifying decree of God effects an inward transformation that makes us holy and righteous in his sight (Rom 5:19) (CCC 654, 1987-95). ### Sources [[06-romans-commentary#^jpwm93|Justified — word study]]