Isaiah 1:27

Redeemed with judgment. Rather, “redeemed with justice.” It is a just Judge who will redeem and restore Zion by just judgment. In accord with His righteous decrees the dross of the sinful city will be thoroughly purged.

Her converts. Literally, “her returning ones.” The “converts” in Zion are those who recognize their sins and repent. Only they will be saved, and only they will be righteous. Zion will be a holy city, ruled by a holy God and inhabited by a holy people (see ch. 4:2-4). The righteousness of Christ will be both the means and the goal of salvation. As Jesus is righteous, so all inhabitants of the Holy City will be righteous, for they will be like Him (1 John 3:2). The righteousness of Jesus is both imputed and imparted to all His followers. Salvation includes both the righteousness He imputes to them to atone for sins already committed and the righteousness He imparts to them to enable them to live above sin. Thus man will be fully restored to the image of God, in which he was originally created (Gen. 1:27).