The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

A same verse is repeated in the Bible four times. It says, “The just shall live by faith.” It is in Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.

Let's first look at Habakkuk 2:4. It has a different scenario where the faith of the righteous person is needed in the time of waiting. 2:2 says, “Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.’”

Only in very few instances does God request certain words to be written in tablets for the sake of keeping, believing and walking in it. In the days of Moses, we must clearly remember that Moses brought down two tablets from the mountain after God wrote the Ten Commandments on them. Wow, what a moment it was. And then here, when God asks the prophet to write certain things on a tablet, would not God consider that which is supposed to be written on the tablet as very important? Yes. He must have.

So what was on the tablet? It was about the vision qqthat will happen for sure. When God promises someone, for example, Abraham (God showed him a vision of his generation being countless like stars), the promise of a child, to Israelites the promise of the land. It was a vision in the beginning, but soon there came a time when they were literally walking in it. The country Israel is a tangible example of this vision coming to fruition in our present world. They make news most of the time.

When God promises, and that too when He asks us to write, it is for us to never forget about what He says. It is for us to hold on to what He says, to believe in the vision, in the promise He gives us. Times will be there when it makes us feel that it is tarrying. So the Lord asks the prophet to write, “Though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not tarry.” Then the Lord calls those who believe this as just or righteous.

Hey friend, are you waiting? Then wait like a just person in the eyes of God. Be humble and believe. Hold on to it till you will see yourself walking in it.

Next is Romans 1:17. This verse is too good to behold. It says, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

I was pondering on the words “from faith to faith.” It means we begin with faith, we continue with faith, and we end (eternally live) by faith. Here Paul explains to the Roman church that our Christian journey can be done with faith and faith alone. We can see Paul advocate for the same in many instances in many of his epistles to the church.

Paul advises the Christians, the believers, that they should never end up believing that our righteousness comes from our work, but on the accomplished work of Christ on the cross, and the redemption comes through it. Simply put, we can live by believing that we are righteous because Christ made us righteous. No more lamenting over the past. Walk in the belief that in Christ we are righteous. Won't we be more confident, more joyful if we live by faith?

This brings us to Galatians 3:3. Paul here talks to Galatians who are worried about keeping the traditions of the Old Testament times to keep them acceptable before Christ. Paul says, “Are you foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?” (Circumcision).

Hey friend, there is no need for us to worry about keeping ourselves holy by ourselves. It is not possible by our own efforts. There is no need for us to keep some traditions to keep us holy. No, simply have a strong conviction about who you are in Christ. Know that you have crucified the Adam in you on the cross with Christ when you accepted Him and received the new life in Christ.

In that way, you know you are already made righteous by Christ Himself. Now you know, as Paul says, you cannot walk in the flesh. You cannot walk in sin, as you have crucified your sinful self when you accepted Christ. Walk in victory that Christ got for you. Walk in righteousness that Christ got for you. You can do so only if you put your hundred percent faith in what Christ did for you.

Finally, we have Hebrews 10:38, where it again says, “The just shall live by faith.” Paul pushes us one more step closer to God's love by quoting Hebrews 10:16, which says, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their heart, and in their minds I will write them.” Then he adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Then verse 35 says, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great rewards.” Then only the following verse says, “The righteous shall live by faith” in verse 38.

In the beginning of this blog, we have seen God insisted to write the laws on tablets, vision on a tablet. Here, He comes more closer to us who are in Christ and writes the law in our hearts. Jesus is the Word of God written in our heart, so we ought to be hopeful and nonetheless, we need to walk in confidence, knowing we are made righteous in Christ by faith.

Dear God, thank You for the righteousness we have in You. May our faith grow deeper in You. May people search our hearts and motives and find nothing but You. Be our confidence, Lord. Thank You for the cross, for the redemption, for the new life in Christ. Open our eyes to embrace and walk in it joyfully. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.