Justified Live by Faith

The just shall live by Faith!  Habakkuk 2:4 

The phrase that changed the world – at least moved the European world from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Age and into the Modern Age.  It was that phrase quoted in Romans 1:17 that sent Martin Luther into a spin and to a new life in Jesus, which caused him to challenge the grip of Rome on the world, and thus ushered in the Reformation.  That phrase is quoted three times in the New Testament (when something is said 3 or 4 times, it must be quite important!) with each part of the phrase being a brief synopsis of the book in which it is found.

The Just marks the theme of Romans – Romans 1:17, For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Shall Live marks a key truth in Galatians – Galatians 3:11, But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

By Faith is a marker of Hebrews – Hebrews 10:38, Now the just shall live by faith.

So, who are the Just and what is the Faith required?

Romans 3:9, All fall short!  – What then?  Are we better than they?  Not at all.  For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

He has just shown the immoral man (Romans 1:18-32), the moral man (Romans 2:1-14) and the religious man (Romans 2:15-) that they are all guilty before God!  Romans 3:10-18 is a series of quotes from the Old Testament verifying that all man’s goodness is unacceptable to God (from Psalm 14, 53, 5, 140, 10; Proverbs 1; Psalm 36).

There is no amount of good that can purge or counter the bad: 3:20, Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

It’s certainly bleak to this point but there is a contrast – another thing to consider.

But!  But God – note such in the following verses. Note the term “righteousness” as well.

3:21-22, But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe for there is no difference; 

3:23-26, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

So, even though man has broken God’s law, will, and honor; God offers a righteousness – a rightness pleasing to Him – in the death of Jesus.  God showed His holiness and thus anger toward sin by punishing Jesus for the sins of others.  Thus, God can justify rebels and still be completely just.  A person can be seen by God innocent of sin because the person’s sins are all completely paid for by Another.  A person can be acceptable by a faith in the justice of God for sins that was met by Jesus on the cross.

So, faith is embracing what God has declared:

1. Each and all men are rebels, sinners, and fall short of honoring and exalting God.
2. God, as holy and perfect, is fully just to demand that all sins be punished.
3. Jesus took God’s punishment for others.
4. Faith embraces Jesus as substitute and answer for the punishment due them.
5. Per their faith, God declares the sinner justified

The just shall live by faith.

If saved, the one now just continues to look to God no longer wanting to sin and instead desires to bring God glory (3:23).  He lives the rest of his life by faith – believing God and seeking God.