Just live by faith

Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Note the faith and trust of Habakkuk 3:17-19.)

There are two ways people approach the puzzling question of the Divine providence. Some object to it, quarrel against God and contest his providences. Let God be true, but every man a liar. They are proud and lifted up, believing they are right and God is wrong. Some react with faith, submit to God, wait on his work, knowing the Judge of all the earth will do right. Ultimately, this intersects with the promise of the coming Messiah – those who received him and those who rejected him (John 1:11-12). Some scoffed at the promise of his coming, and did not believe him when he came. Some held dear the promise, and believed of Jesus as the Christ when he came.

Paul makes reference to this “living by faith” statement of Habakkuk three times in his writings.

Faith is ready to preach the gospel.

• Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Justification is by faith and not the law.

• Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Faith is an encouragement to perseverance.

• Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Living by faith begins with a new birth.

• Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Living by faith trusts in God. It is not just some blind leap, but buys the truth of God’s word and sells it not. Matthew Poole calls it a “well-grounded dependence on a persuasion of the truth of God’s promises.”

• Creator - Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
• Owner - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 … ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
• Saviour – Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
• Guide - John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…

Surely we can and should trust the one who is all these things to us.