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

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

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

The meaning of "the just shall live by faith" has been misunderstood since the time of the Protestant Reformers. As a result, the testimony of the Church has been weakened. Agreement with doctrinal statements has been emphasized at the expense of righteous behavior. True faith is an active relationship with God that governs at all times what we are and what we do. Faith is not merely a belief in theological facts. The grace of God that brings salvation always produces righteous behavior.

What is the meaning of "the just shall live by faith"?

The term just means "righteous"—an individual whose personality and behavior are acceptable to God.

The word live means "to be, think, speak, and act."

The term faith means "love for, always seeking, reliance on, hope in, obedience to, and trust in God."

"The just shall live by faith" is defined as follows: the individual whose personality and behavior are acceptable to God thinks, speaks, and acts as one who loves, seeks, relies on, hopes in, obeys, and trusts God.

The opposite of the just person is the unrighteous person—the individual whose personality and behavior are not acceptable to God.

The opposite of to live by faith is to think, speak, and act as one who does not love, seek, rely on, hope in, obey, or trust God.

In Habakkuk 2:4 the contrast is not between faith and unbelief but between faith and pride. Faith is more related to faithfulness than it is to belief or acknowledgment. Living has to do with what we are and how we behave ourselves in the Presence of God.

The expression from the Book of Habakkuk, "the just shall live by his faith," was quoted by the Apostle Paul and made famous by the Protestant Reformers.

In order to find favor with God, Martin Luther disciplined himself with prayer, fasting, and whipping. Martin Luther finally was given the understanding that God's favor comes as a gift to men, that righteousness in God's sight cannot be achieved by our own efforts, abilities, or achievements. God counts men as acceptable to Himself (justified, righteous), not on the basis of their goodness or religious works but on the basis of God's mercy and kindness through Christ.

This is the truth, being supported by Paul's explanation of forgiveness and justification under the new covenant.

However, something has gone terribly wrong. What the Spirit of Christ meant when He spoke through Habakkuk, "the just shall live by his faith," and what the expression has come to mean in our day, are hardly related.

To be continued.