Part of our confusion arises from our interpretation of the verb from Habakkuk, "shall live."

We are interpreting "shall live" as equivalent to "shall be saved," which in turn means (according to our tradition) that when we die we will go to our mansion in Heaven. Such is our tradition and it is unscriptural.

"Shall live" has to do with our personality and behavior now as well as throughout eternity; not with our residence in Heaven but with our personality and behavior.

The concept of eternal residence in a mansion in Heaven is not scriptural. It is based on a faulty translation of John 14:2 and on an incorrect view of the goal of redemption. The goal of redemption is not to bring mankind to Heaven but to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth.

"Shall live" is not referring to going to Heaven when we die. It is speaking of learning to live in the Presence of the Father now.

Part of our confusion arises from what we understand Paul meant when he taught we are saved by grace through faith, not by any works of righteousness of which we may boast.

Let us examine what Paul meant by works, what the Protestant Reformers meant by works, and what we mean today when we contrast works and faith.

By works the Apostle Paul was referring mainly to the works of the Judaic Law, such as observing the Ten Commandments, circumcision, feast days, dietary regulations, and so forth.

The concept of works, to which Paul was referring, has to do with the religious individual who strives conscientiously to perform rituals that will please God, thereby earning righteousness and salvation.

It must be kept in mind that Paul was reacting to the teachings of the Judaizers, and all that Paul has to say about works is colored heavily by the Law and statutes given at the hand of Moses. We are saved by faith in God's grace through Christ, not by the works of the Law, statutes, and traditions of Judaism.

Paul was maintaining steadfastly that no person can please God by keeping the Ten Commandments through his own strength of character, thus evading the cross of Christ. First of all, flesh and blood cannot keep the Law because of the presence of sin in the human personality. Second, Christ is God's righteousness and God does not desire that we attempt to avoid His plan of redemption, the plan in which the cross of Christ is central.

One point of confusion here concerns the eternal moral law that is embodied in the Ten Commandments. The eternal moral law governing idolatry, adultery, and bearing false witness, cannot be broken without incurring the wrath of God. This eternally is true for both the believer and the unbeliever. The Lord Jesus did not come to do away with the eternal moral law of God but to fulfill the law of God.

To be continued.