"The just shall live by faith" means if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we will go to Heaven when we die. It has nothing whatever to do with how we live.

"The just shall live by faith" is the cry of the Protestant Reformation. It has come to mean the righteous go to Heaven on the basis of their belief in Christ rather than on the basis of their behavior. "We are saved by faith alone" it is stated.

However, this is not at all what the passage means. Living by faith means living by trusting God instead of our own wisdom and strength. It is a way of living.

According to Habakkuk, the opposite of living by faith is being puffed up and having desires that are not upright. The righteous is not puffed up in his own abilities and his desires are pleasing to God.

The verse is repeated three times in the New Testament. Paul emphasized faith in Christ as distinguished from gaining righteousness by observing the various statutes of the Law of Moses. Paul never contrasted faith in Christ with upright behavior. How could he? True faith in Christ always results in righteous behavior.

The true definition of living by faith is found in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews. The eleventh chapter is introduced by the following passage in the tenth chapter:

But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.  (Hebrews 10:38)

The eleventh chapter, which is a prolonged definition of the just shall live by faith, consists entirely of works, of actions in response to the revealed will of God. Thus true faith is not belief in doctrine but actions in response to the revealed will of God.

Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. (John 6:57)

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, (Hebrews 11:17)

The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. (Hebrews 11:38,39)

To be continued.