August 27, 2006
THE JUST BY FAITH SHALL LIVE
Hebrews 10:38

   "The LORD answered...and said, 'Write the vision, and engrave it in tablets, in order that he who reads it may run.' For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his life which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith" (Hab. 2:2-4). Thus wrote Habakkuk to Israel on the eve of their captivity!
   The Hebrews quotation is directly in line with Habakkuk. "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, I will have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:35-39). In Hebrew the emphasis for the just is on "living by faith" as chapter 11 gives so many examples.
   "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, 'cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, 'the man that does them shall live in them.' Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal 3:10-13). Galatians emphasizes that justification or righteousness comes only by faith and not by the law. Faith is God's channel, not law!
   On the positive note, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes (faith); to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.' For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth..." (Rom. 1:16-18). The gospel brings righteousness from God when received by faith!
   In the light of this Old Testament verse shining so brightly so many times in the New Testament, it is abundantly clear that Old Testament saints never had the added burden of works of the law for righteousness.  God has reckoned saints in every age righteous by faith alone?

Ivan L. Burgener