The Just Shall Live By Believing

 

        For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: For it is the power of God unto salvation [deliverance] to one every         that believeth; To the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness [justice] of God revealed         from faith to faith: As it is written, The just shall live by faith [believing].                                    ROMANS 1:16-17

 

   The gospel is God’s message declaring man’s redemption and deliverance accomplished by His son, Jesus Christ. God’s  Word    also reveals His just justice. He is merciful, forgiving, patient. He wants His people to know His ways and believe  accordingly.  The just live by believing. Believing God is to take Him at His Word. To be fully persuaded that what He  has promised He will  absolutely perform. He delights in those who believe! He wants us to prove Him and put His Word  to the test. He never fails. God  is faithful.

 

    Here is verse 17 from the Working Translation, A Journey through the Acts and Epistles:

 

        In fact, the justice of God is revealed in it [the gospel] From [the foundation for] believing unto believing,

        Even as it has been written: ^{Habakkuk 2:4:} “The just will live by believing.”                                          ROMANS 1:17

 

   “The just will live by believing” is quoted in Romans from Habakkuk 2:4. God showed the prophet Habakkuk a vision of events that were future. It would be a time of evil-doing   and injustice from the wicked, or lawless, resulting in violence, strife and contention.

 

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: For the wicked [lawless] doth compass about the righteous [the just]; Therefore wrong judgment [justice] proceedeth.                                               HABAKKUK 1:4

 

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 soul [the lawless one] which is lifted up [with pride] is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his faith [by believing].                                                   HABAKKUK 2:3-4

 

    God contrasts the injustice of the lawless one with the justness of the just who live by believing God and the truth of the gospel. That gospel says we are holy and beloved, sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ. He has forgiven our iniquities and remembers our sins no more. We have redemption through the blood of His son, and are seated with him at the Father’s right hand. We are more than conquerors, endued with power from on high, strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man, filled with all the fullness of God!

 

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, According to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.