The Just Shall Live by Faith

Who first said, “the just shall live by faith”? Many might answer, “Martin Luther.” While it is true that Luther was transformed by this phrase, he did not create this phrase, but rather rediscovered its truth which led to the reformation (it is appropriate that we come to this passage on a Sunday which is recognized in many churches as “Reformation Sunday” in commemoration of Luther’s nailing the 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg 498 years ago.

Others might think that it was the Apostle Paul who first said, “the just shall live by faith.” While Paul wrote these words on multiple occasions (Romans 1:17 Galatians 3:11), he was quoting from Habakkuk who had penned them over 600 years earlier as the Lord was revealing His plans for Judah (including their destruction at the hands of the Babylonians).

It will be our great privilege this Lord’s Day to study this momentous text in its original context. In what sense do the righteous live by faith? How does Paul’s understanding compare to what this phrase originally meant to Habakkuk? We will see in Habakkuk 2 that the Lord is contrasting the man of pride and greed with the person of humble faith. Which are you?