The Just Shall Live By Faith

This passage has been called "the gospel in the Old Testament," because Paul in just a few verses quotes Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Habakkuk — in order to explain the gospel!

You may recall, last time we saw "those who are of faith are blessed." Not just more blessed than non-believers, enjoying a little more freedom or happiness than them, but as opposed to those who are cursed.

Now Paul further describes these two distinct people groups, one cursed and one blessed. But it is not good people vs. bad people; or even church members vs. non-church members — Paul is speaking to church-going, Christ-professing people! And he says to them: those who are righteous in the sight of God live by faith, not in their own works but in the work of Christ in their place, as their substitute!