The Just shall live by Faith

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17, Habakkuk 2:4

The Just shall live by faith. What does this mean? It has been pondered by many including Martin Luther. To him this was the central theme of Paul’s gospel and in fact of the Bible. The Greek word for “just” or “righteous” is dikaios which means approved by God, righteous, just in the eyes of God, or upright. This was a legal term that was used to show a defendant’s innocence in the eyes of the court. We have been declared innocent by the one who set us free by His death on the cross and resurrection. It is by God’s amazing grace that we have been declared righteous. This happens when we believe that Jesus is Lord. Like it says in Romans 10:9-10:

“because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

This is the Indicative/Imperative that we always hear about or the “Already/Not Yet.” Indicative is defined as giving an indication, suggestion, or intimation; showing; signifying—to identify an act, state, or occurrence as actual. We are identified or shown to be saved the moment that we believe in the Lord Jesus—this is the “Already.” In essence when we become saved, we are declared righteous by the blood of Jesus. His blood has washed away all of our sins. It covers us and makes us whole. We have become reconciled to the Father by His sacrifice. He no longer recognizes our sins because Jesus has washed them away forever. This is how we are declared righteous, not by any merit that we could have obtained by ourselves. So, we are declared just by the grace of God when we believe in our hearts that Jesus is the Messiah.

This brings us to the second part of this statement “the just shall live by faith.” How should we then live? By faith in the Son of God. The word for Faith is pisteos which means faith, belief, trust, confidence, fidelity. It says in Strong’s Concordance that faith is always a gift from God and never something that can be produced by people…faith for the believer is God’s divine persuasion. It goes on to say that the word pistis in secular antiquity referred to a guarantee (warranty). Faith is God’s warranty. This is a warranty that you can count on and is a lifetime guarantee! This is the Imperative which always follows the Indicative. Imperative is defined as when something absolutely has to be done and cannot be put off. Since we have been declared to be righteous by our trust in Him, we are to live or continue in faith. This is how we remain in Him. Like for instance when Peter stepped out of the boat and was able to walk on water—it was because he believed in what Jesus had commanded him to do. It is not that he believed that he had the ability to do this, it was because he believed that God had the ability. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit. We receive this when we are saved. This is part of the guarantee that we receive by our faith and trust in Him. It says in Ephesians 1:13-14:

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Through the Holy Spirit, we can produce the fruits that God wants to produce in us. This is the power of God. When we walk in the Spirit, we can produce the fruit that God requires. He gives us the ability to do the works of God. Through Him, we can do all things, but apart from Him we can do nothing. This is the power that we have inherited, to do the works that He has given us to do. This is not something that we can earn. It is a gift from God. So how shall we then live? By faith in Him. This will produce in us the righteousness that we are to become. We are already there but we just need to realize it and come into the fullness of our sonship. This is the “Not Yet” in that we are not yet there, but we are moving towards that day. “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set out before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.” as it says in Hebrews 12:1—He is the one who wrote the book of our lives and He will bring it to completion. This is a lifetime guarantee! God Bless you.