The Six Words That Explain Everything

We’ve been moving at a quick pace through the book of Habakkuk on Sunday mornings. Last week, however, we slowed down to take a closer look at what is one of the most important verses in all of scripture. (You can listen to the message here.)

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.

In context, God is talking about the two types of people in the world: those who trust in themselves and those who trust in God. Habakkuk had just complained to God that His plan of using the Babylonians to bring justice to Judah wasn’t very fair. Sure, the people of Judah needed to see God’s justice (that was Habakkuk’s main request in chapter 1); but it didn’t make sense to him that God would use the Babylonians to bring it about. To Habakkuk, there were two types of people in the world: good guys and bad guys. And the Babylonians were definitely the bad guys. In His response, God basically told Habakkuk that there aren’t good guys and bad guys. There’s God, and then there’s bad guys. Sin is universal, and justice is justice; so be careful what you ask for. But there is a way to be saved from the judgment: trust God, not yourself.

This verse is quoted 3 times in the New Testament, each time shedding new light on its application for us.

Romans 1:16-17; We are Justified by faith
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith.

Here, Paul is explaining what the Gospel is. It’s not achieved through good works or by earning our way back to God. The “righteousness of God” is not something to be attained by effort, but is a gift given by God to all who “live by faith”. This is called Justification, and this verse is the cornerstone of Paul’s teaching on the doctrine. In fact, when Martin Luther read it, he said that he “was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates…that place in Paul was for me truly the gate to paradise.” We are not made right by God based on our actions, but only through faith. The righteous shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:11; We are Sanctified by faith

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith.

In Galatians, Paul is writing to Christians who have been saved by grace through faith, but are now being led to add behavioralism to the gospel. The idea was that to be a true Christian, they also had to become Jewish- eating kosher, keeping festivals, and circumcision. Paul was livid at the idea. He said that since the Gospel is clear that keeping the Law can’t save you, why would anyone want to go back to the Law once we’re saved? It’s like being set free from prison, and then taking the ball and chain home with you as a souvenir. Or as he asks in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Not only are we justified by faith, but the righteous shall LIVE by faith, not by rules.

Hebrews 10:35-39; We Persevere by faith

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

The author of Hebrews is talking to Christians about enduring through tough times. He knows his readers are struggling with what they see and what they’re experiencing, and wondering where God is in all of it. In the middle of his comments, he brings back Habakkuk 2:4. It’s as if he’s saying, “Listen. We know we’re made righteous not by works, but by our faith. And we know we walk the path of righteousness not by rules, but by our faith. So now- when the chips are down- don’t fold. Stick with the plan: the righteous shall live by faith.” We can’t see the ending, and we can barely see what’s going on right now. But we still trust God and depend on Him for a good result. Because that’s what the righteous do. That’s how they live. By faith.

So if you’re someone who is trying to work your way back to God through moral living or religious duties or by being a “good person”, please stop. You’re only moving farther away. Salvation comes only by faith.

If you’re a Christian who is trying to impress God and others through rules and rigid moral codes and self-righteousness, please stop. You’re only puffing up your soul with pride and pharisaism. Spiritual growth comes only by faith.

If you’re a Christian who can’t seem to get on top of the difficult circumstances in your life and you wonder where God is in the midst of your struggle, don’t stop. Your faith will be rewarded.

The righteous will live by faith. It explains everything.