Habakkuk 2:4
The great biblical doctrine of justification is the gracious act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous and gives him or her perfect standing in Jesus Christ. The ‘righteous’ person isn’t someone who has met all of God’s requirements by means of good works. The Bible says that there is none righteous, no not one! It is by grace that we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves. It is not the result of works, lest any should boast. Not only are we saved by grace through faith, but we are also instructed to live our lives by faith. Faith is a lifestyle that is the exact opposite of being proud and self-sufficient. Instead of depending upon its own moral resources, faith recognizes that Christ alone must be the source of one’s confidence.
The prophet Habakkuk knew that difficult times were coming to the people of Judah. He knew that their only hope was to trust God’s Word and rest in His sovereign will. He recognized that the ‘just,’ those who have been declared righteous by God, are those who have declared their faith in God’s salvation and live by that faith. To live by faith means that you believe God’s Word and obey it no matter how you feel, no matter what you see, and no matter what the consequences may be. The just live by faith!
For more, read Romans 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:1-40
