Living Faith, Part 1

The just shall live by his faith, Habakkuk 2:4 

Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith, Habakkuk 2:4. This verse is quoted by Paul three times in the New Testament, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:1, and Hebrews 10:38. It is the foundation of living faith. Paul continuously argued against justification by works of the law, Romans 3:28, 5:1, Galatians 2:16, 3:11, and 3:24. Faith in keeping the law is dead faith; not living faith.

Romans 5:1: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, verse 2. Peter wrote a similar statement, 1 Peter 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In Romans 4, Paul uses Abraham as an example of one who was justified by faith; even before the law.

We cannot allow people to twist the Scriptures; many do. They want to bend the Bible to mean what they want it to mean. The Bible is clear. The just live by faith. We are justified by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac, Hebrews 11:9. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness, Romans 4:3. It was by faith he offered his son Isaac, this act proved Abraham’s faith was not dead faith; but living faith. Let your faith live.

We are not saved by works but by grace through faith. God has given us truth. Jesus expects us to act upon this truth. Living faith is demonstrated by our reaction to grace. Without a response, faith is dead faith. Let your faith be a living faith. In part 2, we will examine what the Bible says about those who want to be accepted as Christians because say they believe.