The just shall live by faith
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Preamble:
1. When God speaks once, that is enough
Psa 62:11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
But when it came to the matter of the just living by faith, God mentioned it three times.
2. In scriptures, at the mouth of two of three witnesses, a matter is firmly established and confirmed
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
But in the matter of the just living by faith, we have four witnesses.
That shows the importance God attaches to this principle.
(The Lord this day will be addressing those of us here today who are experiencing one form of discouragement of the other. As long as you are a believer (or will become one today) all hope is not lost as the Lord is yet to finish with you. All you are expected to do is to fix yourself into the instructions that God will be passing on to us today.)
We shall be having three parts in this study; viz :-
A: Who are the just or how can you be just.
B: What is Faith?
C: How to live by Faith.
A: Who are the Just:
The just are those who have been justified by God.
What is justification?
A state whereby an undeserving sinner is declared not guilty by his faith in Christ and the work on Calvary.
It is the act of God’s grace whereby a sinner is declared free from the guilt and penalty of sin because of his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
NLT
Rom 4:1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did He discover about being made right with God?
Rom 4:2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, He would have had something to boast about. But that was not God's way.
Rom 4:3 For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."
Rom 4:4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.
Rom 4:5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
Rom 4:1-5 (LB) Eph 2:8-10 (LB);
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Gal 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Justification is an exchange of life.
2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Blessings of Justification
1. Peace with God. – Rom 5:1
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. Access into God’s presence – Rom 5:2
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. Joy in time of trouble. Rom. 5:3
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience
4. Hope Rom 5:5
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
B: What is Faith?
Trusting God and what He says.
Resting in what God has done for us in the past and hoping for what He will do for us in the future.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith therefore means to depend on God; trust in God; have confidence in God; believing God.
C: How to live by Faith:
Since Faith is a conviction based on past experiences that God’s new and fresh surprises will be ours, you RELY on the fact that the God that did it in
the past is alive and able to do it in the present situation that is confronting you.
The God that kept you alive is able to provide you with a child, job, and husband etc. – 1 Sam 17:14-37
Faith in God gives confidence; gives victory over fear, failure and intimidating situations; makes seemingly big problems small.
CONCLUSION:
1. It is only the just that can live by faith.
2. It is only by faith that the just can live (whatever is not of faith is sin)
We Praise, We Pray, We Preach