The Righteous Will Live By Faith

Habakkuk was a 7th century prophet (during the reign of Jehoiakim) and was likely a priest from the tribe of Levi and directed the music. In Habakkuk 1, Habakkok complains to God that the "wicked doth compass about the righteous." But God answers him and says that things are going to get worse...

Habakkok 1:6

6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter
and hasty nation, which shall march through the
breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces
that are not theirs.

Habakkuk complains again at the end of Habakkuk 1 and in Habakkuk 2 God answers him...

Habakkuk 2:4

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not
upright in him: but the just shall live by his
faith.

God tells Habakkuk that He does not regard the proud but the just (righteous) shall live by his faith. Righteousness is not puffed up, it is humble before God. Humility is a leading characteristic of faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:17

17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.

"from faith to faith" means that believers walk in faith from the beginning of their belief to the end of their life when they will enter into the kingdom of God by faith. We are made aware of sin and of our guilt in sin by the law, but it is by faith in Jesus that we may live in righteousness...

Romans 3:20-26

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the
law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the
law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith
of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Galatians 3:21-26

21 Is the law then against the promises of God?
God forbid: for if there had been a law given
which could have given life, verily righteousness
should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,
that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be
given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the
law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards
be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring
us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer
under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:10

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are
under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that continueth not in all things which
are written in the book of the law to do them.

Those who rely on righteousness by following the law only are under a curse because it is written that if you miss one aspect of the law, you are guilty of the whole law. It is only by faith in Jesus and humility before God that we can be forgiven our sins and covered in the righteousness of Jesus.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour
of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall
yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from
the fold, and there shall be no herd in the
stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in
the God of my salvation.

Joshua 1:8

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day
and night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein: for
then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and
then thou shalt have good success.

Reference: Guest Speaker Eddie Broussard,
Calvary Worship Center, Colorado Springs, CO,
Sermon
2/18/2018

The Grim Reaper Preacher says, "Try reading the Bible from cover to cover - you'll like it."