More thoughts from Habakkuk

 

We're focused this week on a verse in chapter two:

“Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith.  (v. 4)

Living by faith . . . . Last time we studied, we noted that the gospel is powerful - so powerful that it saves everyone who comes to Christ for salvation. Let's look at this verse in detail today.  

One important thing is the word righteous. Where does that righteousness come from? The scholars tell us that the word itself comes from the rudimentary courts of the ancient world. It means to declare a person "not guilty" and to declare that person innocent of all charges. So, if we are righteous, it means that we can stand before God and be declared "not guilty."

But that's not something we can do, ourselves. So, the gospel provides what we can never provide for ourselves -- because it it were based on our own "goodness," we would all be standing condemned before God. I don't think anybody would dare to say that they were good enough to go to heaven, all on their own, do you? A comic once said, "a clear conscience is the result of a poor memory!"

Righteousness is what we need.

Righteousness is what we don't have. Not on our own.

So, God, knowing we could never be righteous on our own, provided for us a righteousness that comes down to us from heaven. It's not anything that we earn. It's a free gift.

Where can guilty sinners find this gift? We find it in Jesus Christ!

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

So, we see that the gospel is powerful because we receive needed righteousness from Jesus Christ.

Our verse says that this righteousness from God is received by faith. Everybody who receives the gospel is saved the same way -- by faith. We need this because we are all on the same ocean liner and it's going down. If there's anyone who doesn't believe me, look at this:

even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:22-23)

Did you see that? "there is no distinction."

No difference. Doesn't matter if we are rich or poor. Young or old. Black or brown. Male or female.  We all stand condemned. We all need the righteousness we hear about in the gospel. 

Yep, we are all in the same ocean liner, and it has definitely hit an iceberg. The water is rushing in, and if God doesn't help us, we will perish. People have a problem accepting the gospel because deep down they think that God will make deals. If we only try hard enough, do our best, clean up our way of living, play by the rules and be nice to others, then God will let us into heaven in the end. 

In a word, no. Ain't happening.

The only person who has walked this earth and was truly righteous? Jesus. He was pure, holy, and perfect in every single way. He never sinned. He never gave in to temptation. 
The rest of us? We fall so short that we can't begin to be compared to Him.

If we try to come to God on the basis of some good works, that we treat people right, and we pat dogs and comfort crying babies, we will be turned away from heaven. We can never achieve perfection on our own. But if we come to God on the basis of our faith in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we will be accepted.

If anyone wants to say a "Praise the Lord" right here, we can wait!

The gospel tells us that by Jesus' righteousness, we are declared just in the eyes of God. We talked before about one man who was the unlikely start of the Reformation. The battle cry of the Protestant Reformation was "Sola Fide," or "by faith alone."

Saved by faith alone. Not by good works.

Not by our own righteousness.

Not by baptism. Not by good intentions. Not by our gifts to charity.

By faith in Jesus Christ.

We don't need a "Plan B." (Grin)

Just "down the road" from me is a little university that is known for it's skillful and talented football team. They are also known for their orange tiger paw logo.....Clemson has a motto that unites all the students and alumni (like me) when we say we are "ALL IN!"

We need to be all in for Jesus, too. 

We see good news and bad news from that verse up there. The bad news is first - there is no hope of heaven unless we are all in for Jesus. Being a church member, or giving to the church building fund, or doing lots of awesomely good works -- none of that will save us.

Now for the good news: those who put their trust in Jesus Christ, those who are all in for Him, are saved forever! 
That's the real meaning of "the righteous will live by faith."