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32.Faith 2
Now, let’s look at what “THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” means. Even in today’s verses, Apostle Paul is using two phrases “from faith to faith” and “the righteous man shall live by faith” exchangeably.
This “the righteous man shall live by faith” was reform concept of many reformists, including Martin Luther. And this phrase is very important verse that it appears three times in Paul’s letter. Therefore, we must have very clear understanding of this phrase. Apostle Paul is quoting “the righteous man shall live by faith” from Old Testament, so if we look at the OT, we will be clearer of its meaning.
<Habakuk 2:4>
4
"See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous will live by his
faith
When Apostle Paul quoted this from Habakuk, it means that he knew exactly what Habakuk was talking about. So if we find out what Habakuk is talking about, we can find out what Romans is talking about.
Habakuk is the prophet who was active from BC 600-610. BC 600-610 is when Israel to the North fell and right before South Judah fell to Babylon (BC 586). Therefore, this was the time when Israel was at its worse point of fall. If you read Habakuk very carefully, Habakuk calls out to God when Israel was idolizing other gods and committing numerous unrighteous things. He cries out to God like this, “God, how come these ungodly and immoral people live so well, but people worshipping you are suffering so much? God, how can you let this happen?”
But God does not answer him. God is speechless. Then Habakuk yells out again saying how God cannot respond to his calling.
<Habakuk 1:2-4>
2 How long, O
LORD, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!"
but you do not save?
3 Why do you
make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the
law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
Then, God answers from verse 5 saying, “Okay. I will raise people of Chaldea and strike Israel.”
<Habakuk 1:5-7>
5
"Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your
days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
6
I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwelling places not their own.
7
They are a feared and dreaded people;
they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.
Habakuk is astonished. People of Chaldea is Babylonians. At the time when comparing to Asshur, Babylonia was weak country nor they believed God. But God was saying He will use these cruel people to strike Israel. God was basically saying He will use more wicked people to strike Israel’s wickedness. And for real, Chaldea stole all of Israel’s possessions and became well off. So Habakuk complains to God again saying, “How can you be still when wicked people swallow the righteous people?
<Habakuk 1:13-16>
13
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrong.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than
themselves?
14
You have made men like fish in the sea,
like sea creatures that have no ruler.
15
The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,
he catches them in his net,
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
and so he rejoices and is glad.
16
Therefore he sacrifices to his net
and burns incense to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
and enjoys the choicest food.
Habakuk is complaining to God under this assumption of considering himself righteous and Israel as good people. That’s why he is complaining about how God used barbarians like Chaldea to hit Israel. Then, in Chapter 2, he says he will wait and see how God is going to respond.
Therefore, God says, “Habakuk, you think you and Israel are good people who obey law, and are you considering that you guys are righteous man? But the righteous man lives by faith.” You and Israel and Babylonians are all the same. Only those whom God granted faith are righteous men and ,they are the only ones who became alive.” And God clearly tells him that, in order to teach and give lessons to those who became righteous, God uses wicked ones, but these wicked ones will definitely get destroyed at an appointed time.
<Habakuk 2:2-4>
2
Then the LORD replied:
"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
3
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.
4
"See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous will live by his faith
And then God explains how people of Chaldea will be cursed in five different ways. So this is how Habakuk got answers to his cry out to God. Then, finally, He says, “Oh, I see, God. We did not become alive b/c we were special, but it was only through your gift of faith. And you even use wicked people to teach us and grow us into people who are acceptable to your standard. God, revive us in years and even in the midst of your wrath, have mercy on us.”
<Habakuk 3:2>
2 LORD, I have
heard of the report about Thee and I fear;
O LORD, revive They work in the
midst of the years,
in the midst of the years make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
The word “revival” appears only once here in the whole Bible, and it means “to rectify clean” or “get rid of evil.” “Revival” is not what people normally think as people increasing in their numbers or their possessions getting richer. Habakuk is not praying, “God, please make us Israel richer and increase our number.” Instead, he is praying, “God, if that you’re trying to do, use Babylon if it is necessary, but just hurry up in getting rid of our evil. And even during this time of your disciplining us, let us be prepared for coming redemption.” We are studying very important concept here. Please discern well and make sure to remember.
And as Habakuk mediates on God’s work, the historical event of splitting up the sea and stopping the time, he gets assurance that God will definitely let it happen. This is the story in Book of Habakuk. If you look at the last part of Habakuk, when Habakuk, through God’s revelation, learns of how God’s wrath that was supposed to fall on him was so horrible, he says that his intestine was quivering, his lips were trembling, his bones were rotting, and his body was shaking. And knowing that horrible curse of Babylon, which was supposed to land on him, too, got taken away because he got saved through God’s gift of faith and became righteous, he rejoices.
And this is when he makes his famous confession that we all are very familiar with: ‘Even if sinners live better than me (a citizen of God), even if my fig tree bears no fruit and my vineyard has no grape and persimmon tree has no fruit and no cattle in the stalls, I can rejoice still only by the salvation God has granted me through the gift of faith.’
<Habakuk 3:17-18>
17
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
So, likewise, “faith” begins with God and ends with God, and it is God’s gift and God’s grace. Therefore, “from this faith we get to faith” and “righteous lives by faith.”
<Ephesians 2:8-9>
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
“Faith” does not come from our end. It is God’s gift and outcome of God’s grace. Therefore, since faith comes from God first, it can never fail. That “objective faith,” which is given to us as his gift, will definitely become “subjective faith” and lead us through. Will God fail in this wherein He even killed His Son to save us?
<Philippians 1:6>
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
So, do not worry. Do not be impatience. And do not even be frustrated by saying why my life sucks. God will definitely complete us, and our enemies will all fall into curse and hell. They are going to fall into hell, where once its door is shut, it never opens again. Please bear it and endure. Faith will surely lead us into faith, and righteous will definitely live by faith.
Small Group Discussion
1. What does “from faith to faith” mean?
2. What does “righteous shall live by faith mean”?
3. When God used Chalea to strike Israel, why did Habakuk complain to God? <Habakuk 1:5-7>, <Habakuk 1:13-16>
4. Later Habakuk confesses differently. How was he able to say this? <Habakuk 3:2>
5. What does “revival” in Habakuk 3:2 mean?
6. <Habakuk 3:17-18> is same confession all believers should have. Do you have this confession too?
7. We studied life of Abraham last week and Habakuk today. Now, why is Bible calling Abraham as our forefather of faith?
8. Salvation starts from a point of impossibility. Look at Abraham and Habakuk. What did you learn from them? What relationship do they have with you?
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