“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” – Habakkuk 2:4
Comment: To live means a way of life or lifestyle. Every man has a lifestyle guided and directed by principles or rules of law. From the standpoint of the Holy Bible, two basic ways of life exist. A life of falsehood and deceit which leads to destruction and that of truth and righteousness that gives eternal life.
God created man to worship and praise Him in spirit and in truth and he is required to live a holy or perfect life not just of the law but that which is based on faith in God and Jesus Christ, the word or truth personified. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. – John 1:17
To Habakkuk God revealed thus: “Behold, the soul which is lifted up (proud) is not upright in him: but the just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). The just is identified in Ezekiel 18:5-9. To the Christians at Galatia, St. Paul said, “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. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” – Galatians 3:10-11.
St. Paul was an example of one who lived by the law which did not profit him. How he persecuted the Christian faith based on the laws of Moses (Judaism). He confessed to the Christians at Philippa thus: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” – Philippians 3:7-9.
So, when one exercised faith in the word of God, the truth by deeds of righteousness such one lives by faith to obtain Salvation or eternal life.
Prayer: O God our Father in heaven. Help us Your children to appreciate the need to constantly live by faith in Thee and Thy word through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.