Sermon #8 — Habakkuk Series

 

      Title:         ÒThe just shall live by faith

 

      Text:                                 Habakkuk 2:4

      Subject:               Faith in Christ

      Date:                                Sunday Evening — October 10, 2010

      Tape #                 Habakkuk #8

      Readings:           Bob Poncer and James Jordan

      Introduction:

 

My text is Habakkuk 2:4.

 

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

 

ÒThe just shall live by faith.Ó — That is my subject. — ÒThe just shall live by faith.Ó This word of God by his prophet Habakkuk is found four times in Holy Scripture (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). I presume that God the Holy Spirit intends for us to understand that ÒThe just shall live by faith!Ó

 

GodÕs people in this world live by faith, trusting him, believing his Word. That has always been the case and shall continue to be the case until time shall be no more. Trusting Christ as our Savior, we trust him as our Lord, living by faith in him. Benjamin Beddome captured the meaning of these words in one of his hymns.

 

ÒÔTis faith supports my feeble soul,

In times of deep distress,

When storms arise and billows roll,

Great God, I trust Thy grace.

 

Thy powerful arm still bears me up,

Whatever griefs befall;

Thou art my life, my joy, my hope,

And Thou my all in all.

 

Bereft of friends, beset with foes,

With dangers all around,

To Thee I all my fears disclose,

In Thee my help is found.

 

In every want, in every strait,

To Thee alone I fly;

When other comforters depart,

Thou art forever nigh.Ó

 

HabakkukÕs Questions

 

The Spirit of God here (and throughout the Scriptures) teaches us that faith is the distinctive principle of the believerÕs life. By faith we embrace our blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and live upon him. In Habakkuk 1 (vv. 2-3) the prophet cried beneath the heavy weight of his burden, ÒO Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear!ÉWhy dost thou show me iniquity and cause me to behold grievance?Ó Then, at the end of the chapter (vv. 13-17), he asked the Lord to explain himself to him, to explain to him why he would choose to use the Chaldeans to punish Judah? His question is, — ÒHow is it that you, O Lord God, God who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, will execute your wrath upon Judah by a people even worse than they?Ó

 

These were not the questions of a rebel, or a reprobate unbeliever, but the questions of a faithful man perplexed by GodÕs providential works. We might not be honest enough to put them into verbal expressions; but they are questions that frequently disturb us too. Are they not? HabakkukÕs questions remind me of DavidÕs great struggle in Psalm 73.

 

GodÕs Answer

 

We must admit that we have struggled with the same questions. The earth is filled with glaring inequity. The wicked do seem to prosper while the righteous suffer. After raising these questions, Habakkuk resolves to wait for GodÕs answer. We would be wise to do the same, and to lay the answer to heart.

 

Here in chapter 2 Habakkuk stands upon his watchtower to await GodÕs answer, and the Lord gives it to him in a vision. He does not tell us what he saw; but it must be assumed that the rest of his prophecy is the result of the vision God gave him. I say that because God commanded him to write out the vision and make it plain (vv. 2-3); and the declaration of GodÕs vision was first and foremost a word of instruction, reproof, and assurance to Habakkuk and to us (v. 4). Let us hear the instruction, bear the reproof, and rejoice in the assurance. ― ÒThe just shall live by his faith

 

The first thing we learn is that God is running things in this world right on schedule. — ÒFor the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarryÓ (Habakkuk 2:3).

 

Our time and GodÕs time are not measured by the same clock. Israel offered sacrifices for centuries in anticipation of Christ, the coming Sacrifice, by whom sin would be put away. The Jews, in unbelief, fell into idolatry and were cast off by God, because, they refused to live by faith.They refused to believe God. They stumbled over the Stumbling-Stone (Romans 9:33-10:4). Going about to establish their own righteousness, they refused to submit to the righteousness of God, never realizing that, ÒChrist is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.Ó — ÒThe just shall live by his faith.Ó But they refused to believe and perished.

 

Yet, ÔÔwhen the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the lawÓ (Galatians 4:4-5). You can count on it, not one thing willed, purposed, predestined, and/or promised by God will fail to be accomplished, and be accomplished in exactly the way and at the precise time God has ordained. A thousand years are as a day in GodÕs sight. He never gets in a hurry, and he is never late.

 

This is GodÕs answer to all HabakkukÕs questions and his answer to our own questions as well. ― ÔÔThe just shall live by his faithÓ (Habakkuk 2:4). As I mentioned at the beginning of my message, this great statement made by God to Habakkuk is repeated three times in the New Testament, all by the apostle Paul. Each place describes a specific aspect of ChristÕs all-sufficient and infallibly effectual work on behalf of his people as our Surety and Substitute. LetÕs look at those three New Testament references to HabakkukÕs words. Then we will come back to Habakkuk.

 

Romans 1:17

 

The first New Testament quotation of Habakkuk is found in Romans 1:17. It follows PaulÕs declaration, ÔÔFor I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believethÓ (Romans 1:16). Then he says, ÔÔFor therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faithÕÕ (Romans 1:17).

 

In Romans 1 Paul is standing, as it were, upon the threshold of his great Epistle on Justification, in which he shows us how sinners are made righteous and just before God, not by works, but by grace. In the Book of God we are given an inspired record of his wondrous work of redemption by Christ, a record of redemption accomplished by the righteousness and blood of his darling Son. Faith believes GodÕs witness, says, ÒAmen,Ó to the testimony of God concerning his Son, and believing the record God has given concerning his Son, believing God, we receive righteousness, free, unconditional, irrevocable, and eternal justification. — Faith does not make us righteous. Christ did that at Calvary (Romans 4:25). Faith receives the atonement and the righteousness brought in by it (Romans 5:11). Like our brother Abel, believing God, offering God the blood of his own Son, we obtain witness that we are righteous (Hebrews 11:4).

 

Galatians 3:11

 

Paul quotes Habakkuk again in Galatians 3:11.

 

ÒBut that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.Ó (Galatians 3:11)

 

Justification

 

 

Clearly, PaulÕs doctrine in this text is an undeniable declaration that justification can be obtained from God only by faith in Christ, without the deeds of the law. GodÕs elect were justified before the law was given just as we are today, by grace through faith, trusting Christ. Abel, Noah and Job, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Joseph, Moses and Aaron trusted Christ just as we do today, believing GodÕs revelation concerning his Son, and obtained justification by faith in him. Since the law had not yet been given, it is not possible that obedience to the law had anything to do with their justification.

 

Many were justified during the legal dispensation. No one was justified by his obedience to the law, even in that day. The law was not given to justify, but to condemn. The law never made anyone holy, except in a ceremonial (typical) way. The lawÕs only purpose was to point to Christ, shutting us up to faith in him alone for redemption, righteousness, and grace. All the types and commandments of the law were given to reveal both our need of Christ as our Substitute and the blessed efficacy of his work as our sin-atoning sacrifice. Therefore, it is written, ÒThe just shall live by faith. And (Paul continues in verse 12) the law is not of faith.Ó

 

Sanctification

 

Let me remind you that apostle Paul here quotes, by divine inspiration, the prophet Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:4). In fact, this statement, ÒThe just shall live by faith,Ó must have been one of PaulÕs favorite passages. He quoted HabakkukÕs words three times in his epistles (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). The fact that the Holy Spirit inspired the writing of these words four times in Holy Scripture certainly implies that there is much in them that we need to learn and remember.

 

If we carefully read the context from which this quotation is taken and the context in which Paul was inspired of God to use it, it will become obvious that the Holy SpiritÕs intent is to teach us that as we experience justification by faith in Christ, so too we experience sanctification by faith in him. Clearly, this is what Paul is teaching in Galatians 3.

 

That faith by which we live is the gift and operation of GodÕs grace in us. It is not native to man, but the gift of God, the fruit of his Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 1:12). The operation of faith in the heart produces love; and love produces obedience. These gifts of grace are not the cause of life before God, but the fruit of it. These things do not produce righteousness, but flow from it.

 

In the spring we feast our eyes on the beautiful roses and flowers blooming around our homes, with their fragrances filling the air; but no one imagines that the flowers cause the plants to live. We know that it is the living plant that brings forth the flower and its fragrance.

 

So it is with the believer. It is the grace of God that gives us life; and the life we live in faith, righteousness, and sanctification is the fruit of his grace. Love for and obedience to Christ are the fruit of grace, not the cause. They neither give us life, nor maintain it. They are the result of life given.

 

ÒBut that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, The just shall live by faith.Ó — Here, Paul is saying much the same thing as he wrote in Colossians 2:6. ― ÒAs ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.Ó The Galatians were being tempted by false preachers, Judaizing legalists, to forsake Christ and the grace of God altogether (Galatians 5:1-4). These false teachers tried to persuade them that, having been saved by grace (justified by grace), they must now keep themselves saved and make themselves perfect, that they must sanctify themselves by their own works.

 

Paul is not confusing justification and sanctification, but clarifying them. In the context (3:1-10) he is clearly addressing the matter of sanctification. He is telling us that both are found in Christ, that both are received by trusting Christ, that both are works of grace received by faith. He is saying, ÒIf you could make yourself perfect by works, you could justify yourself by your works. But that is evidently impossible, Òfor the just shall live by faith!ÕÓ

 

In Galatians 3:11 Paul is talking about the believerÕs walk of life in this world. Just as we are saved by faith, we continue in life by faith.

 

Hebrews 10:38

 

We see HabakkukÕs words again in Hebrews 10:38. Here the Holy Spirit is talking about perseverance and the assurance of it (Hebrews 10:37-39).

 

ÒFor yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.Ó (Hebrews 10:37-39)

 

When the night is darkest, faith pierces the darkness and, seeing the light of GodÕs promise and grace in Christ, refuses to quit. Faith embraces and clings to Christ.

 

Back in the book of Habakkuk, the prophet of God told us that judgment is coming. Every proud rebel shall be destroyed. But, even in the midst of the providential calamities of divine judgment in time, and when the great and final day of wrath shall come, those who live by faith have their eyes on One who is the Anchor of their souls, knowing that he is in his holy temple (2:14, 20). ― ÒFor the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea

 

Certainly, this is talking about that last day, when judgment is over and God makes all things new. It is equally certain that this is talking about this gospel age, in which the gospel of GodÕs free, sovereign, saving, grace and glory in Christ is spread over all the earth, even as God destroys the nations by the great whore of false religion, Babylon.

 

Still, there is more. If you have a marginal translation, you will see that the words of Habakkuk 2:14 might be translated, Òthe earth shall be filled by knowing the glory of the Lord That is to say, ÒWe who believe God, who live by faith, knowing the glory of God in Christ, see the fulness of GodÕs purpose in all things through all the earthÓ (Romans 8:28-39). This is exactly what our Lord declares to be the case in John 11:40. As it was upon Mt. Sinai that the whole earth was full of the glory of God (Habakkuk 3:3-4), so it is now. If only we had eyes to see it, the whole earth is full of GodÕs praise. One day soon, all things shall show forth his praise.

 

Even when God marches through the earth in wrath, with his glittering sword drawn, he is riding upon his Òchariots of salvationÓ (Habakkuk 3:8), and goes forth for the salvation of his people by Christ, his anointed (Habakkuk 3:12-13).

 

We are justified by faith; we walk by faith; we will be delivered by faith. This is the vision God gave the prophet of old. Habakkuk declares, ÒGod is working out his eternal purpose of grace for the salvation of his people. In wrath, he does remember mercy. He is making himself known. He is preserving his church and kingdom. Blessed be his holy name!Ó In consideration of all these things, the Holy Spirit tells us four times, ÒThe just shall live by faith

 

What is faith?

 

But what is faith? What is true, saving faith in Christ? What is it to believe God, to trust the Almighty? Do the Scriptures tell us? — Faith is believing God (Hebrews 11:6).

 

ÒBut 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.Ó (Hebrews 11:6)

 

Faith, true saving faith, is believing God. It is believing in God, but more — Faith is believing God. It is believing what the Bible says about God, but more — Faith is believing God.

 

ÒWithout faith it is impossible to please GodThose who are without faith are without God, without life, and without hope, because they are without Christ (Romans 8:8; Ephesians 2:12-14). Christ is our peace! Christ is our Wisdom! Christ is our Righteousness! Christ is our Sanctification! Christ is our Redemption! Christ is our All!

 

Here are the three vital, essential, basic, fundamental aspects of all true faith.

 

Faith is coming to God (Hebrews 7:25). Many physical acts are used to describe spiritual things. Faith in Christ is no exception. Faith in Christ has nothing to do with physical motion, posture, or location. You cannot come to God by a physical act (going to a confessional booth, going to an altar, walking an aisle, or saying a scripted prayer). Faith is a work of the heart. It is coming to God through Christ our Mediator. It is looking to Christ our Substitute. It is leaning on Christ our Beloved. It is bowing to Christ our King.

 

Faith is believing God. He that comes to God in Christ must believe that he is. He must believe that God is, not only that there is a God, but that God is who he says he is — Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as revealed in the Holy Scripture. God is holy, eternal, and immutable. God is mercy, grace, and love. God is righteousness, justice, and truth. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God is good. And God is sovereign. He is the God of creation, providence, and grace. He does as he will in all, with all, at all times.

 

Faith is confidence in God as the Rewarder of all who trust him. — ÒHe that cometh to God must believe that he is and believe that he is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek him.Ó Faith is not believing that God can do anything. Faith is believing that God will do everything he says in his Word he will do. Faith is always connected with the Word of God. We must believe that God will fulfill every promise and purpose toward believers in Christ Jesus. True faith actually believes and is confident that God will give us all that Christ purchased (Romans 8:31-34; 1 Corinthians 1:30).

 

HabakkukÕs Faith

 

Knowing these things, the troubled, heavy-hearted prophet, Habakkuk, closed his song and his prophecy with a marvelous declaration of determined faith, bowing to the wisdom, goodness and grace of GodÕs adorable providence, even when it appears dark and difficult (3:17-19).

 

(Habakkuk 3:17-19) ÒAlthough 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: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hindsÕ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.Ó

 

That is exactly what is meant by these words, ÒThe just shall live by faith.Ó May God the Holy Spirit, whose words these are, teach and give us grace, constantly, to live by faith, confidently trusting God our Savior.

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com