“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17 KJV).
The latter portion of Romans 1:17 brings us to one of the greatest affirmations in all Scripture: “The just shall live by faith.” That spiritual truth first appeared in the book of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, and served as the catalyst that inspired the Protestant Reformation. In addition to its appearance here in Romans 1:17, this great spiritual truth is also referenced in the New Testament books of Galatians and Hebrews as well (see Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38).
This conviction is one that characterized the great men and women of God’s Word and continues to do so in the lives of those who seek to honor God today. The following author highlights the fruit of that principle in the lives of God’s people…
“…the thing that characterizes the righteous person above all else is an abiding trust in God and His promises. Because righteous people trust the Lord, they continue to believe Him even when He seems slow to act. They do not just believe in God—they believe God. Because they believe the Lord, they are faithful to Him and they obey Him—truly though imperfectly— out of their deep loyalty to Him.” (1)
When facing a circumstance that defies easy explanation, we can benefit from remembering that the just shall live by faith. We can also draw comfort and insight from the following portions of Scripture…
“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you” (Psalm 37:5 NLT).
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).
“If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it” (James 1:5 TLB).
With these things in mind, we can make a practical (albeit difficult) application. Since this passage tells us that the just shall live by faith, we should not be surprised if God permits us to enter a life circumstance (or many life circumstances) that requires us to exercise it. Therefore, we should recognize that God has an ultimate purpose behind the challenges and difficulties He allows us to experience and will ultimately bring something beneficial from them.
(1) The Righteous shall live by faith (2014, January 10). Ligonier Ministries. https://learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/righteous-shall-live-faith