THE ETERNAL GOSPEL 

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

Habakkuk 1:13 ESV

You who are of purer eyes than to see evil
and cannot look at wrong,
why do you idly look at traitors
and remain silent when the wicked swallows up
the man more righteous than he?

2:4 

 Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith. 

I began reading Habukkuk and thought, “what a whiner.”  The other Old Testament heroes who whine are Jacob, David, and Elijah.  It is interesting that these three are of the most significant men of the Old Testament.  All three have special roles, are true heroes, and have some particular relationship to God. 

Habukkuk’s question in 1:13 is not quite that of theodicy for it is far more directed to the God of Bible faith.  “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?”

It cannot be taken as anything less than accusation against God.  Habakkuk accuses God, though infinitely holy, of being so unconcerned with evil that He not only does nothing to control it but is silent when the righteous despair.

When God answers He does not justify His conduct but calls Habakkuk and all who read to realize the only responses God expects from them.  2:4 Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.  The faith of the righteous must withstand both time and circumstances.  2:3 “ For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.  If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

The importance of the requirements laid down in the statement, “The righteous shall live by faith”, cannot be over emphasized.  It is quoted three times in the New Testament. Each time with a slightly different nuance.

First it is quoted in Galatians 3:11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith”.  The purpose of use Paul has for it here is to define the cause and content of righteousness before God.  He lays down the principle that “a man is justified by faith and not by the works of the law.”   And then quotes Habakkuk 2:4 as his proof text.  The intent of Paul is his gospel as he states it in Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Again Paul in Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith” .  His statement here is that there is only one relationship man can have with God.  That is by faith.  The righteousness of God which the gospel reveals is directed to faith and is received by faith.  Whether it be conversion or the Christian life of sanctification it does not matter there is no other way to know and do the righteousness of God but through faith in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 10:37-38 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
³⁸ but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him”, sum these two emphasis up in a look at faith both as the means of conversion and the strength of perseverance.  Here the fact of faith and preservation are united.  When the story is completed and the end is known it will be said that Christ Jesus did it all.  He redeemed us and carried us through the wilderness.  What was required of us?  Nothing more or less than faith in Him.

JESUS PAID IT ALL

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone

 For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

And when before the throne,

I stand in Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
My lips shall repeat.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.