Last time we explored the Greek phrase… ek pisteos eis pistin from Romans 1:17; the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. This time we are going to look at the last part of that verse:

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. KJV

Dikaios ek pisteos zesetai… the just shall live by faith. The “just,” the justified, the bride of Christ is to live by faith in the One to whom she is betrothed. And that command comes from the Word (as it is written). But Christians often miss the key point Paul was making. He was repeating what Habakkuk said:

Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. KJV

And so the writer of Hebrews (I believe that was Paul also):

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. KJV

The whole law, 613 precepts, were given to Moses, David reduced them to 11, Isaiah further reduced them to 3, and Habakkuk boiled them down to one… the just shall live by faith. While Habakkuk was referring to the “just” who were justified by the Law, Paul referred to those who find their justification in Christ. But more to our point here, Paul says that when we “live by faith” we are revealing the “righteousness of God.” Last time we said that from faith to faith means from a “believing heart” to an “unbelieving heart.” When we live by faith we are revealing God’s righteousness to an unbelieving world.

How powerful is this verse in Romans? It was the verse that changed Martin Luther, that made the world all over again. It’s not about “man’s works,” its all about the work of Christ on the Cross. That is the “righteousness of God” that is revealed. And that righteousness is revealed in the life of a Christian who is living by faith in the Gospel of Christ; living faith by faith.

That was what God revealed to a lonely monk on his knees in Whittenberg… there is a life that can be lived that is different from that of other men; the life of faith… and it was those words that led him to change the world. A writer put it this way: This powerful text has a mysterious influence on the life of Luther. It was a creative sentence, both for the reformer and for the Reformation. It was in these words that God then said, “Let there be light!”… and there was Light!

It was in that moment of revelation that Luther passed from a life of fear into a life of faith. And so it has been for centuries for the bride of Christ… and so it is today. We are told by the Word of God to live by faith in the Gospel of Christ, and we all recognize the promise of eternal life that carries for each of us. But, and I think more importantly, it comes with an obligation to ensure that the Gospel of Christ is revealed to an unbelieving world by the way we “live by that faith,” because  therein is the righteousness of God revealed.

So, Paul admonished us, along with Habakkuk, to raise our understanding of what it means to live by faith to a new level. Let us walk out our life here on earth (dikaios ek pisteos zesetai) so that in the process (ek pisteos eis pistin). It’s the life that is lived in faith that reveals the Gospel to the unfaithful… from one heart to another… from faith to faith. 

It is the challenge that our bridegroom has put before us, and it is a challenge that He full well knew we could never overcome. And for that reason, among a multitude of others, He has given us His Spirit, the very One who enables us to meet and overcome that challenge:

Zech 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. KJV

Live by faith, from faith to faith, and be rewarded with the blessing of knowing that your life is revealing “life” to those who are dead in their sins. We cannot, and never will, “save” anyone, but we have been blessed by our bridegroom to partner with Him and play a role in the mighty work of His Spirit.

 ek pisteos eis pistin … dikaios ek pisteos zesetai