LOOKING AT THE CLAUSE "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" TAKEN FROM REVELATION 13 STUDIES BY NYRON MEDINA

However we need to look at the term “the just shall live by Faith” a little. The scripture taken from Romans 1:17 primarily was used by God to convert Luther and to interest his mind in the study of Justification by Faith which would become the leading doctrine in the Protestant Reformation, that would condemn the Roman Catholic doctrine of justification by works.

i. The phrase is also found in Heb. 10:38 and Gal. 3:11; and is derived from Hab. 2:4.

ii. The phrase “the just shall live by Faith” does not mean Justification by Faith, but sanctification by Faith, since it refers to how one lives and not how one is made righteous. This is clearly seen in the context of the verse as Paul uses it in Heb. 10:32-38.

iii. However, to be just, one has to be justified first, for a just person is a justified person. (Job 4:17; Job. 9:1,2; Job. 12:4); Job. 25:4.

iv. Thus “the just shall live by Faith” Led Luther to study and understand what it meant to be justified by Faith. Gal. 3:11.

v. Briefly, here is what justified means.

1. To be justified means to be made pure. Job 4:17; Job 17:9; Job 15:14; Job 25:4.

2. To be justified means to be washed and to be sanctified (separated from sin). 1 Cor. 6:9-11. 

3. To be justified means to receive the “washing of regeneration” and the “renewing of the Holy Spirit”. Tit. 3:5-7.

vi. Briefly, here is what “Faith” means.

1. All the uses of the word “Faith” in the Bible, from Genesis down to the last saint to exist upon the earth, is described in Heb. 11:3,4,39, and Heb. 10:37-39.

2. And the definition of this universal Faith is “evidence of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1.

3. Evidence of things not seen is the revealed word of God. Pro. 22:17-21.

4. Faith is the “word of Faith” which we preach as Paul explains from Moses. (Deut. 30:11-14; Rom. 10:6-8).

5. Thus, while we must believe and trust, they are not the same as Faith which is always the Faith of Jesus or God. Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:3.

vii. Briefly, here is Luther’s definition of Faith in its real sense. He says:

“This understanding… is faith itself, a knowledge; of things invisible and trustworthy. It is a hidden understanding, for it is one of those things that a man, know; by his own powers.” Quoted in, James M. Kittelson, Luther The Reformer, pg. 94.

viii. Briefly, here is Luther’s definition of being “justified.” He says.

“…faith of itself is God’s gift and God’s work in our hearts, which therefore justifieth us, because it apprehendeth Christ our redeemer.” Martin Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, pg. 98.

“…but as concerning justification, Christ and I must be entirely conjoined and united together, so that he may live in me and I in him.” Ibid, pg. 169.

ix. Thus the term “justified by Faith” means cleansed, washed, purified from sin by the revealed truths of the Word.” Is this so in the Bible? Yes! Here is Eph. 5:25-27.

x. To be justified is indeed to be changed from sin to righteousness. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Tit. 3:5-7.

xi. The word of God or “revealed truths” of the Gospel does not itself make us righteous by an independent power from God, for it is God that justifies the penitent. Rom. 8:33.

xii. God justifies the penitent using Faith as the instrument to cleanse us. Gal. 3:8.

xiii. Thus the meaning of “justified by Faith” is the following summary.

1. It means to be delivered from the internal presence of sin by Faith.

2. It means to be made righteous or pure.

3. It means to be changed from sinning to obedience.

4. It is an internal moral change.