But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

Paul had already proven this point in the Scriptures by examining the life of Abraham (Galatians 3:5-9). Now he brought in another passage from the Old Testament, Habakkuk 2:4, which reminds us that the just live by faith and not by law.

The Jews themselves sensed that because none could keep the law perfectly, salvation could not come through keeping the law. This is why they placed such emphasis on their descent from Abraham, essentially trusting in Abraham’s merits to save them because they sensed that their own merits could not.

This brief statement from the prophet Habakkuk is one of the most important and most quoted Old Testament statements in the New Testament. Paul used it here to show that the just live by faith, not by law. Being under the law isn’t the way to be found just before God; only living by faith is.

But, what does it mean to live by faith? When someone passes away or when a major event happens it is easier to live by faith, but do you believe Habakkuk’s call to faith includes all of our days? I believe so. It may seem like your decisions in life have nothing to do with faith, I get that. But I can assure you that all decisions involve living by faith.