Romans ISample

Puffed

Habakkuk 2:4, which speaks about the righteous living by faith, is a verse that emerges many times in Scripture, including Romans, Hebrews, and Galatians. It is quoted in the closing phrase in Romans 1:16-17, “the righteous will live by faith.” 

Habakkuk tells us that the opposite of righteousness is pride—being “puffed up.” The fruit of faithful living is righteousness. Unrighteousness comes from being self-seeking, serving our appetites.

In context, this verse is God’s answer to Habakkuk’s question: “Why aren’t you bringing justice, judging wickedness?” God answers, “I am bringing the Babylonians to judge Israel by invading them.” Habakkuk then says, “I’m only a man, so please don’t get mad at me for asking another question. But how is that justice? The Babylonians are even worse!” God answers, “The righteous shall live by faith, and the proud shall not.” Then God proceeds to say the Babylonians will also get judged in due time.

The ‘world-famous believers’ in Rome that Paul is writing to needed to be delivered from pride. They were pursuing the fulfillment of unhealthy desires. Even though believers have been made a new creation in Christ, we still have the flesh’s perverse desires. We need deliverance daily.

The flesh clamors to be in control. It wants us to make sure we get our share and seek to satisfy unquenchable appetites. The “old man” nature is an expert at justifying actions and rationalizing them against what the Spirit would have us do. If we continue to follow our old man’s nature, death will be the consequence. 

We will receive the death of our freedom through addiction; the end of our relationships through selfishness; the demise of our gifts through lack of use.

Paul encourages all believers to pursue a better way, to a life lived in the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ came to deliver us not only from eternal judgment but also from the power of sin to destroy. Today, we can draw from Christ’s indwelling resurrection power when we are willing to set aside self.

Have you made that choice today? Self, or faith?