“THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH!”

 Romans 1:16-17                     (ESV)

The Righteous Shall Live by FAITH

[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of GOD for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [17] For in it the righteousness of GOD is revealed from FAITH for FAITH, as it is written, “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Using commentaries is quite necessary when you are WHOLE, but when you are “Brain Damaged” it should be mandated!  Realizing that GOD HEALED me FAR MORE than I deserve is something that I have to remind myself of often.  Recalling what my doctor wrote in my medical records the month following my release from the Rehabilitation Hospital brings me back to the reality of my condition, “However, he has had an remarkable recovery that can only be defined as a Miracle from GOD”!  

With these words at the forefront of my memory, I was required to seek assistance with 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.”  A commentary tells us that the portion of the verse stating “from FAITH for FAITH” allows my limited understanding to SEE the following :

“It is by faith that man first lays hold on the gospel, and its latest product is a heightened and intensified faith. Apart from faith, THE GOSPEL REMAINS NULL AND VOID FOR THE INDIVIDUAL. IT IS NOT REALISED. But when it has been once realised and taken home to the man’s self, its tendency is to confirm and strengthen that very faculty by which it was apprehended. It does that for which the disciples prayed when they said, “Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).”

My mind quickly goes to the Scripture in two places, Matthew 9:30 where it is recorded “And THEIR EYES WERE OPENED. And JESUS sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.”” and Luke 24:31 when “And THEIR EYES WERE OPENED, and they recognized HIM (JESUS). And HE vanished from their sight.”  It is REMARKABLE that in these two cases, the people whom GOD granted to SEE (more than physically see) what ONLY they were able to SEE was CHOSEN PEOPLE, people who were CHOSEN for HIS GLORY!  In these cases, a REWARD for FAITH was being able to SEE GOD’S DIVINE GLORY!

In another place in Scripture it is recorded “Then THE EYES OF BOTH WERE OPENED, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” (Genesis 3:7).  The BOTH in Genesis 3:7 was referring to Adam and Eve.  According to Scripture, they were the first of GOD’s CREATION, the only people who had the opportunity to SEE what previously was hidden from them.  They made a CHOICE to sin, and the sin cost them their innocence! In Adam and Eve’s case, they could SEE impending JUDGEMENT for the sin they had committed!  

Today, the CHOICE is STILL ours to make!  We can accept what our physical sight allows us to see, or GOD can show us what ONLY HE is able to show!  “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” carries more with it than you think, and ONLY GOD can decide what that means!!!