(Reformation Day) Another Luther!

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"The just shall live by faith" (Hab 2:4)

Martin Luther (1483-1546) in the beginning of the 15th Century thundered, "The just shall live by faith," and shattered the superstitious beliefs, corrupt religious practices and meaningless ceremonies of the medieval Church. We celebrate Reformation Day today in remembrance of this phase of restoration of Biblical truth.

This golden text occurs in the Bible for the first time in Habakkuk 2:4. The meaning of this text in the context is, "Let come what may, the people of God will survive by the hidden faith in their hearts." Dr.C.I. Scofield (1843-1921) of the famous Reference Bible calls this text as the central truth of the Scriptures. The name Habakkuk means "one who embraces." It depicts the depth of Divine love on degraded humanity. It is this inexplicable love that made God to send forth His only Son into this world of sin and suffering.

The importance attached to this truth about faith is made obvious by its emphatic recurrence in three of the New Testament Epistles—

  Romans 1:17, "In the Gospel is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

 Galatians 3:11, "No one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith."

 Hebrews 10:38, "The just shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

The Epistle to the Romans talks about the beginning of Christian life. The letter to the Galatians deals with the problems we face in the course of Christian life, and that to the Hebrews pictures the successful completion of the Christian race. The commencement, the continuation and the consummation of faith life! In other words, we are saved by faith; we overcome sin and problems by faith; we stand firm till the end by faith. Christian life is faith, from A to Z. During these days, when the glory of faith is laid aside for meaningless ceremonies and adulterated doctrines, we need another Luther to shout again, "The just shall live by faith!" There were simply too many threats calling Luther to give up his reformation endeavours. But he sternly replied, "I can do no other. Here I stand. May God help me!"

Like a mighty army moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod;
We are not divided, all one body we—
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity!
(Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924)

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