We live in a world that often measures us by what we accomplish. It is easy to feel judged, pressured, or worn out by expectations. In Galatians 3:1, there is a truth that cuts right to the heart of the matter. “The just shall live by faith.” It is so straightforward and releases us to be happy with our simple walk with the Lord. What a blessing to be reminded that our identity before Him is based on faith, not on our ability to perfectly keep every rule. We are His sons and daughters.
Paul wrote to the Galatians because some of the believers thought they had to keep the law to be accepted by God. False teachers invaded the churches and taught this horrific lie. Paul reminded them that the standard of the law is perfection, and none of us can meet that standard. The law reveals our inability; it does not make us righteous. The law uncovers our need for a Savior! It points us to Jesus.
The good news is that Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). Righteousness is not something we earn. It is something God gives to us through Jesus. This truth changed Martin Luther’s life and helped spark the Protestant Reformation. Salvation is by grace through faith. It has never been about our works.
Living by faith means trusting in God’s love and acceptance, instead of feeling pressured to prove ourselves. Think of a parent and a child. A child belongs to the family by birth, not by their daily achievement. It is the same for us. We do not need to validate our place with God. Faith in Christ gives us our identity and our belonging. We become members of God’s family. Because of that, spiritual practices like prayer and reading the Bible become joys rather than burdens. We “get to” pray, not we “have to”.
Living by faith does not mean we ignore God’s commands. It means we trust that God is working in us, changing us from the inside out. As we draw near to Him, our desires begin to change. We start to reflect His heart. We begin to live with honesty, kindness, and integrity. None of this is our doing, nor is it because we are following a checklist, but because God is molding us into His image. We obey the Word because we love the Author.
Here’s a simple example. Think about the biblical command, “Do not lie.” A legalistic, rule-based life focuses on avoiding the act of lying. A life of faith focuses on the God who loves. The life of faith becomes a life of truthfulness because the Spirit is forming honesty within us. There is a big difference.
Abraham shows us this faith life too. God called him while he lived among people who did not follow the Lord. They were pagans. Abraham’s righteousness came through faith. He trusted God based only on the Word of God. There was so much that he didn’t know. Yet, what He did know was God, personally and powerfully. We are called to walk in that same trust.
Habakkuk struggled with God’s timing and His ways. He had questions and concerns about the reality of his everyday life, but the word God gave him was powerful: “The just shall live by faith.” It is just as powerful for the New Covenant believer, for you and for me. Faith leads to trusting that God is good and that He can be relied on, even when the path is unclear.
This kind of faith frees us from guilt and the pressure to try to earn God’s approval. It opens the door to a life of joy, rest, and dependence upon Him.
As we walk in faith, God begins to form patience, kindness, and gentleness in us. Not because we worked harder, but because His Spirit is at work. Whether you have walked with Jesus for many years or are taking your first steps, remember that His love is pure and everlasting.
Rest in the finished work of Christ. Choose to live by faith today. Confess your sins to Him.
Let God remind you who you are in Him.
Let Him shape your desires and your steps.
“The just shall live by faith.” Enjoy God friend, and the freedom He gives through faith in Jesus!
Study #14809 Galatians 3.10-14
