From Faith to Faith
Dearly beloved of God, when Martin Luther understood and believed Romans 1:16 and 17, it began the Reformation.
Whenever a person comes to the revelation of the Word of God concerning Christ it will begin a reformation in their life.
Romans 1:16 and 17 WTJ
16⌄ Surely, I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [deliverance] to every one who believes: first to the Judean, and also to the Greek.
17⌄ In fact, the justice of God is revealed in it [the gospel] from [the foundation for] believing unto believing, even as it has been written: Habakkuk 2:4: “The just will live by believing.”
The gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ our Lord is the power of God unto salvation. This salvation is brought about by Jesus Christ’s accomplishments, not by our works. This salvation is ours by the grace of God toward us in Christ Jesus.
Furthermore, this salvation is for Judean and Gentile alike; it is for all people.
In verse 17, the English word “righteousness” is Greek word, “diakaiosune,” which means justice, justness, or righteousness, which is according to an established standard.
God’s established standard for righteousness, justness, or justice is by Jesus Christ’s accomplishments. This righteousness is revealed in the gospel of God concerning God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
This gospel is the foundation given for our believing concerning the justice of God. The justice of God is revealed in the gospel based on the accomplishments of Jesus Christ. His accomplishments are the foundation upon which this gospel rests.
Romans 10:17 WTJ
So the [right way of] believing comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word /of God {Or/ concerning Christ}.
Faith, or THE [right way of] believing comes by hearing the Word of God. God reveals what we are to believe. It is not left to us to imagine or determine what we are to believe; God informs us that we are to believe what He says. All scripture if God-breathed.
The Word of God produces faith or believing in those who hear it.
Romans 1:17 WTJ
In fact, the justice of God is revealed in it [the gospel] from [the foundation for] believing unto believing, even as it has been written: Habakkuk 2:4: “The just will live by believing.”
The just will live by believing. This life is everlasting life.
Who accomplished God’s justice? Jesus Christ accomplished it.
Romans 3:22-24 WTJ
22⌄ Yes, the justice of God is by the believing of Jesus Christ to all {+ and upon all} those who believe, for there is no difference.
23⌄ In fact, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,
24⌄ being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Whose believing is the justice of God based upon? It is based on Jesus Christ’s believing. He was the beginner and finisher of THE faith according to Hebrews 12:2.
We are justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
The justice or righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of God from the foundation given for believing to produce believing in us. The just will live forever and ever by believing.
We were dead in sin, but now we are alive unto God thanks to His justice which Jesus Christ our Lord accomplished. We are justified by believing concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ we have access into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Read Romans 5:1 and 2.
We are now justified. Read Romans 5:9, 16,17, 18, 19, 21. The words: justified, righteousness, justification all come from the root stem.
There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus; not now, not ever.
We are now justified. By the shedding of Jesus Christ’s blood, we have been justified. God’s justice concerning our redemption and salvation has been satisfied.
Jesus Christ came so that we could have life; spirit life, which is everlasting life. This life is far greater than mortal life. We are no longer dead in sin and condemned in Adam’s condemnation.
We were made alive together with Christ; by grace we are saved.
We have received the gift of eternal life, which was brought about by Jesus Christ’s accomplishments, and made available to us by the grace of God. Oh, rejoice!
The only thing that God requires of us is that we believe Him. Everything we have, we receive by grace by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.