In this section, Paul quotes Habakkuk, “The righteous shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4; may also see “the just”). This statement is so important that the Holy Spirit inspired three New Testament books to explain it as mentioned before. Romans explains “the righteous” and tells how the sinner can be justified before God (Rom. 1:17). Galatians explains how the righteous “shall live”; and Hebrews discusses “by faith” (Heb. 10:38). Nobody could ever live “by Law” because the Law kills and shows the sinner he/she is guilty before God (Rom. 3:20; 7:7–11).

But a person might argue that it takes faith even to obey the Law; so in verse 12, Paul quotes Leviticus to prove that it is doing the Law, not believing it, that God requires (Lev. 18:5). The Law says, “Do and live!” but grace says, “Believe and live!”[1] Paul’s own experience (Phil. 3:1–10), as well as the history of Israel (Rom. 10:1–10), proves that works righteousness can never save the sinner; only faith righteousness can do that.

For the Christian to abandon faith and grace for Law and works is to lose everything amazing that the Christian can experience in their daily fellowship with the Lord. The Law cannot justify the sinner (Gal. 2:16); neither can it give them righteousness (Gal. 2:21). The Law cannot give the gift of the Spirit (Gal. 3:2), nor can it guarantee the spiritual inheritance that belongs to God’s children (Gal. 3:18). The Law cannot give life (Gal. 3:21), and the Law cannot give liberty (Gal. 4:8–10). So why would we go back to the Law?