Background Considerations

• What are the components of a life lived well which would exhibit 1) faith in God and 2) faithfulness to others around us? Both areas of Christian responsibility rest at the heart of most of the biblical lists of central or core values. Of what would component lists consist?

Relevant Biblical Passages

• Micah 6:6-8 – Reduction of responsible life to: accomplish justice (mishpat); love loyalty (hesed) and walk in humility with God.
• The prophet Habakkuk:
  • Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 – The prophet’s rather bold encounter with God, questioning God about his handling of the unjust situation in Judah and his staunch positioning of himself on the city wall to await God’s response, which in turn would inform his response to God.
  • Habakkuk 2 – God’s explanation of the situation as he sees it, including a call to faith even in the face of what is obviously not encouraging.
  • Habakkuk 3 – The prophet’s hymnic celebration of God’s trustworthiness.
• New Testament quotations from Habakkuk 2:4:
  • Romans 1:17 – In the context of the gospel of God’s power, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.”
  • Galatians 3:11 – In the context of law or grace, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.”
  • Hebrews 10:36-39 – In the context of a call for courage in the face of danger, “But my righteous one shall live by faith.”
• 1 John 4:18-21 – There is no fear in love; God first loved us; we are to love one another.

Contributions to the Study of Forgiveness

• Forgiveness, the subject of this quarter’s lessons, will grow best in the context of a life of genuine faith.

Lessons for Life

• Are there counterfeits to forgiveness which would not grow from a life of faith? What would these look like?