Unknown The just shall live by faith The just shall live by faith Finally, a breakthrough came. Luther was studying the book of Romans, and when he came to verse 17 of the first chapter, he suddenly understood! “The just shall live by faith,” it said. Now he saw it clearly! Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, not by anything we can do. Luther’s life proves this to us. For years he tried to pay for his sin through his own merits, but he never found rest for his soul. Now, however, the Holy Spirit opened his eyes, and he saw that he could find forgiveness only because of what Jesus Christ had done. Now he understood that God was not an angry God, eager to destroy him, but a patient and loving Father Who had sent His only Son to suffer and die for the sins of His people. In Christ’s righteousness, God’s wrath was satisfied, and sinners who believed in Christ by the grace of the Holy Spirit were saved. Luther was so overjoyed with his new discovery that he later wrote that he felt as if his soul went through the open gates of a heavenly paradise.5 Luther became a changed man. He no longer tried to pay for his own sins, but he trusted in his Savior. Now he wanted to obey God, not out of fear, but out of love. His teaching and his preaching also changed. He told people what he had discovered in God’s Word. His preaching and teaching were full of the righteousness and love of Christ Jesus.