Members and Friends of Austin Mennonite Church The phrase, "The just shall live by faith," provoked an intense reaction to traditional religious obligations promoted by the institutional church. After reading the phrase in Romans, the priest Martin Luther felt compelled to abandon completely the religion of the Roman papacy solely on the basis of this declaration of the apostle Paul. Paul's statement, however, is not an original discloser of the centrality of faith in the quest for true spirituality. The prophet Habakkuk had already recorded this provision. Since the Reformation, many scholars/theologians have discussed the meaning of this central axiom of Christianity. Does Paul intend to say that by having faith that Jesus is God's son and our savior-believing Jesus died as God's sacrificial provision for forgiving sin-in this way a person will inherit eternal life in heaven after death? Or, are we to appeal to the record of Habakkuk to clarify the role of faith, and thereby determine the most likely meaning of the assertion, "The just will live by faith"? Or, does the apostle disagree with the prophet about the significance of faith. What do you think? Take a moment and compare the context of Paul's writing in Romans 1:17 with that of the prophet in Habakkuk 2:4. These thoughts will compose the sermon for this Sunday, "The Journey of Faith." We will share in Communion this next Sunday, World Communion Sunday, participating in this meal with the universal church. All persons who follow Jesus are invited eat together not only remembering the historical observance of this meal of Jesus with his disciples but also anticipating when we will sit together at the table after God's reign has been established. Please join with us if you are able. Afterward we will share lunch together as is our practice on the first Sunday of each month. May it go well with you. Sincerely, Garland Robertson ...always hold firmly to the thought that each one of us can do something to bring some portion of misery to an end