But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
Whatever excellent life the believer lives, sanctification, holiness, glory, he lives it by faith's help and assistance. Apostasy from the profession of true religion provokes God exceedingly and will be severely punished, yet these threatenings awaken care and have singular influence on the saints' preservation.
AI summary
Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (12) He commends the excellency of a sure faith by the effect, because it is the only way to life, which sentence he sets forth and amplifies by contrast.
The just man receives his first spiritual life by faith and continues to live by that same faith, not through declension or apostasy. Drawing back stems from a soul lifted up in self-inflated unbelief setting itself against God; such a man does not stand right with God, and God has no pleasure in him.
AI summary