Throughout the old covenant, God was spoke of a new covenant He'd make with His people. In the book of Habakkuk 2:4 (Amplified), we read, "Look at the proud; his soul is not straight or right within him, but the (rigidly) just and the (uncompromisingly) righteous man shall live by his faith and in his faithfulness."
This is one of the scriptures the Lord used to show how even though a man might live by the Law, his pride in keeping it could not make his soul right within him. He could walk in pride by keeping the Law and because of that, could conclude he had earned God's blessing. Even though he could consider himself right before God, still didn't receive him as righteous. Romans 3:10 (Amplified) says that, "As it is written, none is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one."
So, even under the Law, men still fell short of the prescribed righteousness that God demanded and sought after. There needed to be a new covenant that would set men right with God. Because man couldn't remove the sin of his life by just covering them, there had to be a new sacrifice that would remove them completely. Man could never remove sin, but only cover it by the blood of goats and bulls. Now, this new covenant God established wouldn't be something men could glory in by their own works and their obedience to the Law, but a new covenant of obedience to faith. Romans 1:5 (Amplified) says that, "It is through Him that we have received grace (God's unmerited favor) and (our) apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name's sake among all the nation."
This obedience to faith is one of the most misunderstood scriptures in the entire new covenant. Romans 3:26-27 (Amplified) says, "It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has (true) faith in Jesus." Verse 27 says, "What then becomes of (our) pride and (our) boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely). On what principle? (On the principle) of doing good deeds? No, but on the principle of faith."
Now, under the obedience to the faith, no one can boast about his good works, but only boast on Jesus and God's grace. Being obedient to this faith keeps us in the place where only His righteousness is seen and approved.
Faith is the only way to receive what God's doing now in the earth. By being obedient to this faith, we're in the position with our Father to receive everything that grace was given for. As we understand this obedience to faith, we can see that everything in our new covenant is founded on faith. Grace has already provided everything we will ever need in this life on earth, but it all must be received through and by faith.
Everything God has promised by Jesus has already been accomplished at His resurrection. When Isaiah 53 and 54 (Amplified) spoke of our healing and righteousness in chapter 54 he spoke of our peace and how all these things were accomplished on our behalf. We can't be good enough to deserve them and we can't do anything to earn these things. If this could happen, then we'd still be walking in our own righteousness and not that which God ascribes.
In order to actually receive the benefits of the sacrifice, we must be in obedience to faith. How else can we ever expect to be good enough to deserve them any other way? We exercised our faith when we dared believe that Jesus died for us, but we haven't gone on as the Word said in Romans 1:17 (Amplified) which says, "For in the gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith). As it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."
We, as Christian people, have somehow not allowed our faith to lead us deeper in our faith. We haven't allowed our faith to arouse us to more faith. We let our faith stop at the forgiveness of sin (and even we question that) and going to heaven, but we stumble at being obedient to this faith for the rest of our covenant. We stumble over our own works or lack thereof, to receive the rest of our covenant of grace. Trying to receive from God, anything that isn't of faith, wouldn't be grace but good works. That's why Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him, For whosoever comes to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (God)."
This scripture reinforces what Romans 1:17 (Amplified) about going from faith, leading to more faith, that arouses to more faith. The reward we receive by this seeking God out is by faith in the fullness of His promise. God is not rewarding us for simply seeking Him out because that would once again be by works. The reward He is speaking of is that as our faith reveals more of the finished work of Jesus, we are rewarded by accepting by faith, what was already there.
When man used to prospect for gold, the reward of a gold strike came by much seeking and diligence. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
His way of doing and being right is righteousness through Jesus. Now, as you continue seeking after His kingdom by faith, all of these other things will be given besides.
All these things must received by faith in the same way we received our forgiveness by faith. All of the things even "the gentiles seek after," will be given to those who will continue by faith," to go on into the fullness of His grace. When Jesus said this, He didn't say that if we earned this part of the covenant or if we deserved it, then we'd receive these things. He said that "if only we'd seek it our by faith in His grace, then we'd receive.
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