Faith Works and James Two (Part 6)
In chapter two verse 25, James presented his second Old Testament illustration to prove his case that a claimed faith that does not result in good works is not the kind of faith that saves. The kind of faith that saves always results in good works. No doubt James could have chosen any Old Testament believer to show that good works necessarily follow true faith, but he chose Abraham the patriarch Abraham and Rahab the prostitute. In my previous post I considered Abraham. In this post I will consider Rahab.
Rahab demonstrated that she had genuine faith by her actions. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews made the point that it was because of her faith that she did what she did.
The historical account of this story is found in Joshua chapter two. Joshua sent two men to spy out the land of Cannan and especially the city of Jericho. While in Jericho they went to “the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.”(Joshua 2:1 NASB).
The king of Jericho became aware that there were Israeli spies in Jericho and that they were staying with Rahab. The king sent a message to Rahab. He told her to send them out because they were spies. But Rahab had hidden them on her roof. She told the king that the spies had been there but they had went out the city gate just before it was closed for the night. She said, “Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” (Joshua 2:5 NASB) So Rahab sent the king and all the king’s men on a wild goose chase. That night Rahab went up to talk to the spies. She had demonstrated her faith when she hid the spies. In this conversation, she declared her faith.
Rahab declared that she believed in the LORD the God of Israel, and she was willing to lay her life on the line for her faith. The spies promised her that she would be safe if she did as they told her.
She demonstrated her faith by hiding the spies and further by helping them escape.
The spies instructed her that, “when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father's household.” (Joshua 2:18 NASB). After all their instructions, she said, “According to your words, so be it." So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. (Joshua 2:21 NASB).
In the sixth chapter of Joshua it we read,
In Joshua 6:21-25 we read that the people of Israel followed God’s plan of attack and the city walls fell in on the city. Jericho was totally destroyed. Everyone was killed by the edge of the sword. No one survived. No one except Rahab and those she had taken into her house.
Rahab made a profession of faith. She claimed to believe. But, how was the Israeli spies to know if she was for real? The answer to this question is the point of James 2:25.
Rahab's claim to have faith in the LORD God of Israel was justified (evidenced) in the sight of men by her actions.
The rest of Rahab’s life continued to justify her claim that she believed in the LORD. Rahab became part of God's people. She married a Hebrew from the tribe of Judah named Salman. Through this marriage Rahab the pagan prostitute became an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Rahab was justified (declared to be righteous) before God by faith alone. Her faith led her to perform good works, and her claim to have faith was evidenced (justified) before men by her actions.
The last verse of James two is the final restatement of James’ conclusion.
Just as the human body is lifeless without the immaterial spiritual nature of man, the kind of faith the does not result in a changed life, in holiness, and yes in good works is dead. It has nothing to offer and it is incapable of producing salvation. The kind of faith that saves is the kind of faith that results in good works. Paul said,
Now tell me, Doth this offend you?
(James 2:25 NASB) And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
Rahab demonstrated that she had genuine faith by her actions. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews made the point that it was because of her faith that she did what she did.
(Hebrews 11:31 NASB) By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
The historical account of this story is found in Joshua chapter two. Joshua sent two men to spy out the land of Cannan and especially the city of Jericho. While in Jericho they went to “the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.”(Joshua 2:1 NASB).
The king of Jericho became aware that there were Israeli spies in Jericho and that they were staying with Rahab. The king sent a message to Rahab. He told her to send them out because they were spies. But Rahab had hidden them on her roof. She told the king that the spies had been there but they had went out the city gate just before it was closed for the night. She said, “Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” (Joshua 2:5 NASB) So Rahab sent the king and all the king’s men on a wild goose chase. That night Rahab went up to talk to the spies. She had demonstrated her faith when she hid the spies. In this conversation, she declared her faith.
(Joshua 2:8-13 NASB) Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. "And when we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. "Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father's household, and give me a pledge of truth, and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."
Rahab declared that she believed in the LORD the God of Israel, and she was willing to lay her life on the line for her faith. The spies promised her that she would be safe if she did as they told her.
(Joshua 2:14 NASB) So the men said to her, "Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."
She demonstrated her faith by hiding the spies and further by helping them escape.
(Joshua 2:15 NASB) Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.
The spies instructed her that, “when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father's household.” (Joshua 2:18 NASB). After all their instructions, she said, “According to your words, so be it." So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. (Joshua 2:21 NASB).
In the sixth chapter of Joshua it we read,
(Joshua 6:17 NASB) “And the city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.”
In Joshua 6:21-25 we read that the people of Israel followed God’s plan of attack and the city walls fell in on the city. Jericho was totally destroyed. Everyone was killed by the edge of the sword. No one survived. No one except Rahab and those she had taken into her house.
Rahab made a profession of faith. She claimed to believe. But, how was the Israeli spies to know if she was for real? The answer to this question is the point of James 2:25.
And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? (NASB)
Rahab's claim to have faith in the LORD God of Israel was justified (evidenced) in the sight of men by her actions.
The rest of Rahab’s life continued to justify her claim that she believed in the LORD. Rahab became part of God's people. She married a Hebrew from the tribe of Judah named Salman. Through this marriage Rahab the pagan prostitute became an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Rahab was justified (declared to be righteous) before God by faith alone. Her faith led her to perform good works, and her claim to have faith was evidenced (justified) before men by her actions.
The last verse of James two is the final restatement of James’ conclusion.
(James 2:26 NASB) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Just as the human body is lifeless without the immaterial spiritual nature of man, the kind of faith the does not result in a changed life, in holiness, and yes in good works is dead. It has nothing to offer and it is incapable of producing salvation. The kind of faith that saves is the kind of faith that results in good works. Paul said,
(Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Now tell me, Doth this offend you?
posted by takin | 6:45 AM
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