James 2:25

The Example Of Rahab"The illustration of Rahab utilized. person who was in stark contrast to Abraham in virtually every way except as illustrative of an energetic faith. Rahab was. woman,. Gentile,. pagan, and. prostitute. Yet, by naming her, James was effectively making the point that the only faith that God accepts is. faith that works-----whether from. respected Abraham or an unlikely Rahab" (Kent p. 108).

By using the example of Rahab, James is also teaching: 1. Anyone, from any background can manifest this type of faith, therefore whoever wants to be saved, can be saved. 2. Culture, upbringing, and so on are not insurmountable barriers to salvation. 3. People can change overnight. 4. The accounts in the Old Testament are historically true!

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?"

Points To Note:

1. The example of Rahab demonstrates that this principle of being justified by an active faith was true outside the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. It extends to every race, gender, culture and condition of life. To this day, the righteous individual is the person who lives by faith (Romans 1:17). 2. Notice the harmony with this verse and the account in Joshua 2:1. All the details are the same! 3. Rahab is also praised in Hebrews 11:31... Her faith was demonstrated in obedience, she received the messengers, protected them, and sent them to. place of safety. 4. All of her actions on this occasion were motivated by her faith that the God of Israel was the true God. Faith was indeed the moving cause of action. Barclay notes, "and unless Rahab had been prepared to risk all to help the spies her faith would have been. useless thing" (p. 92). "By his choice of Abraham and Rahab, therefore, James shows not only that the acid test of faith is works but also that this principle has universal application, embracing both patriarch and prostitute" (Adamson p. 134). Woods notes, "Abraham and Rahab------the former from the highest ranks of the most illustrious, the second from one who had been on the lowest rung of the social ladder, to show that in neither instance was salvation by faith only" (p. 150). James makes it clear that God doesn't lower His standards for people from lowly backgrounds. The spirituality demanded of the former prostitute is the same spirituality which is demanded of the noble citizen or founding father.