I will survive

James 2:24-26

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 

25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Rahab was a prostitute, an outcast, defiled, destitute and alone. She left her family at a young age and sold herself to survive. The location of her home against the wall of Jericho made the perfect lookout for spies sent by Joshua to scout the land before battle. She risked her life for the cause; She knew they were led by the Lord and hid them when the King came searching for them. The Lord used Rahab to be fulfill his promise to the Israelites. She risked her life by protecting the spies and became a faithful follower of the Lord. Because of this her life was the only one spared from Jericho. The Apostle James adds to Paul’s record about Rahab being justified by faith saying that she was likewise justified by works (James 2:25). There is no contradiction between these two aspects for Rahab’s courageous deed was but faith in practice. Her faith gave her courage to shield the spies as she believed that God would triumph over His enemies. James quotes Rahab as exemplifying “justification by works.” To get a better look at this awesome story you can find it in Joshua 2.
Rahab is an example of grace, justifying through mere verbal faith. She believed with the heart (Romans 10:9-10), confessed with the mouth, and acted even at the risk of her life.


Answer this:
1. Does your faith speak louder than your words? Or do you words speak louder?
Meaning: do you say you have faith but don’t act upon it? Or can you see your faith living out by your actions? This may be a good question for you to ask a close friend or family member about yourself.
2. How can you make your faith more evident to yourself/ those around you?
3. How does Rahab’s faith and courage encourage you?
4. In what areas of your life do you need to combine both faith and works?


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Written by Sarah Davis