The Example of Rahab James 2:25

James was used by the Lord Jesus and His Holy Spirit to write to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”. Among his sharing was the idea that “faith” is shown by “works”, and that “faith” alone was not sufficient. In chapter two and verse twenty-five of his letter, James referred to “Rahab the harlot” as an example of “faith” that “works”. We read:

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,

when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

The verse begins, “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,...” James began with the word, “Likewise” which means “equally and in the same way” “also was not Rahab” whose name means “wide” and was “a harlot of Jericho” “the harlot” or “the prostitute or woman who sold her body for sexual uses” “justified” which means “rendered righteous and just” “by works” or “business, employment and that which one occupied”. James employed “Rahab” as another example for a person who projected her “justifiable” “faith” through her “works”.

The verse continues, “...when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” James added, “when she had received” or “when Rahab admitted under her roof and entertained hospitably” “the messengers” which refers to “the envoys and ones sent”, “and had sent them out” which means “pulled, brought and cast them away or out” “another way” or “a different, altered and strange pathway or road”. When “Rahab” brought the “messengers” or spies of Israel into her house in Jericho, hid them, and sent them out by another route, she demonstrated her “faith” by her “works”.

When we consider these words of James, we have yet another example of “works” being the “justification” of the “faith” proclaimed. Not only did “Rahab” profess her belief, but she demonstrated “faith” by hiding the spies sent in by Joshua. (See Joshua 2). Jesus Christ desires for us to have “faith” in Him with “works” that align with our profession. “Rahab” and “Abraham” were examples for James' readers, and they are certainly worth our consideration of this primary doctrine.

Next time James uses “the body without the spirit” as an example, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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