James and Rahab: Faith That Stands
“Faith that’s alive is faith that ACTS.”
James and Rahab: The Faith That Stands
When we say we love Jesus- we must also show that we love Jesus by our actions.
James 2:24-26
You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
In one sweeping move from the father of the faith to a gentile prostitute, James makes it clear that regardless of how your journey of faith began, it is going to be proven through action.
James 2:24
You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
You may be wondering “Doesn’t this verse directly go against what the Apostle Paul taught?” At first glance, we might think that was true.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
If we stopped there- we could find ourselves in the middle of a 1st century theological argument. But let’s go one more verse in Paul
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Paul is making the emphasis throughout his letters that it is only by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus that we are saved- that we are declared righteous.
Paul is talking about being declared “NOT GUILTY” before God. That happens by Faith in Christ alone
For James, he says genuine faith we place in Christ for our justification, is proven by how our lives are changed. By how the Love that has been poured into us, flows through us into our actions.
These two men are not at odds with one another in theology. They were addressing very different people groups facing different challenges in their faith.
James 2:25
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
Rahab’s faith is not a side-note in the history of the Israelite people.
You can find her story of Faith in Joshua Chapter 2
In bringing together the father of the faith, and perhaps one of the most dramatic converts to God, James has shown that the call of living faith is universal.
James 2:26
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
As we finish up today, it doesn’t matter if your story looks more like Rahab or Abraham. Our faith is called to follow through in action. Our lives should reflect Jesus as our priority. Yes, in extraordinary ways, but just as importantly, the everyday ordinary deeds of life.
Will we be a people committed to putting faith in action?
James in 8 Minutes
This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY