“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.”
Scripture references: James 2:24-26, Joshua 2:1, Joshua 2:15, Joshua 2:8-15, Matthew 1:5-6 and Hebrews 11:31.
Introduction:
“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.”
This is the opening line from a song we will be singing in worship this coming Sunday.
As we continue our study in James this week, we will be hearing more on the relationship between faith and works. Our passage of focus, James 2:14-26 builds on themes we saw in the previous chapter. In James 1, we discussed the concept of not only being ‘hearers’ of the Word, but ‘doers’ of the Word. The work of Jesus (key action verb…’work’), must compel us to put our faith into action as well…through good works.
But what about our past works? Does the grace of our Lord really exceed our sin and guilt as the song says? The things we had done in the past toward God and toward others? On this communion Sunday, it is fitting to address these questions…and thankfully, Scripture gives us examples of real people who illustrate this, and James points us right to them! Let’s take a look…
Devotional:
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25And 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? 26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”
-James 2:24-26 ESV
Rahab was a resident of Jericho in the land of Canaan at the start of the Israelite conquest of the land. What do we know about Rahab and why does James choose her example to put right alongside Abraham in the preceding verses?
We know that Rahab was a prostitute. James mentions this in our passage above and this is also pointed out in Rahab’s story in Joshua 2…
“And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.” -Joshua 2:1 ESV
Rahab hides the Israelite spies and risks her own life by diverting away the messengers from the king of Jericho, who come to her house looking for the Israelite spies. We get another clue as to who Rahab is by the way she helps them escape the city…
“Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.” -Joshua 2:15 ESV
What’s the big deal about Rahab living in the wall of the city? In ancient near-east culture, it was more preferable to live further inside the walls of the city, closer to the city center for security reasons. In the event of an attack, the first houses that are under threat are those that are built directly in the wall of the city. For this reason, those in the lower classes of society ended up living in the wall of the city.
Rahab was a prostitute…which is an indicator of the type of past she had. She was also a lower-class member of society which indicates she was someone who was literally ‘pushed to the margins’ of society. Despite her past being less than ‘squeaky clean’ and being devalued by society, Rahab now is speaking profound words of faith to the Israelite spies…
“Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 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 devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you. Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.” -Joshua 2:8-15 ESV
The wonders that were performed in Egypt did not stay isolated…word spread! One of the most powerful rulers in the world at that time in Pharaoh, was humbled by the Lord. Rahab understood this and chose her allegiance wisely. But this was not a ‘dead’ faith as James would put it…it was faith put into action, producing works. Rahab’s faith compelled her to protect these Israelite spies and help them escape…putting her own life at risk. Because of her active faith, her and her family were preserved.
Not only were they preserved, but Rahab…a non-Israelite outsider…a prostitute…a lower-class member of society…becomes part of the lineage of Jesus! The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 confirms this…
“and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,” -Matthew 1:5-6 ESV
Our devotional a couple weeks ago highlighted Ruth…an outsider, a sojourner, a widow…an outcast of society. But Ruth’s story showed her amazing faith which produced action. This caught the attention of Boaz who in turn fulfilled his role as kinsman redeemer by taking Ruth to be his wife.
This is the story of redemption that spans the entire Scripture from Old Testament to New Testament. Yet another example of God’s plan of redemption in a biblical genealogy!
God’s grace is greater than any sins Rahab may have committed. Not only was it greater…but God used Rahab as part of His plan to bring forth the Messiah. This is an example of God’s ultimate plan of redemption!
“By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” -Hebrews 11:31 ESV
No matter where you have been or what you have done wrong. No matter how society views you…God’s grace is greater than all of that. If we embrace that…then we can be truly free to live faithfully as a new creation in Him. A new creation saved by grace through faith…which compels us to good works…bearing good fruit and making disciples in His name!
“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.”
Sean Wagner