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“Hall of Faith” (Mess.#13) “The Protection of Faith”
Text: Heb.11: 31; Jos.2: 1-21; 6: 22-25 Intro.: Only two women are named in Hebrews chapter eleven – Sarah and Rahab. Sarah - Godly. Rahab - Ungodly. They had nothing in common, humanly speaking. But they shared the most important thing, they both exercised saving faith in the true and living God! Rahab is also associated with Abraham - Jas.2: 21-26. Abraham and Rahab are used to illustrate the fact that saving faith always proves itself by good works! Rahab is also associated with the Messiah! Mt.1: 5 - She is in the lineage of Christ! What amazing grace! Amen! The most important thing about Rahab – Her Faith! This is the most important thing about anybody (Heb.11: 6)! She had: Courageous Faith - She risked her life by allowing the spies into her house and hiding them. Confident Faith - She knew that he Lord had given them the land. Concerned Faith - She was concerned about her mother, father, brother, and sisters. Do you care about your family? Confirmed Faith - She confirmed her faith by keeping the scarlet cord hanging from her window and by getting her family members into her house. We see first of all . . .
A) Her Character: “the harlot . . . ” (Heb.11: 31) 1) Note how marvelous is God’s grace to use someone who we might think could never be His servant (1 Cor.1: 27-29)! 2) Jesus was the “friend of publicans and sinners” (Lk.7: 34)! 3) He wasn’t ashamed to have a former harlot in His family tree! 4) Truly, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Ro.5: 20)! 5) Her ungodly past is not condoned, nor overlooked – So that we might be reminded that it was forgiven by God, as has our past! AMEN!
B) Her Danger: “perished not with them that believed not . . . ” (v.31) 1) She was in a condemned place - Jericho. 2) She was surrounded by condemned people. 3) They were condemned because of unbelief! 4) So too this world is a condemned place, full of condemned people who are condemned because of unbelief! 5) She was also in danger of losing her life by welcoming the spies and hiding them, but this was evidence of her faith! 6) True saving faith can’t be hidden for long! 7) If you truly believe you won’t be afraid to confess Christ before others! (Mt.10: 32-33, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven”).
C) Her Protection: “perished not . . . ” (v.31) 1) Jos.6: 22-25 2) Her house was a Safe Place – All those who were in her house were guaranteed to be spared from death. A3) Her house was a Singular Place – Her house was the one and only safe place. No other house had the promise of safety that hers had. 4) Her house was a Signified Place – The scarlet cord signified that her house was to be passed over in the judgment that befell the city. 5) A Safe Place – Just like Noah’s Ark – Christ is our “safe place.” 6) A Singular Place – Just like Noah’s Ark was the only place of safety, so too Christ is the only place of safety from God’s judgment! 7) A Signified Place – Just as the blood which was placed upon the door posts and lintels in Egypt protected those inside, so too the scarlet thread protected Rahab and those inside her house! 8) It typified safety through sacrifice! Scarlet is the color of blood! A sign of the covenant the spies made with her! Christ’s blood is the only thing that signifies that we belong to God and are therefore safe from judgment. Have you been washed in the blood? 9) Rahab’s faith saved her – Since she truly believed, she stayed in the safe place, got others in the safe place and kept the scarlet cord in the window to signify that she was obeying their orders. 10) Note – Her faith saved her, not faith in the rope! Faith in baptism, communion (mass), church membership, good works, etc. won’t save you either!
D) Her Works: “when she had received the spies with peace.” (v.31) See also Jas.2: 25 1) If Rahab did not have faith she would never have received the spies with peace and sent them out another way, thus risking her own life. 2) The fact that she lied to the men sent from the king, hid the spies on her roof and let them down by a cord proved she had faith. 3) Her confession in Jos.2: 9-11 further confirmed her faith and she backed it up with her actions. 4) If you truly believe in Christ, then you will back it up with your works!
Conclusion: Rahab was a woman with courageous, confident, concerned, and confirmed faith. How about you? She had bad character – But God’s grace is greater than our sin! She was in a place of danger – So are you, if you’re lost! She was protected from death – You will be too, if you will put your faith in Christ! She demonstrated her faith by her works – Do you?
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