The Patriarch and the Prostitute!
In the section of James that I’ve been reading, he’s labouring the point that Christian belief is evidenced by Christian works. Perhaps he’s writing to Christians where there’s more talk than walk. In verses 20-26 of chapter 2 he brings the reader to two biblical figures that evidence this faith and works union - Abraham and Rahab. To the Jewish convert of the day they couldn’t have been more different. …One was a patriarch and one was a prostitute. Let’s read the passage:
James 2:20-26 [20] You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? [21] Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. [23] And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God's friend. [24] You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. [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? [26] As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Both in the Bible are commended for what they did. Abraham - an old man whose future, (and indeed the future of the nation), was in his son Isaac, when he heard God’s command, laid his only son on a sacrificial altar. And Rahab when Israel’s spies knocked her front door, put her life at risk by hiding them from the Canaanite soldiers.
…What’s James point? Simply this - it was their actions that revealed their belief. Both were Believers whose faith was shown in actions. Abraham still believed God was able to make him the father of many generations, even though he was commanded to put his only son to death. And Rahab, (it’s clear from her greeting to the Israelite spies - Joshua 2:11, was also a Believer), saw her future with Israel, even though she was a Canaanite and acted accordingly.
What does this mean for us? Well the accounts of this patriarch and prostitute tell us that the truly righteous person will show it by godly deeds. No matter who they are or what their background - a person who holds a confession of faith must show it by acts of faith. As James says- “they work together.” …Or to put it another way - our walk must match our talk.
What is God leading you to do? What is He challenging you to lay down or trust Him for? The actions that follow your faith are evidence that Christ truly is alive in you.
You might want to reflect on this morning’s devotion by listening here to this song by CityAlight. …I’ll let James have the last word.
James 2:26 NIV [26] As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.