Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Hebrews 11 is the great faith chapter. Rahab is mentioned in verse 31. She had two strikes against her from the beginning. She was a Gentile, not an Israelite. She was also a prostitute. Yet she welcomed the spies from Israel and trusted Israel’s God. She knew he had parted the Red Sea and killed other kings and nations. Let’s look at her conquering faith.
Rahab had a saving faith. What is that? Saving faith keeps us from the destruction coming to the world and from going to hell when this life is over. There are only two places to go when you die. The saved, those who accept Jesus as Savior, go to heaven. Those who reject Jesus Christ go to hell. Thank God for saving faith. When we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we’ll be delivered from the judgement to come and destruction in hell. Can you have it? Yes you can! Rahab had a reverent fear of God. It’s not fear in the sense of being afraid. There was a time that a person would not have stolen anything from a church because there was a fear of God. We need this back in America today. Rahab didn’t know much about God, but she had a conquering faith to know that he ruled over the world. She was willing to risk it all for a God she barely knew. Don’t gage a person’s interest in God by their background or appearance. They may be different from you, but they still need God. He can bring them out of the pit of sin. Drug addicts have been delivered. Alcoholics have been delivered. The almighty arm of God reaches to the depths of sin and brings them out. Rahab realized the God of heaven was all powerful. He was sovereign. When the people of Jericho heard of the God of Israel their hearts melted with fear. She asked that her family be delivered from the destruction that was coming upon Jericho. There is destruction coming upon this old world one day. Back in Genesis we saw the days of Noah. Evil was continual and God destroyed everything. God spared Noah and his family because they continued to have faith in God. Destruction is coming, but our faith in God will spare us from it. Rahab had a readiness to act when given instruction. She helped the spies escape. She believed in God enough right after helping them that she put the scarlet cord in the window before they even came across the river.
Rahab’s faith was a singular faith. Do not be afraid to be in the minority. On God’s side, it is a majority. Destruction is coming. We’ve been saved from it. We’re not in the minority because we’re on God’s side. Only a minority will go to heaven. Of all the billions who have lived on earth, the majority leaves this world unprepared to meet God. There will be a great number in heaven, but the number in hell will be much greater. If you go to hell, it will be as an intruder. It was made for the devil and his angels. Only those who take seriously the teaching of God will escape hell. Only those who trust God go to heaven. Jesus said “ye must be born again.” We had nothing to do with being born the first time. But the spiritual birth will make the all-important difference. This choice is yours. If you accept Jesus Christ in your heart, you are born again. It’s a rebirth, a new creation in Jesus. You’re born into the family of God.
Rahab’s faith was a stable faith. She believed and perished not. Those listed in Hebrews 11 died not having received the end of their faith. When we leave this old world either by the grave or the rapture, God will get us out of this old world to glory. My anchor is in God. Rahab believed the men of Israel were to be trusted. They told her they would deal kindly with her. You’ll either believe or choose not to. Do you believe God will do what he says? I believe it with all my heart. John 5:25 says the he that hears the word and believes passes from death unto life. On the day we trust in Jesus Christ by placing our faith in what he did on the cross, we pass from death to life and will live forever with God. I looked the same on the outside, but on the inside God changed my old heart and gave me a new one. I’m not the old man I used to be because Jesus lives on the inside. It’s not turning over a new leaf. It’s being cleaned up. Rahab believed in the safety that was promised. She was to act as instructed and there would no harm come to her and her family. When we accepted Christ, we were declared not guilty. There’s no condemnation to the believer. Sin entered the human race when Adam sinned. Because you were born you were destined for hell. Do nothing and you’ll end up there. But one day as a convicted sinner I came to God and asked him to save me. Through the blood of his son Jesus Christ I was then declared free. I was turned loose. I was delivered.
Rahab’s faith was a self-denying faith. She risked her life to save the spies. Her house was on the wall and she let them down over it so they could escape. Real faith will lead to a denial of self. Paul said in Philippians 3:7: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.
Rahab’s faith was a sympathizing faith. She asked for deliverance for her family. Real faith will make us concerned for the lost, those perishing without Christ. Paul said he was willing to suffer for others if they would be saved. His desire was for Israel to be saved. My desire is not that you get rich or be the best athlete. I want you to be saved and get right with God. The only thing that will matter when this life is over is your relationship with God. This is your short home; you’ll go to your long home one day. What you do in the short home will determine where your long home will be.
Rahab’s faith was a sanctifying faith. Joshua 6 says But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Sanctified is being set apart. When the destruction comes upon this world, where will you be? I’ll be in heaven because I trusted in Jesus Christ.
How can you have a conquering faith? You can. Trust in a living God. All his promises are true. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Just keep holding on. Ask God to help you keep your faith in him.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 