The Saving Faith of Rahab

July 31st, 2026
by Dr. Lance Waldie

James 2:25-26 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Abraham was called by God and chosen to be the progenitor of the Israelite people. He was justified by faith, his faith was vindicated by his works, and he was later called the friend of God. Rahab, on the other hand, was a Canaanite prostitute, yet she too was saved by faith and vindicated by her works. Her story is found in Joshua 2 when the Israelites were just outside of Jericho where she lived and about to invade the land promised to them by God. Joshua had sent two spies into the city, and Rahab hid them when it was discovered that they had entered the city. She told the spies that she knew all about the God of Israel and how He had led Israel through the wilderness after taking them through the Red Sea on dry ground. She said, “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11).

It is evident that Rahab knew who Yahweh was and all that He was capable of. She had heard of it just as the other Canaanites in Jericho had. She, like Abraham, but unlike the other Canaanites in Jericho, was justified by her works—vindicated by her actions. For Rahab put her faith in Yahweh to action by hiding the spies when their lives were in danger. The writer of Hebrews said, “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace” (Heb. 11:31). Rahab knew God’s presence was with the spies and their fellow Israelites, so she put her faith in God into action by helping them.

Rahab’s faith is in keeping with what the NT teaches about faith with works. Luke speaks of pagans, like Rahab, who trusted in Christ, for they were “confessing and disclosing their practices …many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:18-19). Notice how their lives changed, how they repented of their ways, once they came to faith in Christ. The same is said of repentant pagans in Thessalonica who “turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). Also, Zaccheus, who, after believing, said, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much” (Luke 19:8).

John the Baptist called the Jewish Pharisees a “brood of vipers,” telling them to “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father.’ For I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham” (Matt. 3:7-9). Shortly thereafter, Jesus arrived on the scene, saying, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). To those who claimed to believe in Him, Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32; cf. 15:4-17). Yet Jesus did not trust all those who claimed to believe in Him (John 2:23-24), for only those who produce fruit in keeping with repentance—like Rahab, are genuine (Matt. 13:23). Sadly, many who claim to trust in Christ fail to vindicate their faith as Rahab did. Only those who do the will of God can and will enter into heaven.

Though many claim to know Jesus as Lord, the wickedness of their ways and the perpetual nature of it proves that their faith is dead (cf. Matt. 7:21-23). James says in 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also is faith without works dead.” “Spirit” (Gr. ruach) can be translated as both “spirit” or “breath,” the latter of which fits, for as the body without breath is dead…” so too is faith without works a dead; it is worthless faith.

Food For Thought
Some wonder how many so-called good works are needed over the course of a Christian’s life to vindicate their faith in Christ as genuine. But this is faulty thinking. God isn’t counting good works and measuring them against our no-works or sinful works. The good works, or spiritual fruit, that Christians exhibit are not how many times we evangelize the lost, how many abortion clinics we pray for march against, or how many orphans we adopt. Spiritual fruit is a changed life—a love for Jesus Christ that has replaced a love for self or something or someone else. Love exhibits itself through things we don’t do or say as much as things we do perform or say. Spiritual fruit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). Each one of these nine terms exhibits itself in various ways. They are never full in anyone’s life all at once, but our love for Jesus Christ compels us to exhibit them even during times when we might not want to. So if you want to do good works, pray for the fruit of the Spirit to be exhibited in your life, vindicating your faith to others as truly genuine.