Introduction: This morning, I am going to challenge some of you to make the most important decision you will ever make in your. In a few moments, I am going to ask you to step out from where you are and surrender control of your life to Jesus Christ.
I want you to begin thinking about this decision, because I know that there are some here this morning who have never made this commitment. First, I want to ask you a big favor: that for the next few minutes you give me your complete attention. That no one get up and leave because what you will hear in the next few minutes could effect you or someone beside of you for all of eternity.
There is not a single person in this room that can be left out of this promise. No matter what you have done in your past, you can come to Christ this very day and receive forgiveness of sins. I believe that God is speaking to some of you this morning. You need to commit your life to Christ before you leave this place today. Will you pray with me...
PRAY --- PRAY --- PRAY --- PRAY --- PRAY --- PRAY --- PRAY --- PRAY
When I read God’s word, I am amazed at the people in the scripture, who were facing God’s judgement and destruction, were saved simply by obeying God’s word.
I read about how a man named Noah was commanded by God to build giant boat -- as large as an aircraft carrier. In that boat he was told to take onboard two of every living creature -- a male and female -- along with his family because God was going to bring about a great flood to destroy everything on the earth. Noah listened to God’s word and was saved along with his family.
I read how two angels were sent to a man named Lot. Lot was living in a city so full of sin that God couldn’t even find ten righteous people living there. After much convincing, He finally obeyed the word of the Lord and fled from the coming destruction to a little town named Zoar, and was spared judgement.
I read how the Israelites were commanded by God to kill a lamb, and smear its blood on the door posts and lintel of their homes. When God sent the death angel into the Egypt to kill the firstborn, each of the homes that painted their door posts with the blood were saved because they obeyed God.
Today’s text reminds me of those stories. It helps us recall how a piece of red cord saved a prostitute and her family from judgement, and how she came to faith in the true and living God because of her obedience.
When I think about this passage, one of the things that I am most thankful to God for is the fact that he loves us in spite of the fact that we are by nature his enemies. The Bible tells us that: “...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And, that by calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can be saved from the judgement of Hell. This young lady named Rahab is an
illustration of this truth.
I. Rahab - doomed lady living in a doomed town
1. Time had come - Israel - after wandering - Inherit land of Canaan
(1) God was going to judge the Canaanites for their wickedness
2. Joshua sent two spies - view the land - especially Jericho
3. Came to the house of Rahab the prostitute in Jericho - Bible says they lodged there
4. Word Got back to King of Jericho - Men had come to spy out the land
5. King sent Jericho police to Rahab - ordered her to turn over the spies to him
6. Rahab hid them on the roof - told the cops that they had left
7. So they left to look for the spies - when the coast was clear (Josh 2:8-13)
8. So the spies responded (v. 14) then (v. 15)
9. Before they left - special sign - scarlet cord in window (vv. 17-18)
10. Josh. 6 - Israel marched around city once a day - 6 days - 7th day - marched 7 times - final round shouted - walls fell down
(1) Where was Rahab when the walls started falling down?
(2) Rahab the prostitute was safe inside the house with her family hiding behind the scarlet thread!
II. Fine story, but what does this mean to me???
1. Rahab was by nature an enemy of God, but she found grace and was saved by putting her faith in the one true God (Josh 2:11)
(1) In the midst of all of those other gods and false religions of Canaan, she believed God, like Abraham, and it was counted to her for righteousness.
2. We have a scarlet thread that we can hide behind and be saved today - and that is Jesus Christ!!!
III. We are like Rahab - by nature we are God’s enemies.
1. The Bible says that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standards.
(1) What is sin anyway? Disobedience, falling short of the mark - I heard a new definition the other day that I am going to start using
[1] Sin is when I choose me instead of God
(2) Read John 3:16-19
(3) We have it in our nature to rebel against everything that we know to be good and right in God’s sight.
(4) Look at Rahab - she had the potential to do good - instead, she choose to prostitute her body.
2 Our sinfulness carries with it a penalty - eternal separation from God.
(1) Romans 6:23
[1] “Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death” Rom. 6:23 The Message
(2) The Bible speaks of Hell as a real place - it is mentioned more times than heaven.
IV. Like Rahab, we can find a place of safety at the foot of the cross
1. “There are tons of religions out there, does it really matter what I believe as long as I am sincere?”
2. Even when people try to seek God, their natural tendency is too look in all the wrong places.
3. Gods word says: “...there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” except Jesus.
(1) Jesus was unique - God manifested in the flesh.
(2) He lived a life completely without sin.
(3) He willingly went to the cross and laid down his life for me and you - we deserved the punishment that
He took in his own body.
(4) He rose from the grave defeating death, and ascended to the right hand of God.
[1] Isaiah 53:5-6
4. Just like Rahab found safety behind the scarlet thread - we can find safety behind the blood of the Jesus.
V. What should I do?
1. Admit.
2. Repent - turn away from sin and everything else - turn to Christ.
3. Commit your life to Jesus Christ.
