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THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE GOSPEL

Nature forms us, sin deforms us, prison tries to reform us and education informs us but only the gospel can transform us. A prostitute came to be changed by the power of the gospel. She is no longer a harlot but marries Salmon and in so doing becomes part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. She moved from a house of shame to the hall of fame. See Hebrews 11:31.

1. The providence which confronted her (vs 1-7)

The two spies come to the house of Rahab. She lived a deprived life yet she had a heart that was hungry for God. It was not by chance that the spies came to her house. How did she come to be transformed?

The Holy Spirit begins to work in the heart of a lost sinner.
The Holy Spirit begins to work in the heart of the soul winner.
The lost sinner is confronted with the gospel.

This is what happed when Philip met the the Ethiopian eunuch out in the desert. See Acts 8:26-40. Jesus met the woman in Samaria. See John 4:4-42. God loves sinners who are hungry for God. He needs prepared soul winners who are available. God will then transform lives.

2. The evidence that convicted her (vs 8-10)

How did she know? She had heard the report of miracles that God had done in the lives of the people of Israel. Not only are we witnesses of the gospel- we are the evidence as well. The evidence was that the people had been transformed by the miracles that God had performed in their lives. God can transform the meanest man and woman. This can be the evidence that convicts other wicked people.

3. The confidence that converted her (vs 11-24)

She was not saved by works - it was faith. Rahab puts a scarlet chord in her window so that she will be saved. The scarlet cord represents the blood that was put on the door in Exodus and the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. It only the blood of Jesus Christ that can forgive us from our sins. Human goodness is no good.

There is only one way of salvation. Rahab looked forward in faith while we look back in faith. Rahab didn't understand it all but she did believe. She was converted by faith and saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Rahab confessed her faith publicly when she put the scarlet chord in the window. When the Israelites came she and her family who came to the house, were saved. If she had not done so she would have been killed. We need to confess our faith publicly. The Lord is coming soon.