Sinners Redeemed
“Now the men had said to her, ‘This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them.’”
Today’s Text: Joshua 2:15-24 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
It is so important to have a “boundary” around how we interpret the Scriptures. And that “boundary” is the gospel of Christ—and Him crucified, resurrected, and returning. All that to say, we can trust that the story of Rahab is a historical account. But for me, it is edifying and instructive to see some allegorical connections in this account.
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho, the first city of the conquest. In a similar way, we “prostitute” ourselves to the world, offering our bodies to the values and ways of the world. At the same time, are we tired of it all and yearn to be the “first city” of conquest?
Rahab’s house was on the wall of the city, so that it looked out into the promised land. Her house is the church. And while we are in the world, we are not of the world. Rather, we are on the outer wall of this world, and we look out and look forward to another world, the “promised land” filled with the glory of God.
The red cord is the blood of Christ. And it is only by the mark of His blood on our windows (our view of the world) for the forgiveness of sins that we can be saved.
Rahab’s household is our household. And if we do not bring our household into the sanctuary of the church, covered by the blood of Christ, they will perish.
Of course, if they choose to stay in the world and not in the church, their blood is on their own hands. But the question for me is whether I feel the urgency to invite them into my redeemed and converted “brothel.”
Obviously, just because you are a member of church doesn’t mean that you are saved. Also, I know that God will save all who believe in the gospel of Christ.
Here’s the thing, however: Scripture reveals that the church is in the center of God’s plan of salvation for the world, but there is no such thing as a church with a membership of 1.
The only 1 who is in the center of God’s plan of salvation for the world is Christ. That is why the Church is called the Body of Christ.
There could be a church with members made up of only family members. But even family relationships can get very messy—between spouses, between siblings, between parents and children, with uncles and aunts and grandparents and cousins and in-laws and on and on.
And yet, for the most part, we are willing to suffer much for the sake of keeping our family together. How much more should we suffer for the sake of keeping our family members from perishing?
If we know of anyone who does not attend a church, we ought to pray for them and pursue them and invite them to our church. Either that or make a commitment to fellowship with that person in the name of Christ and become a church with a membership of at least 2. That’s a church.
And so, may we never take our church for granted. Never.
We must never see our Canvas community as just another activity or club or institution in our lives. And certainly, we must never see our Canvas community as competing with our life in “Jericho.”
Of course, church life is difficult sometimes. What makes church life difficult is that every church is filled with the redeemed who somehow still sin. And that includes us. But our Canvas community, and every gospel-preaching and teaching local church, contains in it the Church of the redeemed—the Body of Christ.
I hope and pray that we can all see how Scripture makes it very clear that only the Church will be saved.
Father, You are the Author of my salvation. Thank You for saving me and bringing me into Your household, the Church. By Your Spirit, help me to see and help all of us to see Your perspective toward our church. Bless and save this Canvas family, and use us to save others. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
