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The Holy Bible

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The Book of Hebrews

Hebrews Chapter 11

  

The Meaning of Faith

1
NOW

faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  2  For by it our ancestors received approval.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are not visible.

Faith at the Dawn of History

4 By faith Able offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain. By this he was approved as a righteous man, when God Himself gave approval of his gifts. And though he died, through his faith he still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death, and he was not to be found, because God had taken him away. For prior to him being taken, he had this testimony: that he pleased God.  6  But without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, after being warned by God about events as yet unseen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that comes by faith.

The Faith of Abraham

8 By faith Abraham, obeyed when he was called to go to a place he was would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out even though he did not know where he was going to.  9  By faith he made his home in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were hairs with him of the same promise.  10  For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11  By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive offspring, even though she was barren and past the age, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.  12  And so from this one man, and him as good as dead, descendants were born as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand by the seashore.

13  All these people died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.  14  Now people who speak this way makes it clear that they are looking for their own homeland.  15  If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.  16  But instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

The Faith of the Patriarchs

17  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,  18  of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will be reckoned.”  19  Abraham considered that God is even able to raise someone from the dead, and in a figurative sense he did receive Isaac back.

20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped as he was leaning on the top of his staff.

22  By faith joseph, when is end was near, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses

23  By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  25  He chose instead to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  26  He considered disgrace suffered for the sake of the Christ to be greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to the reward.  27  By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger; he persevered through seeing Him who is invisible.  28  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29  By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.

By Faith They Overcame

30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31  By faith Rahab the prostitute, because she had welcomed the spies, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

32  And what more shall I say? Time is too short to tell about Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephtath, David, Samuel, and the prophets,  33  who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,  34  quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in battle, and routed foreign armies.  35  Women received back their dead, raised back to life. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might gain a better resurrection.  36  Some suffered mockings and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  37  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were put to death by the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goat skins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated -  38  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39  All of these were commended for their faith, although they did not receive what was promised,  40  since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.