Hebrews 11
11
What Is Faith?
1Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. 2Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past.
3It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God’s command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen.
4It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered and called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
5It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven so he would not die. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. Before he was taken, the Scripture says that he was a man who truly pleased God. 6Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.
7It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see. He obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family. By his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.
8It was by faith Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go. 9It was by faith that he lived like a foreigner in the country God promised to give him. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had received that same promise from God. 10Abraham was waiting for the city that has real foundations—the city planned and built by God.
11He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised. 12This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted.
13All these great people died in faith. They did not get the things that God promised his people, but they saw them coming far in the future and were glad. They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth. 14When people say such things, they show they are looking for a country that will be their own. 15If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back. 16But they were waiting for a better country—a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.
17It was by faith that Abraham, when God tested him, offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God made the promises to Abraham, but Abraham was ready to offer his own son as a sacrifice. 18God had said, “The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac.” 19Abraham believed that God could raise the dead, and really, it was as if Abraham got Isaac back from death.
20It was by faith that Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau. 21It was by faith that Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each one of Joseph’s sons. Then he worshiped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.
22It was by faith that Joseph, while he was dying, spoke about the Israelites leaving Egypt and gave instructions about what to do with his body.
23It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born. They saw that Moses was a beautiful baby, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s order.
24It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of the king of Egypt’s daughter. 25He chose to suffer with God’s people instead of enjoying sin for a short time. 26He thought it was better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking for God’s reward. 27It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king’s anger. Moses continued strong as if he could see the God that no one can see. 28It was by faith that Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doors so the one who brings death would not kill the firstborn sons of Israel.
29It was by faith that the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. But when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned.
30It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31It was by faith that Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the spies and was not killed with those who refused to obey God.
32Do I need to give more examples? I do not have time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33Through their faith they defeated kingdoms. They did what was right, received God’s promises, and shut the mouths of lions. 34They stopped great fires and were saved from being killed with swords. They were weak, and yet were made strong. They were powerful in battle and defeated other armies. 35Women received their dead relatives raised back to life. Others were tortured and refused to accept their freedom so they could be raised from the dead to a better life. 36Some were laughed at and beaten. Others were put in chains and thrown into prison. 37They were stoned to death, they were cut in half, and they were killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor, abused, and treated badly. 38The world was not good enough for them! They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the earth.
39All these people are known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. 40God planned to give us something better so that they would be made perfect, but only together with us.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Hebrews 11
11
By Faith We Understand
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence #Rom. 8:24; (2 Cor. 4:18; 5:7); Heb. 11:7, 27of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3By faith we understand that #Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6; (John 1:3); 2 Pet. 3:5the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Faith at the Dawn of History
4By faith #Gen. 4:3–5; Matt. 23:35; 1 John 3:12Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still #Gen. 4:8–10; Heb. 12:24speaks.
5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, #Gen. 5:21–24“and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7By faith #Gen. 6:13–22Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, #1 Pet. 3:20prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of #Rom. 3:22the righteousness which is according to faith.
Faithful Abraham
8By faith #Gen. 12:1–4; Acts 7:2–4Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, #Gen. 12:8; 13:3, 18; 18:1, 9dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, #Heb. 6:17the heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he waited for #(Heb. 12:22; 13:14)the city which has foundations, #(Rev. 21:10)whose builder and maker is God.
11By faith #Gen. 17:19; 18:11–14; 21:1, 2Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and #Luke 1:36she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him #Heb. 10:23faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as #Rom. 4:19dead, were born as many as the #Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 32:12stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
The Heavenly Hope
13These all died in faith, #Heb. 11:39not having received the #Gen. 12:7promises, but #John 8:56; Heb. 11:27having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and #Gen. 23:4; 47:9; 1 Chr. 29:15; Ps. 39:12; Eph. 2:19; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things #Heb. 13:14declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly if they had called to mind #Gen. 11:31that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed #Gen. 26:24; 28:13; Ex. 3:6, 15; 4:5to be called their God, for He has #(John 14:2); Heb. 11:10; (Rev. 21:2)prepared a city for them.
The Faith of the Patriarchs
17By faith Abraham, #Gen. 22:1–14; James 2:21when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18of whom it was said, #Gen. 21:12; Rom. 9:7“In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19concluding that God #Rom. 4:17was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
20By faith #Gen. 27:26–40Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, #Gen. 48:1, 5, 16, 20blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22By faith #Gen. 50:24, 25; Ex. 13:19Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
The Faith of Moses
23By faith #Ex. 2:1–3Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s #Ex. 1:16, 22command.
24By faith #Ex. 2:11–15Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26esteeming #Heb. 13:13the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the #Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17reward.
27By faith #Ex. 10:28he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28By faith #Ex. 12:21he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29By faith #Ex. 14:22–29; Jude 5they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
By Faith They Overcame
30By faith #Josh. 6:20the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31By faith #Josh. 2:9; 6:23; James 2:25the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when #Josh. 2:1she had received the spies with peace.
32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of #Judg. 6:11; 7:1–25Gideon and #Judg. 4:6–24Barak and #Judg. 13:24—16:31Samson and #Judg. 11:1–29; 12:1–7Jephthah, also of #1 Sam. 16; 17David and #1 Sam. 7:9–14Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, #Judg. 14:6; 1 Sam. 17:34; Dan. 6:22stopped the mouths of lions, 34#Dan. 3:23–28quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35#1 Kin. 17:22; 2 Kin. 4:35–37Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were #Acts 22:25tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and #Gen. 39:20; 1 Kin. 22:27; 2 Chr. 18:26; Jer. 20:2; 37:15of chains and imprisonment. 37#1 Kin. 21:13; 2 Chr. 24:21; Acts 7:58They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. #2 Kin. 1:8; Matt. 3:4They wandered about #1 Kin. 19:13, 19; 2 Kin. 2:8, 13; Zech. 13:4in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, #1 Kin. 18:4, 13; 19:9in dens and caves of the earth.
39And all these, #Heb. 11:2, 13having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40God having provided something better for us, that they should not be #Heb. 5:9made perfect apart from us.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.