Hebrews 11
11
Faith
1#2Co 4:18; 5:7Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old obtained a good report.
3#Jn 1:3; Ro 4:17By faith we understand that the universe was framed by the word of God, so that things that are seen were not made out of things which are visible.
4#Mt 23:35; Heb 12:24By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain offered. Through this he was approved as righteous, with God testifying concerning his gifts. He still speaks through his faith, though he is dead.
5#2Ki 2:11; Jude 1:14By faith Enoch was taken to heaven so that he would not see death. He was not found, because God took him away. For before he was taken, he had this commendation, that he pleased God. 6#1Ch 28:9; Jer 29:13–14And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7#1Pe 3:20; Eze 14:14By faith Noah, being divinely warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to save his family, by which he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8#Ge 12:1–4; 12:7By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he would later receive as an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he was going. 9#Ge 12:8; 18:9By faith he dwelt in the promised land, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise, 10#Heb 12:22; 13:14for he was looking for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11#Ge 18:11–14; Heb 10:23By faith Sarah herself also received the ability to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12#Ge 22:17; 15:5; 32:12Therefore from one man, who was as good as dead, sprang so many, a multitude as the stars of the sky and innumerable as the sand by the seashore.
13#Ge 23:4; Ps 39:12These all died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14Those who say such things declare plainly that they are looking for a homeland. 15#Ge 24:6–8And certainly, if they had been thinking of the country out of which they came, they might have had the opportunity to return. 16#Ex 3:6; 3:15But they desired 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.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. 18#Ge 21:12; Ro 9:7Of him God said, “Through Isaac shall your seed be named.”#Ge 21:12. 19#Ro 4:17–21He reasoned that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he indeed received him in a figurative sense.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshipped while leaning on the top of his staff.
22#Ex 13:19; Ge 50:24–25By faith Joseph, when he was dying, mentioned the exodus of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23#Ex 1:16; 1:22By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
24#Ex 2:10–11By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25#Job 36:21; Ps 84:10choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy thepleasures of sin for a time. 26#Heb 2:2; 10:35He esteemed the reproach of Christ as greater riches thanthe treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the reward. 27#Heb 11:13; Ex 2:14–15By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king. He endured by looking to Him who is invisible. 28#Ex 12:21–30By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest the one who destroys the firstborn touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, which the Egyptians attempted to do, but were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
31#Jas 2:25; Jos 6:22–25; Mt 1:5By faith the prostitute Rahab, when she received the spies with peace, did not perish with those who did not believe.
32#1Sa 1:20; 16:1And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33#Jdg 14:5–6who through faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34#Jdg 15:8; 1Ki 19:3quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fighting, and turned the armies of foreign enemies to flight. 35Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured and did not accept deliverance, so that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36#Jer 20:2; Ge 39:20; 1Ki 22:27Still others had trials of mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37#1Ki 19:10; 2Ch 24:21They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered around in sheepskins and goatskins, while destitute, afflicted, and tormented. 38#1Ki 18:4; 19:9The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39#Heb 11:13; 11:2; 1Pe 1:12These all have obtained a good report through faith, but they did not receive the promise. 40#Rev 6:11For God provided something better for us, so that with us they would be made perfect.
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Military Bible Association
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.