Hebrews 11:1-40 - Examples Of Faith In Action
1 But faith is the confidence of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders receive the witness of the Spirit.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were created by the word of God, and that which was seen was not made from things which are manifest.
4 By faith Abel offered up to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received the witness that he was righteous, God witnessing to his gifts: and through it he having died is still speaking.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found because God translated him. For before he was translated he had the witness of the Spirit, that he pleased God: 6 but without faith it is impossible to please him: for it behooves the one coming unto God to believe that he is, and he is a rewarder unto them who seek him out.
7 By faith Noah, being warned concerning things not yet seen, being moved with fear, prepared an ark for the salvation of his family; by which he condemned the world, and became heir to the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham, being called to go out into a place which he was about to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and went out, not knowing whither he goes. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise: 10 for he anticipated a city having foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 And by faith Sarah herself received power unto the conception of seed, even past the time of age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore indeed they were born of one, and those things of one having died, as the stars of heaven for multitude, and as the sands which are by the sea, which are innumerable.
13 These all died in the faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them afar off, and embracing them, and confessing that they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those speaking such things declare that they are seeking after a country of their own. 15 If indeed they remember that country from which they came out, they would have had an opportunity to return; 16 but now they seek a better country, that is, a heavenly. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac: and the one having received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 in reference to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 considering that God is able to raise him from the dead; whence he also received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each one of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, on the hilt of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, dying, made mention concerning the exodus of the children of Israel; and commanded concerning his own bones.
23 By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and did not fear the commandment of the king. 24 By faith Moses, having become an adult, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season; 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he was looking unto the recompense of reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he went out, as seeing the invisible one. 28 By faith he instituted the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the one destroying the first-born might not touch them. 29 By faith they pass through the Red sea as through dry land: the undertaking of which the Egyptians having entered upon were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encompassed about seven days, 31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, having received the spies with peace.
32 And what do I yet say? time will fail me relating concerning Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and David, and Samuel, and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, 34 obtained promises, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness became filled up with dynamite, became mighty in war, put to flight the armies of the aliens: 35 women receive their dead from a resurrection: some were tortured, not accepting deliverance; in order that they might receive a better resurrection: 36 and others received the trial of scourgings and mockings, and still of bonds and imprisonment: 37 they were stoned, they were tempted, they were burnt, they died by the edge of the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, troubled, persecuted, 38 of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, and in mountains, and caves and dens of the earth.
39 And all these, having received the witness of the spirit through faith, did not obtain the promise: 40 God having reserved something better for us, that they might not be made perfect apart from us.