For we have had good news preached to us, just as they did, but the message they heard did them no good because they did not agree through faith with what they heard.

Let us therefore leave elementary Christian teaching alone and advance toward maturity. We must not be always relaying foundations, of repentance for wrong-doing, and of faith in God,

so that you may never grow careless, but may learn to follow the example of those who through their faith and endurance are the possessors of God's promises.

let us draw near to God in sincerity of heart and with perfect faith, with our hearts cleansed from the sense of sin, and our bodies washed with clean water.

And he whom I accept as righteous will find life through his faith. But if a man draws back, my heart can take no pleasure in him."

But we will not draw back and perish, but we will have faith and save our souls.

Faith means the assurance of what we hope for; it is our conviction about things that we cannot see.

It is faith that enables us to see that the universe was created at the command of God, so that the world we see did not simply arise out of matter.

Faith made Abel's sacrifice greater in the sight of God than Cain's; through faith he gained God's approval as an upright man, for God himself approved his offering, and through faith even when he was dead he still spoke.

Faith caused Enoch to be taken up from the earth without experiencing death; he could not be found, because God had taken him up. For before he was taken up there is evidence that he pleased God,

but without faith it is impossible to please him; for whoever would approach God must have faith in his existence and in his willingness to reward those who try to find him.

Faith led Noah, when he was warned by God of things no one then saw, in obedience to the warning to build an ark in which to save his family, and by such faith he condemned the world, and came to possess that uprightness which faith produces.

Faith enabled Abraham to obey when God summoned him to leave his home for a region which he was to have for his own, and to leave home without knowing where he was going.

Faith led him to make a temporary home as a stranger in the land he had been promised, and to live there in his tents, with Isaac and Jacob, who shared the promise with him.

Faith made even Sarah herself able to have a child, although she was past the time of life for it, because she thought, that he who had made the promise would keep it.

All these people lived all their lives in faith, and died without receiving what had been promised; they only saw it far ahead and welcomed the sight of it, recognizing that they themselves were only foreigners and strangers here on earth.

Faith enabled Abraham, when he was put to the test, to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had accepted God's promises was ready to sacrifice his only son,

Faith enabled Isaac to bequeath to Jacob and Esau blessings that were still to be.

Faith made Jacob when he was dying give a blessing to each of Joseph's sons, and bow in worship even while leaning on his staff.

Faith inspired Joseph when he was dying to tell of the future migration of the Israelites, and to give instructions about his own body.

Faith led Moses' parents to hide him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child and they would not respect the edict of the king.

Faith made Moses, when he was grown up, refuse to be known as a son of Pharaoh's daughter,

Faith made him leave Egypt, unafraid of the king's anger, for he persevered as though he saw him who is unseen.

Faith made him institute the Passover and splash the blood upon the door-posts, to keep the angel that destroyed the firstborn from touching them.

Faith enabled them to cross the Red Sea as though it were dry land, although the Egyptians when they tried to follow them across it were drowned.

Faith made the walls of Jericho fall, after they had marched around them each day for seven days.

Faith saved Rahab the prostitute from being destroyed with those who disobeyed God, because she had given a friendly welcome to the scouts.

who by their faith conquered kingdoms, attained uprightness, received new promises, shut the mouths of lions,

Yet though they all gained God's approval by their faith, they none of them received what he had promised,

fixing our eyes upon Jesus, our leader and example in faith, who in place of the happiness that belonged to him, submitted to a cross, caring nothing for its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do not forget your former leaders, the men who brought you God's message. Remember how they ended their lives and imitate their faith.