because we have had the good news told to us as well as to them. But the message they heard did not help them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened to it.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us live our lives consistent with our confession of faith.

Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teachings about the Messiah, let us continue to be carried along to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead actions, faith toward God,

Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.

let us continue to come near with sincere hearts in the full assurance that faith provides, because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

but my righteous one will live by faith, and if he turns back, my soul will take no pleasure in him."

Now, we do not belong to those who turn back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.

By faith our ancestors won approval.

By faith we understand that time was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are invisible.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and by faith he was declared to be righteous, since God himself accepted his offerings. And by faith he continues to speak, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken away without experiencing death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he won approval as one who pleased God.

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, reverently prepared an ark to save his family, and by faith he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who also inherited the same promise,

By faith Sarah, even though she was old and barren, received the strength to conceive, because she was convinced that the one who had made the promise was faithful.

All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice,

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons "and worshipped while leaning on the top of his staff."

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelis and gave them instructions about burying his bones.

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

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter,

By faith he left Egypt, without being afraid of the king's anger, and he persevered because he saw the one who is invisible.

By faith he established the Passover and the sprinkling of blood to keep the destroyer of the firstborn from touching the people.

By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies with a greeting of peace.

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions,

All these people won approval for their faith but they did not receive what was promised,

fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God's word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith.