For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.

Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,

so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him.

But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.

Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.

By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.

By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.

These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.

By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.

By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial.

By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days.

By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,

And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Remember your leaders, who spoke God's message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.