For we have become real sharers in Christ, if we keep firm to the end the faith we had at first,

For we have had the good news told to us as well as they, but the message heard did them no good, because they were not by faith made one with those who heeded it.

Since then we have in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High Priest who has gone right up to heaven itself, let us continue to keep a firm hold on our profession of faith in Him.

So then let us once for all quit the elementary teaching about Christ and continue progressing toward maturity; let us stop relaying a foundation of repentance from works that mean only death, and of faith in God,

so that you may not grow careless, but may follow the example of those who through their faith and patient endurance are now possessors of the blessings promised.

let us continue to draw near to God with sincere hearts and perfect faith; with our hearts cleansed from the sense of sin, and our bodies bathed in clean water;

Meantime, my righteous servant will live by faith. But if a man draws back, my soul has no delight in him."

But we are not of a disposition to draw back so as to perish, but we have faith that leads to the saving of the soul.

Now faith is the assurance of the things we hope for, the proof of the reality of the things we cannot see.

By faith we understand that the worlds were created, beautifully coordinated, and now exist, at God's command; so the things that we see did not develop out of mere matter.

By faith Abel offered a sacrifice more acceptable to God than Cain did, for by it he was approved as an upright man, since God approved him for the offering he made; and by it he still continues to speak, though dead.

By faith Enoch was transplanted from earth, so that he did not experience dying; and he could not be found, because God had transplanted him from earth. For before he was transplanted from earth evidence was given him that he pleased God;

but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that there is a God and that He gives rewards to all who earnestly try to find Him.

By faith Noah, on being divinely warned about things not seen as yet, in reverence prepared an ark for saving his family, and by his faith condemned the world and became possessor of the uprightness that results from faith.

By faith Abraham, on being called, obeyed in starting off for a country which he was to receive as his own, and he did it in spite of the fact that he did not know where he was going.

By faith he made his temporary home in the land that God had promised him, although a land inhabited by others, living merely in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were to share the promise with him.

By faith Sarah received strength to become pregnant, and actually gave birth to a child, although she was past the time of life for it, because she thought that He who made her the promise was to be trusted.

These people all died victoriously as a result of their faith, although they did not receive the blessings promised; that is, because they really saw them in the far-off future and welcomed them, and so professed to be only foreigners and strangers here on earth.

By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, offered Isaac as a sacrifice; that is, he who had received the promise was starting to offer as a sacrifice his only son,

By faith Isaac put his blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau.

By faith Jacob, when about to die, put his blessing on each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, at the closing of his life, made mention of the future migration of the Israelites, and gave directions what to do with his body.

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

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

By faith he left Egypt, because he was not afraid of the king's anger, for he persevered as though he were actually seeing Him who is unseen.

By faith he instituted the Passover and the pouring of blood upon the doorposts, so that the destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.

By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though it were dry land, while the Egyptians, in attempting it, were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being surrounded each of seven days.

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who disobeyed God, because she had welcomed the scouts as friends.

who by their faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received new promises, shut the mouths of lions,

Though all these people by their faith won God's approval, yet none of them received what He had promised,

keeping our eyes on Jesus, the perfect leader and example of faith, who, instead of the joy which lay before Him, endured the cross with no regard for its shame, and since has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

You must not forget your former leaders, for it was they who brought you the message of God. Consider how they closed their lives; imitate their faith.