Hebrews

Faith – Hope

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Because of their faith, our ancestors were approved. 

By faith we understand that God’s word established the earth’s origins, and what is visible was made from what is unseen. 

Because of Abel’s faith, his offering was more acceptable than his brother Cain’s, which showed he was upright, and God himself approved of his offering; he died, but through this faith he still speaks.

By faith, Enoch was taken to heaven instead of experiencing death; he could not be found because God had taken him. In fact, it is said that before being taken up, he had pleased God. 

Yet, without faith, it is impossible to please him: no one approaches God without first believing that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him earnestly. 

By faith, Noah was warned about events that had not yet seen, and heeding what he heard, he built a boat to save his family. Noah’s faith condemned the world, and he reached holiness born of faith. 

It was by faith that Abraham, called by God, set out for a place that would be given to him as an inheritance; for he left without knowing where he was going. 

By faith, he lived as a stranger in that promised land. There, he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were beneficiaries of the same promise. 

Indeed, he looked forward to that city with a solid foundation, which God is the architect and builder of.

By faith, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, and Sarah herself received power to become a mother, despite her advanced age, because she believed that the one who had made the promise would be faithful. 

Therefore, from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and as many as the grains of sand on the seashore were born.

Death revealed all these people as strong in their faith. They had not received what was promised, but they looked forward to it and rejoiced from afar, saying that they were foreigners and travelers on earth. 

Those who speak this way show that they are seeking a homeland. 

For if they had yearned for the land they left behind, it would have been easy for them to go back. 

But no, they aimed for a better city, a heavenly one; so God, who has prepared that city for them, is not ashamed to be called their God.

By faith, Abraham went to offer Isaac when God tested him. And so, he who had received God’s promise offered his only son, 

although God had told him: Isaac’s descendants will bear your name. 

Abraham reasoned that God is capable even of raising the dead, and he received his son back, figuratively speaking.

By faith, Isaac also blessed Jacob’s and Esau’s descendants. 

By faith, Jacob, before he died, blessed both of Joseph’s sons and worshiped while leaning on his staff. 

By faith, Joseph, as he was dying, warned the Israelites about their exodus and gave instructions regarding his remains.

By faith, the parents of the newborn Moses hid him for three months because they saw he was very beautiful, and they did not fear Pharaoh’s order. 

By faith, Moses, now an adult, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 

He chose to share hardship with God’s people rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 

He considered the humiliation of Christ a greater treasure than Egypt’s wealth, and he looked forward to his reward. 

By faith, he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, and he persisted as one who could see the Invisible.

By faith, Moses observed the Passover, sprinkling blood on the doors so the Destroyer of the firstborn would not touch their firstborn sons. 

By faith, they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land, while the Egyptians, trying to cross, were swallowed by the waters and drowned. 

 By faith, the walls of Jericho collapsed after being encircled for seven days. 

By faith, the prostitute Rahab escaped death, which befell the unbelievers, for welcoming the spies. 

Do I need to say more? There isn’t enough time to mention Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 

Through faith, they fought and defeated nations, established justice, saw God’s promises come true, shut the mouths of lions, 

quenched raging fires, escaped the sword, and were healed from sicknesses; these were weak people who were given strength to be brave in battle and to repel foreign invaders.

Some women regained their loved ones through resurrection, but others—persecuted and tortured believers—refused to do what would have saved them. 

Others suffered mocking and flogging, experienced chains and imprisonment. 

They were stoned, sawn in two, and killed by the sword. They fled from place to place, with only sheep and goat skins for clothing, lacking everything, suffering, and mistreated. 

 These people, whom the world was not worthy of, had to wander through wastelands and mountains, seeking refuge in the dens of the land. 

However, even though all of them were praised for their faith, they did not receive the promise, 

because God had us in mind and saw beyond. And he did not want them to reach perfection, except with us.