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The Triumphs of Faith

¹ Now faith is the ^(C1)assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things ^(C2)hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of ^(C3)things not seen the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses.² For by this kind of faith the ^(F1)(C1)men of old ^(C2)gained divine approval.

³ By faith that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God we understand that the ^(C1)worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose ^(C2)by the word of God, so that what is seen ^(C3)was not made out of things which are visible.⁴ By faith ^(C1)Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was ^(C2)testified of him that he was righteous (upright, in right standing with God), and God testified by accepting his ^(C3)gifts. And though ^(C4)he died, yet through this act of faith he still speaks. ^(VR1)5 By faith that pleased God ^(C1)Enoch was caught up and taken to heaven so that he would not ^(C2)have a glimpse of death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM; for even before he was taken to heaven, he received the testimony still on record that he had walked with God and pleased Him. ^(VR1)6 But without faith it is impossible to walk with God and please Him, for whoever ^(C1)comes near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He rewards those who earnestly and diligently seek Him.⁷ By faith with confidence in God and His word ^(C1)Noah, being ^(C2)warned by God about ^(C3)events not yet seen, in ^(C4)reverence ^(C5)prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this act of obedience he condemned the world and became an heir of ^(C6)the righteousness which comes by faith. ^(VR1)

⁸ By faith ^(C1)Abraham, when he was called by God, obeyed by going to a place which he was to ^(C2)receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going.⁹ By faith he lived as a foreigner in ^(C1)the promised land, as in a strange land, ^(C2)living in tents as nomads with Isaac and Jacob, who were ^(C3)fellow heirs of the same promise. ^(VR1)10 For he was waiting expectantly and confidently looking forward to ^(C1)the city which has ^(C2)foundations, an eternal, heavenly city ^(C3)whose architect and builder is God.¹¹ By faith even ^(C1)Sarah herself received the ability to conceive a child, even when she was long past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be ^(C2)reliable and true to His word. ^(VR1)12 So from one man, though ^(C1)he was physically as good as dead, were born as many descendants ^(C2)AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND ON THE SEASHORE. ^(VR1)

^13 (C1)All these died in faith guided and sustained by it, ^(C2)without receiving the tangible fulfillment of God's promises, only ^(C3)having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having ^(C4)acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ^(VR1)14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.¹⁵ And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed as their true home, ^(C1)they would have had a continuing opportunity to return.¹⁶ But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a ^(C1)heavenly one. For that reason ^(C2)God is not ashamed of them or to be ^(C3)called their God even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for ^(C4)He has prepared a city for them. ^(VR1)

¹⁷ By faith ^(C1)Abraham, when he was tested that is, as the testing of his faith was still in progress, ^(F1)offered up Isaac, and he who had ^(C2)received the promises of God was ready to sacrifice his only son of promise; ^(VR1)18 to whom it was said, "^(C1)THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." ^(VR1)19 For he considered it reasonable to believe that ^(C1)God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God Abraham did receive him back from the dead ^(C2)figuratively speaking.²⁰ By faith ^(C1)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau believing what God revealed to him, even regarding things to come. ^(VR1)21 By faith ^(C1)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(C2)bowed in worship, leaning on the top of his staff. ^(VR1)22 By faith ^(C1)Joseph, when he was dying, referred to the promise of God for the exodus of the sons of Israel from Egypt, and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones in the land of the promise. ^(VR1)

²³ By faith ^(C1)Moses, after his birth, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful and divinely favored child; and they were not afraid of the ^(C2)king's (Pharaoh's) decree. ^(VR1)24 By faith Moses, ^(C1)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ^(VR1)25 because he preferred to ^(C1)endure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.^26 (C1)He considered the reproach of the ^(F1)Christ that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the ^(C2)reward promised by God.²⁷ By faith he ^(C1)left Egypt, being ^(C2)unafraid of the wrath of the king; for he endured steadfastly, as ^(C3)seeing Him who is unseen. ^(VR1)28 By faith he ^(C1)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood on the doorposts, so that ^(C2)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them (the firstborn of Israel). ^(VR1)29 By faith the people of Israel ^(C1)crossed the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; but when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned. ^(VR1)

³⁰ By faith ^(C1)the walls of Jericho fell down ^(C2)after they had been encircled for seven days by Joshua and the sons of Israel. ^(VR1)31 By faith ^(C1)Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies sent by the sons of Israel in peace. ^(VR1)

³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(C1)Gideon, ^(C2)Barak, ^(C3)Samson, ^(C4)Jephthah, of ^(C5)David and ^(C6)Samuel and the prophets, ^(VR1)33 who by faith that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises ^(C1)subdued kingdoms, ^(C2)administered justice, ^(C3)obtained promised blessings, ^(C4)closed the mouths of lions, ^{(VR1)34 (C1)}extinguished the power of raging fire, ^(C2)escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, ^(C3)became mighty and unbeatable in battle, ^(C3)putting enemy forces to flight. ^{(VR1)35 (C1)}Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured to death, refusing to accept release offered on the condition of denying their faith, so that they would be resurrected to a better life; ^(VR1)36 and others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging amid torture, and even ^(C1)chains and imprisonment.³⁷ They were ^(C1)stoned to death, they were ^(C2)sawn in two, they were lured with tempting offers to renounce their faith, they were ^(C3)put to death by the sword; they went about wrapped ^(C4)in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, ^(C5)cruelly treated³⁸ (people of whom the world was not worthy), ^(C1)wandering in deserts and mountains and living in caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹ And all of these, though they ^(C1)gained divine approval through their faith, ^(C2)did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised,⁴⁰ because God had us in mind and had ^(C1)something better for us, so that they these men and women of authentic faith would not be made perfect that is, completed in Him ^(C2)apart from us.