Faith

11 To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. ^2 (A)It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God's approval.

^8 (A)It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country which God had promised to give him. He left his own country without knowing where he was going. ^9 (B)By faith he lived as a foreigner in the country that God had promised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise from God. ¹⁰ For Abraham was waiting for the city which God has designed and built, the city with permanent foundations.

^11 (C)It was faith that made Abraham able to become a father, even though he was too old and Sarah herself could not have children. He^[a] trusted God to keep his promise. ^12 (D)Though Abraham was practically dead, from this one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, as many as the numberless grains of sand on the seashore.

^13 (E)It was in faith that all these persons died. They did not receive the things God had promised, but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them, and admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth. ¹⁴ Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ They did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to return. ¹⁶ Instead, it was a better country they longed for, the heavenly country. And so God is not ashamed for them to call him their God, because he has prepared a city for them.

^17 (F)It was faith that made Abraham offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test. Abraham was the one to whom God had made the promise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice. ^18 (G)God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I promised.” ¹⁹ Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from death—and, so to speak, Abraham did receive Isaac back from death.