The Meaning of Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance^[a] of things hoped for, the conviction^[b] of things not seen.^{(A) 2} Indeed, by faith^[c] our ancestors received approval.

The Faith of Abraham

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going.^{(A) 9} By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.^{(B) 10} For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.^{(C) 11} By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered^[a] him faithful who had promised.^{(D) 12} Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”^(E)

¹³ All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,^{(F) 14} for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.^(G)

¹⁸ You have not come to something^[a] that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest,^{(A) 19} and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.^{(B) 20} (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.”^{(C) 21} Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”)^{(D) 22} But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,^{(E) 23} and to the assembly^[b] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(F) 24} and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(G)

¹² Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.^{(A) 13} Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. ¹⁴ For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.^{(B) 15} Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.^{(C) 16} Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.