For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith.

The Danger of Falling Away

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises.

let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

But My righteous one will live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.

The Triumphs of Faith

Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.

By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had received the promises was offering up his only son;

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though seeing Him who is unseen.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.