Book of Common Prayer

The Saints Have Always Endured By Faith

11 Now^[a] faith is the assurance^[b] of things being hoped-for^[c], the conviction^[d] of things not being seen^[e]. ² For in this the elders^[f] were attested.

The Early Times

³ By faith we understand that the worlds have been prepared by the word of God, so that the thing being seen has not^[g] come-into-being from things being visible. ⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous— God testifying about his gifts. And through it, [although] having died, he is still speaking. ⁵ By faith Enoch was removed^[h], so as not to see death: “And he was not found because God removed him” [Gen 5:24]. For before the removal, he has been attested to have pleased God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him. For the one coming-to God must believe that He is, and He becomes the rewarder to the ones seeking Him out. ⁷ By faith Noah, having been warned about the things not yet being seen, having been reverent, prepared the ark for the salvation^[i] of his household, through which he condemned the world and became an inheritor of the righteousness according-to faith.

The Time of The Patriarchs

⁸ By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out to a place which he was going-to receive for an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he stayed^[j] in the land of the promise as a land belonging-to-another, having dwelled in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow-heirs of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was waiting-for the city having foundations, of which^[k] God is designer^[l] and maker^[m]. ¹¹ By faith— and Sarah herself being barren— he^[n] received power for the foundation^[o] of a seed^[p] even beyond the time of mature-age, since he regarded the One having promised to be faithful. ¹² Therefore indeed from one man— and he having become impotent as to these^[q] things— were born^[r] seed as the stars of heaven in number, and countless as the sand by the shore of the sea.

²⁷ Do not be working for the food which is perishing, but for the food which is remaining to^[a] eternal life— which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father certified^[b] this One”.

The Work God Requires of You Is To Believe In The One Sent Forth By God

²⁸ So they said to Him, “What may we be doing in order that we may be working the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus responded and said to them, “This is the work of God: that you be believing in the One Whom that One sent-forth”.

My Father Is Giving You The True Bread From Heaven, Which Came To Give Life

³⁰ So they said to Him, “What then do You do as a sign, in order that we may see it and believe You? What thing do you work? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it has been written [in Ps 78:24]: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat’”. ³² So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses has not given you the bread from heaven, but My Father is giving you the true Bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the One coming^[c] down from heaven and giving life to the world”.

I Am The Bread of Life Come From Heaven. He Who Believes In Me Has Eternal Life

³⁴ So they said to Him, “Master, give us this bread always”. ³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one coming to Me will never hunger, and the one believing in Me will never ever^[d] thirst. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have indeed seen Me^[e], and you are not believing. ³⁷ All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me, and I will never^[f] throw outside the one coming to Me. ³⁸ Because I have come down from heaven not in order that I may be doing My will, but the will of the One having sent Me. ³⁹ And this is the will of the One having sent Me: that as to all that He has given to Me, I will not lose anything from it, but I will raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of My Father: that everyone seeing the Son and believing in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day”.