Hebrews

11.1-40

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” And God furthermore said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name from generation to generation. (Exodus 3:14-15).
Well known as the "faith" chapter of the Bible, it perfectly follows the writer's explanation of the new covenant as better than the old. In the first century, Judaism had become a twisted system of salvation by works. This was a corruption of what God had delivered to His people to represent the coming new covenant He would deliver through Christ, and He despised it. God has always redeemed man by faith, never by works. Following a brief definition of faith that connects the principle of the new covenant's superiority (from the previous chapters), is a list of Old Testament men and women who illustrate this faith. Having just heard these arguments regarding the covenant, the point is now that the matter of faith did not begin with the New Covenant, but that the way back to God has always and only been by faith.
As the writer continues his parade of faith heroes, he finally lists a group of six that are all rulers (v.32) in one way or another. But as he recounts their deeds, none are praised for their office. Rather, and exclusively for what they accomplished by faith. We are challenged by the concept of how those in the Old Testament may be saved by a Christ who had not yet arrived. Here we see that the point in all salvation is faith. Today we have something better (v39). They were not lesser believers. Their faith was of the highest order. Their salvation was based on what Christ would do. Ours is based on what Christ has done. They looked forward to a promise. We look to a fulfilled promise. Both are timeless, just as God is. Even when He appeared to Moses at the time when He delivered the Old Covenant, He revealed His timeless nature. When is God? "I AM" is His name Gen (3:15).

CHAPTER 11

By Faith

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was approved as being righteous—God approving his gifts—and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for prior to being taken up, he was approved as being pleasing to God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned 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.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise,
10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she regarded Him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore there were born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.
13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 And indeed if they had been remembering that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now, they aspire to a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son,
18 to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED.”
19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he also received him back.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and WORSHIPED, leaning ON THE TOP OF HIS STAFF.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave commands concerning his bones.
23 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.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26 regarding the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the rage of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land, and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after welcoming the spies in peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I recount Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, as well as David and Samuel and the prophets,
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;
36 and others experienced mockings and floggings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, mistreated
38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in desolate places and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.