Hall of Faith - Hebrews 11

What is faith?
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." ~ Hebrews 11:1

By faith...

-we understand that the universe was formed at God's command

-Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did
-he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings
-he still speaks, even though he is dead

-Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death

Without faith...

-it is impossible to please God, because everyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him

By faith...

-Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family
-he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith

-Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going
-he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country

-Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise

-Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice

-Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future

-Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons

-Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones

-Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born

-Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter
-he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger
-he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood

-the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land

-the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days

-the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great clouds of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." ~ Hebrews 12:1