Faith and Assurance
(John 1:1–5)

1But faith is the confidence of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the elders receive the witness of the Spirit.

3By faith we understand that the worlds were created by the word of God, and that which was seen was not made from things which are manifest.

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah

4By faith Abel offered up to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received the witness that he was righteous, God witnessing to his gifts: and through it he having died is still speaking. 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found because God translated him. For before he was translated he had the witness of the Spirit, that he pleased God: 6but without faith it is impossible to please him: for it behooves the one coming unto God to believe that he is, and he is a rewarder unto them who seek him out. 7By faith Noah, being warned concerning things not yet seen, being moved with fear, prepared an ark for the salvation of his family; by which he condemned the world, and became heir to the righteousness which is according to faith.

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah
(Romans 4:1–12)

8By faith Abraham, being called to go out into a place which he was about to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and went out, not knowing whither he goes. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise: 10for he anticipated a city having foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11And by faith Sarah herself received power unto the conception of seed, even past the time of age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore indeed they were born of one, and those things of one having died, as the stars of heaven for multitude, and as the sands which are by the sea, which are innumerable.

13These all died in the faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them afar off, and embracing them, and confessing that they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those speaking such things declare that they are seeking after a country of their own. 15If indeed they remember that country from which they came out, they would have had an opportunity to return; 16but now they seek a better country, that is, a heavenly. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.

17By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac: and the one having received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18in reference to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19considering that God is able to raise him from the dead; whence he also received him in a figure.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each one of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, on the hilt of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, dying, made mention concerning the exodus of the children of Israel; and commanded concerning his own bones.

The Faith of Moses
(Acts 7:20–22)

23By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and did not fear the commandment of the king. 24By faith Moses, having become an adult, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season; 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he was looking unto the recompense of reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he went out, as seeing the invisible one. 28By faith he instituted the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the one destroying the first-born might not touch them. 29By faith they pass through the Red sea as through dry land: the undertaking of which the Egyptians having entered upon were drowned.

The Faith of Many

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encompassed about seven days,

31By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, having received the spies with peace.

32And what do I yet say? time will fail me relating concerning Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and David, and Samuel, and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, 34obtained promises, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness became filled up with dynamite, became mighty in war, put to flight the armies of the aliens: 35women receive their dead from a resurrection: some were tortured, not accepting deliverance; in order that they might receive a better resurrection: 36and others received the trial of scourgings and mockings, and still of bonds and imprisonment: 37they were stoned, they were tempted, they were burnt, they died by the edge of the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, troubled, persecuted, 38of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, and in mountains, and caves and dens of the earth.

39And all these, having received the witness of the spirit through faith, did not obtain the promise: 40God having reserved something better for us, that they might not be made perfect apart from us.