Faith in the Christian Life

The Bible helps us understand the nature of faith in the lives of God's people by giving us the examples of faith in Hebrews 11. This chapter is often called the Roll Call of Faith. Here are listed some of God's examples of people who had faith in him. Hebrews 11:1 is not a definition of faith but a description of how faith operates. The author then demonstrates by various examples. We are familiar with most of them and we call things that happened in their lives as people of faith. However we often do not see or comment on the author's main point in the chapter. Let's consider what he wrote. Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
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39-40 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.