Those Received Not the Promise

The eleventh chapter closes in a remarkable way. After naming sixteen heroes of faith, the apostle provided an impressive list of specific heroics of faith. Yet, we are astonished to hear him say, "these all...received not the promise". The promise is redemption, sanctification, sins' remission and justification by Christ. "These" looked toward it, as we look back upon it. Sin was put away, righteousness earned and imputed once, at the Cross.