Hebrews 11:1-13

Faith is the Substance and the Evidence

What it says:

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2  For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:12  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

What it means:

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

John Darby’s Synopsis: It is not a definition of this principle (of faith), that the epistle gives us at the commencement of Chapter 11, but a declaration of its powers and action. Faith realizes (gives substance to) that which we hope for, and is a demonstration to the soul of that which we do not see.

Define: Substance – material, tangible, something that has real or practical value, as in: “There was nothing of substance in the document”

Faith is the substance – Faith is the thing we can hold on to like a material possession. Faith makes the things for which we hope, tangible and real within ourselves. Our foundation for belief is God through both the word of God, and the witness of good men and women, concerning the word of God and His promises in their own lives.

The very nature of a promise is that we’ve been told something will happen, but we do not yet see or experience it at the present time. We hope for it because of the promise. Promises require us to have faith. Faith is the tangible part of the things that we hope for -- look forward to. Faith comes from knowing something is real, even when we do not yet see it with our eyes. This “knowing” comes from the Holy Spirit of God.

What do we hope for in Christ?  Eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Being a new creature. The redemption of the body.  Being forever free from sin. No more sorrow and no more pain!!

A.W. Tozer -- “When we try to focus our thought upon One who is pure uncreated being we may see nothing at all, for He dwelleth in light that no man can approach unto. Only by faith and love are we able to glimpse Him as He passes by our shelter in the cleft of the rock.”

Fear comes from picturing negative things in our mind. Fear is a distraction from God. If a person has fear he is not looking in the right direction, but, faith is the substance of things hoped for. The way to combat fear, is to replace those pictures with better substance, faithful and true things – and who is more faithful and true than God? We, being mortals, may have to do this often -- daily, and sometimes moment-by-moment -- but faith in God is what gives us peace. Nurture your faith in God’s goodness and mercy!

Php 4:4-8  Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

How often are we to rejoice in the Lord?  Always.

Does rejoicing in the Lord nurture our faith?  Yes!! The act of rejoicing revives our faith!

Above all Rejoice in the Lord – and he says it twice – Rejoice!! These are not just pretty words – we need to actually rejoice in the Lord always!! Notice the word “always” – in all our ways, all our paths, no matter where you are going, no matter what you are doing, rejoice in the Lord! Hallelujah!!

Then he says we are to be moderate (gentle, reasonable, patient) because the Lord is at hand -- and we are not to be careful (worried) for the same reason: The Lord is at hand! We are to take everything to the Lord and He has promised to hearken unto us! His peace, which might not make any sense at all, shall keep your heart and your mind peaceful through faith in Jesus Christ.

A.W. Tozer --  And so God takes great pleasure in having helpless people come to him simply and plainly and intimately. He wants us to come without that great overloading of theology he wants us to come as simply and plainly as a little child.

Then Paul, in Php 4:4-8, elaborates the kind of thinking that will continue to give us peace: things that are true of God, Jesus, and heaven, and honest concerning our fellow man, and just in our dealings with them. Things that are pure coming from good motives and intentions, and lovely thoughts of God and of others. Things that have a good report or reputation, which are virtuous and lead to obedience, plus any praise that we may have of God and what He has done for us – think of these things!! He actually says “think on these things” which means to meditate on them, keep them in our mind’s eye letting them nurture our faith. Focus on true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous things, giving and receiving good reports, and praising God and our fellow believers.

Notice these are the opposite of gossip which is personal conversations about someone else’s business. It is also the opposite of worldly things which lead nowhere. We are to be about our Father’s business with love and joy.

Psa_116:1  I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Psa 31:21-24  Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.  

the evidence of things not seen.

Define: Evidence – sign or proof of the existence or truth of something, or that helps someone come to a particular conclusion. The oral or written statements of witnesses. Demonstrate, prove something

Evidence is meant to prove that the things that we do not see, do, in fact, exist. In a court of law, evidence is used to prove things one way or another – to prove they exist or to prove they do not exist. The attorneys cannot go back in time so they have to use evidence to unravel the story of what really happened. Evidence is proof.

This reminds me of the conversation between the unbelieving man and the faithful little boy. The man says to the boy, "I have never seen God, so he does not exist." The little boy says to him, "I have never seen a million dollars, but that does not mean it does not exist."

We are talking about faith being evidence. We have faith because we have evidence of God’s goodness and His good will toward men through Jesus Christ. We are talking about faith in the Living God.

A.W. Tozer --  “True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie.”

Faith is not something that “comes” from us. Faith is always based on the trustworthy object of our faith. If you have put your faith in something, and later found out it is not true, you know what betrayal is. If we did not have faith in God, nothing good would be seen by us – we would be looking elsewhere – and outside of God, there is nothing good.

A.W. Tozer --  We multiply, we increase and still we are anxious and not satisfied? Why? Because all that is beneath God will not satisfy us. God made you in his image and you’re stuck with it.... you’re made in the image of God and nothing short of God will satisfy you....

A.W. Tozer --  As soon as I set my hopes and comforts on things and people, I'll lose something out of my heart.... Only God is the true rest…..

This also points out that faith is not based on “fairy tales” – faith is based on truth!! People do not put their faith in things that they know are untrustworthy. If you know someone is a charlatan you do not put your faith in him or her.

If one has faith which is based on truth – what more evidence of the truth would be needed? Faith is the evidence of the invisible truth.

Believer’s Bible Commentary: This chapter deals with the vision and endurance of faith. It introduces us to men and women of the OT who had 20/20 spiritual vision and who endured tremendous shame and suffering rather than renounce their faith.

Verse 1 is not really a formal definition of faith; rather it is a description of what faith does for us.      It (faith) makes things hoped for as real as if we already had them, and it provides unshakable evidence that the unseen, spiritual blessings of Christianity are absolutely certain and real. In other words, it brings the future within the present and makes the invisible seen.

Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass.

Faith must have some revelation from God, some promise of God as its foundation. It is not a leap in the dark. It demands the surest evidence in the universe, and finds it in the word of God….

There are difficulties and problems in the life of faith. God tests our faith in the crucible to see if it is genuine (1Pe_1:7). But, as George Müller said, “Difficulties are food for faith to feed on.”

Heb 11:2  For by it the elders obtained a good report.

To “obtain a good report” is the same as “having a good reputation” which they received by their faith in God.

Heb 11:3  Through faith we understand

What do we do through faith?  We understand.

that the worlds were framed by the word of God,

Define: Framed – structure, framework, surround, support, construction, enclose, border, edge

What was framed?  The worlds.

By what were the worlds framed?  By the word of God.

Have you ever seen a house being framed?  It starts out looking like an outline of a house but soon, as the workmen continue, it begins to look like a house.

so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Let’s think about what is being said here. “Things which are seen” means the visible world. Whatever we can lay our eyes on – are the “things which are seen.”

“Were not”… he is making a negative statement – he is telling us what was NOT done. “Were not made of things which do appear.”

Define: Appear – come into view or become visible, begin to exist or to come into existence, become available, emerge, come out, show, materialize, grow, begin, be seen

“Were not made of things that are visible.” To turn this into a positive statement it might read: “Were made of things which are not visible.” The original negative statement has been used to make a point. The point being that we are not to think that God took some material, and from that, formed the things we see.

“The visible was made by the invisible.” It was not constructed out of pieces and parts of something that already existed. It was “framed by the word of God.” First God’s word was spoken, and then things started to show up within the framework of His word!! Through faith we understand that God created the worlds simply from His word. Since we were not there when God spoke His universe into being, we understand this by faith in Him. I sometimes think that the ancients knew this much better than we do. There is evidence in the word which they used to name the “universe” which means literally: uni = one, and verse = word – One Word = Universe.

Now our author supplies us with examples of what faith does, and who faith is based upon:

Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts:

What did Abel do by faith?  Offered a more excellent sacrifice.

How did Abel know he was righteous?  God testified of his gifts.

In what had Abel put his faith?  God.

Gen 4:3-5  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.  And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

We know that Abel’s gift was righteous, because God testified that it was. We know that Cain’s gift was unrighteous, because God said it was so. The fact that Cain became very wroth (angry) and that his countenance fell when his unrighteous gift was rejected is proof that, rather than desiring to honor God with his gift, he was doing his own thing and honoring himself – as if to say, “See what I have given you God? Am I not a wonderful person?”

Gen 4:6-8  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his (sin’s) desire, and thou shalt rule over him.  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Was Cain wroth because he had disrespected God?  No.

Was Cain angry with himself and humbled? No.

He was angry because God’s rejection of his gift made him look bad!! He was jealous of Abel and slew him. God, of course, sees the heart and knew precisely where Cain’s heart was. The only gifts from us that God accepts are the ones He has previously told us he desires. Most of all He desires our hearts. We may be able to fool ourselves, like Cain did, but we are never able to fool God.

and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

God heard faithful Abel’s blood speaking to him from the ground. Though he were dead, God heard him calling.

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death;

What did Enoch do by faith?  He was translated to the next life without having to die during this one.

Define: Translated -- G3346, μετατίθημι, metatithēmi, met-at-ith'-ay-mee, to transfer, that is, (literally) transport, (by implication) exchange, (reflexively) change sides, or (figuratively) pervert: - carry over, change, remove, translate, turn.

Enoch was “translated” or “changed” from this life to the next life and there was no trace of him left behind – meaning he did not die and no one buried his body.

and was not found, because God had translated him:

He was not what?  Found.

The verse says that “Enoch was translated.” God translated him because he had faith in God. God rewards the faithful.

for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

What testimony did he have before he was translated?  God's testimony that Enoch pleased him.

BBC: And so it happened! Enoch walked with the invisible God for three hundred years (Gen_5:21-24) and then he walked into eternity. Before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. The life of faith always pleases God; He loves to be trusted.

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

In what had Enoch put his faith?  God.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him:

Define: Impossible – not possible, without a solution, unattainable, unachievable, out of the question, hopeless, ridiculous, unlikely  (Antonym: possible, likely, probable, potential, promising, achievable, doable)

Define: Please – satisfy, gratify, give pleasure to, make happy, delight, thrill, entertain

What is the only thing that makes it possible to please God?  Faith.

Faith in what?  God.

for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,

What must the person who comes to God believe?  That God exists.

Define: Is – a form of the verb “to be” which means: exist, live, be alive, be there, be present, be real

Surely if we are to come to God, we must believe He exists! We come to God because we know He is real and He loves us. Each one comes to God at his own level of belief, whether small or great, but we must believe that He is.

and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

What else must we believe about God?  That He rewards those who diligently seek him.

Define: Rewarder – the one who: gives prizes, recompense, payment, return, remuneration, compensation, gifts

Why must we believe that God will reward those who diligently seek him?

First: God has commanded us to seek him:

Mat_6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

He has promised benefits for our obedience: diligently seeking him, i.e.: “all these things shall be added unto you”

Second: Why would we seek God if there were no reward for us? In the end we are selfish but God uses that part of us to draw us to him. Yes, we are to overcome our selfishness with faith – but thank God He gave us what we need to seek Him in the first place!!

What does it mean to diligently seek him? Seeking God diligently means we have made it the purpose of our lives. We make plans to read his word, and to pray, and to be obedient, then we follow those plans. We seek him when we need understanding -- and he hearkens unto us.

Jas_1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Of what kinds of things did God warn Noah?  Of things not seen as yet.

What was Noah moved with?  He was motivated by fear.

What did he prepare?  An ark.

What did the ark provide?  It saved his house -- meaning the people of his family.

By what did he condemn the world? By his faith -- in the building of the ark.

By what did he become an heir of righteousness?  By faith.

In what had Noah put his faith?  God.

BBC: Perhaps many of the early Jewish Christians to whom this Letter was written often wondered why, if they were right, they were such a small minority. Noah steps out from the pages of the OT to remind them that in his day only eight people were right and all the rest of the world perished!

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

In what had Abraham put his faith?  God.

What did Abraham do by faith?  Obeyed -- he went out not knowing where he went

I go on not knowing—I would not if I might,
I'd rather walk in the dark with God Than walk alone in the light;
I'd rather walk by faith with Him Than to walk alone by sight. —Helen Annis Casterline

Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

What else did Abraham do by faith? Sojourned in the land of promise.

Define: Sojourned – brief visit, short stay at a place, stay for a time, temporary stopping place

In what did they dwell?  Tabernacles.

What are “tabernacles?”  Tents.

Who else were heirs with him? Isaac and Jacob.

Of what were they all heirs? The same promise.

Who made this promise to them?  God.

Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham was looking -- watching, waiting, obeying as he went. We are to look for Jesus’ second coming in the same way… looking for Him, being watchful and praying that we may avoid temptation. We are looking and waiting and obeying. Our obedience is love. We are to have faith, hope, and charity in our waiting and looking.

What did Abraham look for?  A city with foundations.

Define: Foundations – basis, support, stabilizer – the part of the building, usually below the ground, that transfers and distributes the weight of the building onto the ground. (Not a tent.)

Do tents have foundations?  No.

Who was the builder and maker of the city that Abraham looked for?  God.

A city which has foundations is a permanent city. A tent is a temporary dwelling place but Abraham looked forward to the time when he would dwell in a city with foundations. Not only did it have solid foundations, the architect was God, who is both the builder and the maker. We previously looked at “the shadow and the image” with the things on earth being the “shadow” or replica, and the “image” being Jesus Christ who lives eternally in Heaven… on the throne that God made. Abraham had his eye on God’s heavenly city – and the fathers knew they were “pilgrims” traveling through this life... looking for the reward in the next life. We too, may lay up treasures in heaven.

1Ch 29:15  For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

Sermon Bible Commentary: We should learn from Abraham to believe in God that raised up Jesus from the dead. Reason sees your guilt, faith sees your acquittal, for Christ is risen; reason sees your sinfulness and infirmity, faith sees your power and strength in newness of life, for Christ is risen. Live in tents; set not your affection on things below. Live in the tents (of) the patriarchal life of prayer, and a reverent, filial (as children to parents) walk with God. When the soul is cast down and disquieted within you, when the heart is heavy, when Isaac, in whom you delight, faith’s child, is to be sacrificed, then believe, hope in God, and know that you shall yet praise Him. Thus we give glory to God.

Heb 11:11  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age,

In what had Sara put her faith?  God.

What did Sara receive through faith?  Strength.

A woman well past the age of child birth received the strength she needed through faith in God to actually give birth!! Can you imagine giving birth when you are 90 years old? This required a great deal of faith by Sara. In giving birth she was seeing the beginning of the fulfillment of the promises and it gave her great joy!

Gen 21:5-7  And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Define: Judge – form an opinion, decide, conclude, ascertain, determine, make up your mind, consider, assess

The one whom she “judged” was the one “who had promised.” We know this is God and she judged him faithful!!  She knew within herself that God was faithful and would fulfill His own promises – therefore, she had faith in Him. From her faith in God, she received strength. We may receive strength through knowing the Faithful God, too.

Heb 11:12  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

“Therefore” meaning because Sara, the wife, was faithful, a child was born from a man so old that many would have considered him to be dead, let alone thinking the same of Sara!! And what sprang from them were so many offspring that they cannot be numbered!! Like the sand and stars they are an innumerable multitude!

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith,

In what had they placed their faith?  God.

They died in faith -- not by faith. We do not often think of dying in faith – we focus on living by faith but these people all died believing in God and His promises. We have been cautioned to die in faith also: endure to the end.

BBC: They did not live to see the fulfillment of the divine promises. For instance, Abraham never saw his numerous progeny. … The OT saints never saw the fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah. But their telescopic vision brought the promises near, so near that they are pictured as waving at them in joyful anticipation.

Believing that the promises of God shall be fulfilled is what faith is all about. Believing in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus gives us the strength to live in Him, now. We base our belief on a great deal of evidence from the Word of God. We have many testimonies to rely on, from God’s own testimony, to the words of the saints – and even from evidence outside of the Bible: we know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and we shall live with Him in heaven one day – if we keep our faith in God!!

not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off,

Where did they see the promises?  Afar off.

Just because they were afar off was not enough to convince them that they were not true. They knew they were true and trusted that God is always faithful both now and in the future.

Rom_8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

and were persuaded of them,

Define: Persuaded – convinced, influenced, swayed, won over, converted, (Antonym: doubtful)

The elders were persuaded -- fully convinced -- that God is faithful and His promises were worth holding on to. We should take our pattern from them and be persuaded of His faithfulness, also.

and embraced them,

Define: Embraced – hug, hold in your arms, squeeze, hold, grip, accept, welcome, adopt, take up, support, take on, include, contain, comprise, incorporate, involve (Antonym: exclude, reject)

The elders loved the promises. They held on to them. They did not let them go for any reason.

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: And embraced them - This word implies more than our word “embrace” frequently does; that is, “to receive as true.” It means properly “to draw to oneself;” and then to embrace as one does a friend from whom he has been separated. It then means to greet, salute, welcome, and here means a joyful greeting of those promises; or a pressing them to the heart as we do a friend. It was not a cold and formal reception of them, but a warm and hearty welcome. Such is the nature of true faith when it embraces the promises of salvation. No act of pressing a friend to the bosom is ever more warm and cordial.

and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Define: Confessed – declared, professed, affirmed, asserted, made known, acknowledged, (Antonym: repress)

Albert Barnes …“pilgrim” means properly one who “dwells in a place,” and particularly one who is a “mere” resident without the rights of a citizen. The Greek word means a “by-resident;” one who lives by another; or among a people not his own. This is the idea here. It is not that they confessed themselves to be wanderers; or that they had left their home to visit a holy place, but that they “resided” as mere sojourners in a country that was not theirs.

BBC: They realized that this world was not their final home. They were content to be strangers and pilgrims, refusing the urge to nestle to make themselves comfortable. Their desire was to pass through the world without taking any of its character upon themselves. Their hearts were set on pilgrimage!

Psa 84:1-2  … How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Psa_104:1  Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Thinking back over this passage of verses in Hebrews, the common denominator is not faith -- by itself – but faith in God! Each person did a different thing by their faith – but the thing that was the same was that God was always the object of their faith.

Faith is not something we have to conjure up from inside ourselves out of our own character. Faith depends on God who is responsible for creation and salvation! If I do not have faith – it is because I do not know God well enough. If a person knows God and sees who He actually is… they cannot help but to have faith in Him. To strengthen your faith, seek God and His righteousness. Get to know God better.

A.W. Tozer -- “We can be in our day what the heroes of faith were in their day – but remember at the time they didn’t know they were heroes.”

(Optional: To fortify your faith, read two books: The Attributes of God, Vols I & II, by A.W. Tozer) (Actually, your faith will increase by reading either one of them!!)

Read our verses again:

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2  For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:12  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.