Big Picture: The description of “faith” in this chapter focuses on an inward attitude (confident “assurance”: a firm, steady conviction) about what is not present but that which we confidently expect (“what we hope for … what we do not see”).

Faith is spiritual perception - an insight into the unseen - to sense God at work (verses 3, 27) despite obstacles, and to obey his word courageously. The following examples repeatedly illustrate such faith.

1. Christian, await with glad faith the fulfillment of the yet outstanding promises of God, as did the Old Testament men and women of faith, and so persevere in the faith (11:1-40)

a. The triumphs of faith before the Flood (4-7)

• Abel
• Enoch
• Noah

b. The triumphs of faith in Abraham and his descendants (8–22)

• Abraham’s faith is displayed in his obedient response to God’s call for him to go to an unknown land (vv. 8–10).
• By faith, Abraham - along with Sarah, who was barren - was enabled to become a father, with the result that God would give them both countless descendants (vv. 11–12).
• The Old Testament heroes of faith were looking forward to a heavenly country, a city built by God (13-16).
• Abraham’s faith is displayed in his willingness to sacrifice the very son on whom the divine promises depended (vv. 17–18). His motivation was that he believed God could even raise the dead (v. 19).
• The faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (20-22).

 c. The triumphs of faith in the Mosaic era (23-31)

 d. The triumphs of faith in subsequent eras: both triumphant heroes, and suffering heroes (32-40)

2. Christian, run the race of faith with endurance, fixing your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith (12:1-3).