5-6 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.

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By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](A) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(B) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(C) in holy fear built an ark(D) to save his family.(E) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24