The Peril of Not Progressing
1 Therefore,leaving the discussion of the elementaryprinciplesof Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance fromdead works and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms,of laying on of hands,of resurrection of the dead,and of eternal judgment.
3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 Foritisimpossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tastedthe heavenly gift, andhave become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance,since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and putHimto an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated,receives blessing from God;
8 but if it bears thorns and briers,itisrejected and near to being cursed, whose endisto be burned.
A Better Estimate
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
10 ForGodisnot unjust to forgetyour work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name,inthatyou haveministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligenceto the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patienceinherit the promises.
God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater,He swore by Himself,
14 saying,“Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained thepromise.
16 For men indeed swear by the greater, andan oath for confirmationisfor them an end of all dispute.
17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly tothe heirs of promisethe immutability of His counsel, confirmeditby an oath,
18 that by two immutable things, in which itisimpossible for God tolie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hopeset beforeus.
19 Thishopewe have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,and which enters thePresencebehind the veil,
20 where the forerunner has entered for us,evenJesus,having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.