6THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings {and} doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness {and} perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance {and} abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God,G1352G863G746G3056G5547G5342G1909G5047G3361G2598G3825G2310G3341G575G3498G2041G2532G4102G1909G23162With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment {and} punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.]G1322G909G5037G1936G5495G5037G386G3498G2532G166G29173If indeed God permits, we will [now] proceed [to advanced teaching].G2532G5124G4160G1437G4007G2316G20104For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have become sharers of the Holy Spirit,G1063G102G530G5461G5037G1089G2032G1431G2532G1096G3353G40G41515And have felt how good the Word of God is and the mighty powers of the age {and} world to come,G2532G1089G2570G4487G2316G5037G1411G165G31956If they then deviate from the faith {and} turn away from their allegiance--[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt {and} shame {and} public disgrace.G2532G3895G340G3825G1519G3341G388G1438G5207G2316G388G2532G38567For the soil which has drunk the rain that repeatedly falls upon it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated partakes of a blessing from God.G1063G1093G3588G4095G5205G2064G4178G1909G846G2532G5088G1008G2111G1565G2532G1223G3739G1090G3335G2129G575G23168But if [that same soil] persistently bears thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.G1161G1627G173G2532G5146G96G2532G1451G2671G3739G5056G1519G2740
Better Things for You
9Even though we speak this way, yet in your case, beloved, we are now firmly convinced of better things that are near to salvation {and} accompany it.G1161G27G3982G2909G4012G5216G2532G2192G4991G1499G2980G3779G298010For God is not unrighteous to forget {or} overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name's sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do.G1063G2316G3756G94G1950G5216G2041G2532G2873G26G3739G1731G1731G1519G846G3686G1247G40G2532G124711But we do [strongly and earnestly] desire for each of you to show the same diligence {and} sincerity [all the way through] in realizing {and} enjoying the full assurance {and} development of [your] hope until the end,G1161G1937G1538G5216G1731G846G4710G4314G4136G1680G891G505612In order that you may not grow disinterested {and} become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith (by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance {and} waiting are [now] inheriting the promises.G3363G1096G3363G3576G1161G3402G1223G4102G2532G3115G2816G186013For when God made [His] promise to Abraham, He swore by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear,G1063G2316G1861G11G1893G2192G3660G2596G3762G3187G3660G2596G143814Saying, Blessing I certainly will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you.G3004G2229G3375G2127G2127G4571G2532G4129G4129G457115And so it was that he [Abraham], having waited long {and} endured patiently, realized {and} obtained [in the birth of Isaac as a pledge of what was to come] what God had promised him.G2532G3779G3114G2013G186016Men indeed swear by a greater [than themselves], and with them in all disputes the oath taken for confirmation is final [ending strife].G1063G444G3303G3660G2596G3187G2532G3727G1519G951G846G4009G3956G48517Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly {and} beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose {and} plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath.G1722G3739G2316G1014G4054G1925G2818G1860G276G846G1012G3315G372718This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false {or} deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength {and} strong encouragement to grasp {and} hold fast the hope appointed for us {and} set before [us].G2443G1223G1417G276G4229G1722G3739G102G2316G5574G2192G2478G3874G3588G2703G2902G1680G429519[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it--a hope] that reaches farther {and} enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,G3739G2192G5613G45G5590G5037G804G2532G949G2532G1525G1519G2082G266520Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.G3699G4274G1525G5228G2257G1525G2424G1096G749G1519G165G2596G5010G3198