Hebrews 6:1–20

¹For this reason, now that we have left the primary doctrine about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying a foundation again, namely, repentance from dead works, and faith toward God,²the teaching on baptisms and the laying on of the hands, the resurrection of the dead and everlasting judgment.³And this we will do, if God indeed permits.

⁴For it is impossible as regards those who have once for all been enlightened, and who have tasted the heavenly free gift, and who have become partakers of holy spirit,⁵and who have tasted the fine word of God and powers of the coming system of things,⁶but who have fallen away, to revive them again to repentance, because they impale the Son of God afresh for themselves and expose him to public shame.⁷For example, the ground that drinks in the rain which often comes upon it, and that then brings forth vegetation suitable to those for whom it is also cultivated, receives in return a blessing from God.⁸But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected and is near to being cursed; and it ends up with being burned.

⁹However, in ​YOUR​ case, beloved ones, we are convinced of better things and things accompanied with salvation, although we are speaking in this way.¹⁰For God is not unrighteous so as to forget ​YOUR​ work and the love ​YOU​ showed for his name, in that ​YOU​ have ministered to the holy ones and continue ministering.¹¹But we desire each one of ​YOU​ to show the same industriousness so as to have the full assurance of the hope down to the end,¹²in order that ​YOU​ may not become sluggish, but be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

¹³For when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could not swear by anyone greater, he swore by himself,¹⁴saying: “Assuredly in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply you.”¹⁵And thus after [Abraham] had shown patience, he obtained [this] promise.¹⁶For men swear by the one greater, and their oath is the end of every dispute, as it is a legal guarantee to them.¹⁷In this manner God, when he purposed to demonstrate more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his counsel, stepped in with an oath,¹⁸in order that, through two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to the refuge may have strong encouragement to lay hold on the hope set before us.¹⁹This [hope] we have as an anchor for the soul, both sure and firm, and it enters in within the curtain,²⁰where a forerunner has entered in our behalf, Jesus, who has become a high priest according to the manner of Mel‧chiz′e‧dek forever.