A Call to Maturity

1Therefore, interrupting an explanation of the basics of Christ, let us consider what is more advanced, not presenting again the fundamentals of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2of the doctrine of baptism, and also of the imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And we shall do this, if indeed God permits it. 4For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have even tasted of the heavenly gift, and have become sharers in the Holy Spirit, 5who, despite having tasted the good Word of God and the virtues of the future age, have yet fallen away, 6to be renewed again to penance, since they are crucifying again in themselves the Son of God and are still maintaining pretenses. 7For the earth accepts a blessing from God, by drinking in the rain that often falls upon it, and by producing plants that are useful to those by whom it is cultivated. 8But whatever brings forth thorns and briers is rejected, and is closest to what is accursed; their consummation is in combustion.

9But from you, most beloved, we are confident that there will be things better and closer to salvation; even though we speak in this way. 10For God is not unjust, such that he would forget your work and the love that you have shown in his name. For you have ministered, and you continue to minister, to the saints. 11Yet we desire that each one of you display the same solicitude toward the fulfillment of hope, even unto the end, 12so that you may not be slow to act, but instead may be imitators of those who, through faith and patience, shall inherit the promises.

God’s Unchangeable Promise

13For God, in making promises to Abraham, swore by himself, (because he had no one greater by whom he might swear), 14saying: “Blessing, I shall bless you, and multiplying, I shall multiply you.” 15And in this way, by enduring patiently, he secured the promise. 16For men swear by what is greater than themselves, and an oath as confirmation is the end of all their controversy. 17In this matter, God, wanting to reveal more thoroughly the immutability of his counsel to the heirs of the promise, interposed an oath, 18so that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest solace: we who have fled together so as to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19This we have as an anchor of the soul, safe and sound, which advances even to the interior of the veil, 20to the place where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, so as to become the High Priest for eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek.