Grow Into Maturity

1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto maturity; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3And this will we do, if God permits.

4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7For the earth which drinks in the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth plants fit for them by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God:

8But that which bears thorns and briars is worthless, and is near unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

You Evidence Salvation

9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God's Promise Is Unchangeable

13For when God made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself,

14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.

15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17So God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18That by two immutable things, in that it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil;

20Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.