Therefore
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,
let us go on unto perfection; not laying again
the foundation of repentance from dead works, and
of faith toward God,
02 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on
of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of
eternal judgment.
03 And this will we do, if God permit.
04 For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
05 And have tasted the good word of God, and the
powers of the world to come,
06 If 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.
07 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that
cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet
for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth
blessing from God:
08 But that which beareth thorns and briers is
rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is
to be burned.
09 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things
of you, and things that accompany salvation,
though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work
and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward
his name, in that ye have ministered to the
saints, and do minister.
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11 And we desire that every one of you do shew
the same diligence to the full assurance of hope
unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them
who through faith and patience inherit the
promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because
he could swear by no greater, he sware by
himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and
multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he
obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an
oath for confirmation is to them an end of all
strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew
unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his
counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was
impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong
consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold
upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into
that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even
Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec.
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