Hebrews 6

1 With this in mind, we should stop going over the elementary truths about Christ and move on to topics for more mature people. We shouldn’t repeat the basics about turning away from the useless things we did and the basics about faith in God.2 We shouldn’t repeat the basic teachings about such things as baptisms, setting people apart for holy tasks, dead people coming back to life, and eternal judgment.

3 If God permits, we will do this.
4 Some people once had God’s light. They experienced the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit.5 They experienced the goodness of God’s word and the powers of the world to come.

6 Yet, they have deserted Christ. They are crucifying the Son of God again and publicly disgracing him. Therefore, they cannot be led a second time to God.
7 God blesses the earth. So rain often falls on it, and it produces useful crops for farmers.

8 However, if the earth produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

God Will Not Forget You

9 Dear friends, even though we say these things, we are still convinced that better things are in store for you and that they will save you.10 God is fair. He won’t forget what you’ve done or the love you’ve shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them.11 We want each of you to prove that you’re working hard so that you will remain confident until the end.

12 Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.
13 God made a promise to Abraham. Since he had no one greater on whom to base his oath, he based it on himself.14 He said, “I will certainly bless you and give you many descendants.”

15 So Abraham received what God promised because he waited patiently for it.
16 When people take oaths, they base their oaths on someone greater than themselves. Their oaths guarantee what they say and end all arguments.17 God wouldn’t change his plan. He wanted to make this perfectly clear to those who would receive his promise, so he took an oath.18 God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given.19 We have this confidence as a sure and strong anchor for our lives. This confidence goes into the holy place behind the curtain

20 where Jesus went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.

Hebrews 6

1 Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,2 of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.3 And this will we do, if God permit.4 For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.7 For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God:8 but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.9 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 the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.11 And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end:12 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.13 For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself,14 saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.15 And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.16 For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.17 Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;20 whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.