The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 For this reason let us go on from the first things about Christ to full growth; not building again that on which it is based, that is, the turning of the heart from dead works, and faith in God,
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Let us go forward, then, to mature teaching and leave behind us the first lessons of the Christian message. We should not lay again the foundation of turning away from useless works and believing in God;
2 The teaching of baptisms, and of the putting on of hands, and of the future life of the dead, and of the judging on the last day.
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of the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; of the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment.
3 Now we will do this, if God lets us.
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Let us go forward! And this is what we will do, if God allows.
4 As for those who at one time saw the light, tasting the good things from heaven, and having their part in the Holy Spirit,
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For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again? They were once in God's light; they tasted heaven's gift and received their share of the Holy Spirit;
5 With knowledge of the good word of God, and of the powers of the coming time,
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they knew from experience that God's word is good, and they had felt the powers of the coming age.
6 And then let themselves be turned away, it is not possible for their hearts to be made new a second time; because they themselves put the Son of God on the cross again, openly shaming him.
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And then they abandoned their faith! It is impossible to bring them back to repent again, because they are again crucifying the Son of God and exposing him to public shame.
7 For a land, drinking in the frequent rain and producing good plants for those for whom it is worked, has a blessing from God:
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God blesses the soil which drinks in the rain that often falls on it and which grows plants that are useful to those for whom it is cultivated.
8 But if it sends up thorns and evil plants, it is of no use and is ready to be cursed; its only end is to be burned.
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But if it grows thorns and weeds, it is worth nothing; it is in danger of being cursed by God and will be destroyed by fire.
9 But, my loved ones, though we say this, we are certain that you have better things in you, things which go with salvation;
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But even if we speak like this, dear friends, we feel sure about you. We know that you have the better blessings that belong to your salvation.
10 For God is true, and will not put away from him the memory of your work and of your love for his name, in the help which you gave and still give to the saints.
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God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.
11 And it is our desire that you may all keep the same high purpose in certain hope to the end:
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Our great desire is that each of you keep up your eagerness to the end, so that the things you hope for will come true.
12 So that you may not be slow in heart, but may take as your example those to whom God has given their heritage, because of their faith and their long waiting.
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We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient, and so receive what God has promised.
13 For when God made his oath to Abraham, because there was no greater oath, he made it by himself,
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When God made his promise to Abraham, he made a vow to do what he had promised. Since there was no one greater than himself, he used his own name when he made his vow.
14 Saying, Be certain that I will give you my blessing, and make your numbers very great.
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He said, "I promise you that I will bless you and give you many descendants."
15 And so, when he had been waiting calmly for a long time, God's word to him was put into effect.
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Abraham was patient, and so he received what God had promised.
16 For men at all times make their oaths by what is greater; and any argument is ended by the decision of the oath.
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When we make a vow, we use the name of someone greater than ourselves, and the vow settles all arguments.
17 So that when it was God's desire to make it specially clear to those who by his word were to have the heritage, that his purpose was fixed, he made it more certain with an oath;
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To those who were to receive what he promised, God wanted to make it very clear that he would never change his purpose; so he added his vow to the promise.
18 So that we, who have gone in flight from danger to the hope which has been put before us, may have a strong comfort in two unchanging things, in which it is not possible for God to be false;
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There are these two things, then, that cannot change and about which God cannot lie. So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us.
19 And this hope is like a strong band for our souls, fixed and certain, and going in to that which is inside the veil;
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We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary.
20 Where Jesus has gone before us, as a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
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On our behalf Jesus has gone in there before us and has become a high priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.