New International Version NIV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
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So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God;
2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
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baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment.
3 And God permitting, we will do so.
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God helping us, we'll stay true to all that. But there's so much more. Let's get on with it!
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
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Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit,
5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age
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once they've personally experienced the sheer goodness of God's Word and the powers breaking in on us -
6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
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if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can't start over as if nothing happened. That's impossible. Why, they've re-crucified Jesus! They've repudiated him in public!
7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.
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Parched ground that soaks up the rain and then produces an abundance of carrots and corn for its gardener gets God's "Well done!"
8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
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But if it produces weeds and thistles, it's more likely to get cussed out. Fields like that are burned, not harvested.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation.
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I'm sure that won't happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you - salvation things!
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
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God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it.
11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.
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And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish.
12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
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Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,
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When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line.
14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”
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He said, "I promise that I'll bless you with everything I have - bless and bless and bless!"
15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
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Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him.
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.
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When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they'll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up.
17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
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When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee -
18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.
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God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
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It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God
20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
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where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.