Hebrews 6

Keep Growing and Hold on to Hope

1 So let us move beyond the elementary teaching about Christ and grow toward maturity. We do not need to keep laying the same foundation of turning from dead works and trusting God,

2 instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

3 God willing, we are going to keep moving forward.

4 Some people were once enlightened, tasted heaven’s gift, shared in the Holy Spirit,

5 tasted the goodness of God’s word and the powers of the coming age,

6 and then walked away. Bringing them back to repentance is impossible while they keep publicly rejecting God’s Son, as though crucifying Him all over again and shaming Him before everybody.

7 Land that drinks the rain falling on it and produces a useful crop receives God’s blessing.

8 But land that keeps producing thorns and weeds is worthless, close to being cursed, and headed for burning.

9 Even though we speak this strongly, beloved, we are convinced that better things are true of you, things connected with salvation.

10 God is not unjust. He will not forget your work or the love you showed for His name when you served His people and kept serving them.

11 We want each of you to show that same diligence all the way to the end, so your hope becomes fully confident.

12 Do not get spiritually lazy. Imitate the people who inherit God’s promises through faith and patience.

13 When God made His promise to Abraham, there was nobody greater to swear by, so He swore by Himself.

14 He said, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.”

15 After Abraham waited patiently, he received what God promised.

16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath settles the matter by confirming what they said.

17 God wanted the heirs of the promise to see clearly that His purpose never changes, so He confirmed it with an oath.

18 God gave us His promise and His oath, two unchangeable things, and God cannot lie. That gives strong courage to everyone who ran to Him for refuge and grabbed hold of the hope placed before us.

19 This hope is an anchor for our souls, safe, secure, and reaching behind the curtain into God’s presence.

20 Jesus went in there ahead of us. He became our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.