from Crossway1Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (Php 3:12; Heb 5:12; Heb 9:14)2and of instruction about washings,[1] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Ac 8:17; Ac 10:42; Ac 17:31; Ac 19:4; Ac 19:6)3And this we will do if God permits. (1Co 16:7)4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, (Joh 4:10; Ga 3:2; Ga 3:5; Eph 2:8; Heb 2:4; Heb 10:32)5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, (Ps 34:8)6and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. (Mt 19:26; Heb 10:29; 1Jo 5:16)7For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. (Ps 65:10)8But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. (Ge 3:17; De 29:22; Isa 5:1; Jer 44:22; Mal 4:1; Lu 13:6; Joh 15:6)9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. (Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42; Mt 25:40; Mr 9:41; Ro 15:31; 2Co 8:4; 2Co 9:1; 2Co 9:12; 1Th 1:3; 2Ti 1:18; Re 2:19)11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, (Ro 5:2)12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb 10:36; Heb 13:7)
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, (Ge 22:16)14saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” (Ge 22:17)15And thus Abraham,[2] having patiently waited, obtained the promise. (Ro 4:13; Heb 6:12; Heb 6:17; Heb 7:6)16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. (Ex 22:11)17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, (Ps 110:4; Pr 19:21; Ga 3:20; Heb 6:18; Heb 11:9)18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. (Tit 1:2; Heb 12:1)19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, (Le 16:15; Heb 9:7)20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 3:1; Heb 4:14; Heb 5:6; Heb 5:10; Heb 7:17; Heb 7:21; Heb 8:1; Heb 9:24)
Hebrews 6
New International Version
from Biblica1Therefore 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,[1] and of faith in God,2instruction about cleansing rites,[2] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.3And God permitting, we will do so.4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age6and who have fallen[3] 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.7Land 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.8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case – the things that have to do with salvation.10God 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.11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realised.12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
The certainty of God’s promise
13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no-one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,14saying, ‘I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.’ (Ge 22:17)15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.16People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.17Because 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.18God 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.19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,20where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6
King James Version
1Therefore 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,2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.3And this will we do, if God permit.4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,6If 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.7For 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:8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.10For 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.11And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:12That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.17Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:18That 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:19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 6
New International Reader’s Version
from Biblica1So let us move beyond the simple teachings about Christ. Let us grow up as believers. Let us not start all over again with the basic teachings. They taught us that we need to turn away from doing things that lead to death. They taught us that we must have faith in God.2These basic teachings taught us about different ways of becoming ‘clean’. They taught us about placing hands of blessing on people. They taught us that people will rise from the dead. They taught us that God will judge everyone. And they taught us that what he decides will last for ever.3If God permits, we will go beyond those teachings and grow up.4What if some people fall away from the faith? It won’t be possible to bring them back. It is true that they have seen the light. They have tasted the heavenly gift. They have shared in the Holy Spirit.5They have tasted the good things of God’s word. They have tasted the powers of the age to come.6But they have fallen away from the faith. So it won’t be possible to bring them back. They won’t be able to turn away from their sins. They are losing everything. That’s because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are bringing shame on him in front of everyone.7Some land drinks the rain that falls on it. It produces a crop that is useful to those who farm the land. That land receives God’s blessing.8But other land produces only thorns and weeds. That land isn’t worth anything. It is in danger of coming under God’s curse. In the end, it will be burned.9Dear friends, we have to say these things. But we are sure of better things in your case. We are talking about the things that have to do with being saved.10God is fair. He will not forget what you have done. He will remember the love you have shown him. You showed it when you helped his people. And you show it when you keep on helping them.11We want each of you to be faithful to the very end. If you are, then what you hope for will fully happen.12We don’t want you to slow down. Instead, be like those who have faith and are patient. They will receive what God promised.
God keeps his promise
13When God made his promise to Abraham, God gave his word. There was no one greater than himself to promise by. So he promised by making an appeal to himself.14He said, ‘I will certainly bless you. I will give you many children.’ (Ge 22:17)15Abraham was patient while he waited. Then he received what God promised him.16People promise things by someone greater than themselves. Giving your word makes a promise certain. It puts an end to all arguing.17So God gave his word when he made his promise. He wanted to make it very clear that his purpose does not change. He wanted those who would receive what was promised to know this.18When God made his promise, he gave his word. He did this so we would have good reason not to give up. Instead, we have run to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope is set before us in God’s promise. So God made his promise and gave his word. These two things can’t change. He couldn’t lie about them.19Our hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure. It goes all the way into the Most Holy Room behind the curtain.20That is where Jesus has gone. He went there to open the way ahead of us. He has become a high priest for ever, just like Melchizedek.