A Call to Maturity
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, 1 and of faith in God, Heb 5:12-142Co 7:1Heb 9:14Act 26:20Heb 12:13Php 3:12-15Heb 7:11Mat 21:32 instruction about baptisms, 2 the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 1Co 15:13-57Act 17:31-32Rom 6:3-5Act 6:61Co 10:2Act 10:47Act 16:15Act 16:33 And this we will do, if God permits. 1Co 16:7Act 18:211Co 4:19Jas 4:15Rom 15:32
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, Heb 10:26-292Pe 2:20-22Mat 5:13Jhn 15:6Mat 7:21-22Heb 12:15-17Mat 12:31-32Luk 11:24-26 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— 1Pe 2:3Luk 8:13Mat 13:20-212Pe 2:20Mrk 4:16-17Heb 2:5Mrk 6:20 and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame. 2Pe 2:21Heb 10:29Heb 6:41Jn 5:16Isa 1:282Ti 2:25Psa 51:10Mrk 15:29-32
For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. Hos 10:12Isa 44:3Isa 55:10-13Psa 65:9-13Jol 2:21-26Psa 126:6Ezk 34:26Jas 5:7 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned. Gen 3:17-18Jhn 15:6Deu 29:28Luk 13:7-9Isa 5:1-7Jer 44:22Heb 10:27Heb 12:17
Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. Heb 10:392Co 7:10Gal 5:22-23Heb 2:3Heb 6:4-6Mat 5:3-121Co 10:141Th 1:3-4 For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so. Heb 13:16Mat 10:42Gal 6:101Th 1:3Col 3:17Act 10:41Ti 6:18Mat 25:35-40
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 2Pe 1:5-8Heb 3:6Rom 5:2-5Heb 3:142Pe 1:10Heb 10:221Jn 3:14Heb 10:32-35 Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Heb 13:7Heb 10:36Rom 12:111Jn 2:25Jer 6:16Rom 2:72Pe 1:10Heb 5:11
God’s Unchangeable Promise
When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, Gen 22:15-18Luk 1:73Psa 105:9-10Isa 45:23Mic 7:20Heb 6:16-18Jer 22:5Jer 49:13 saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” 3 Gen 22:17Deu 1:10Neh 9:23Exo 32:13Gen 17:2Gen 48:4 And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise. Gen 12:2-3Rom 4:17-25Gen 15:2-6Gen 21:2-7Heb 6:12Exo 1:7Gen 17:16-17Hab 2:2-3
Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. Exo 22:11Heb 6:13Ezk 17:16-20Gen 14:22Gen 21:23Gen 21:30-31Gen 31:53Jos 9:15-20 So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. Heb 6:18Pro 19:21Isa 55:11Isa 14:24Heb 11:9Psa 110:4Jhn 10:10Psa 33:11 Thus 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 strongly encouraged. Num 23:19Tit 1:21Sa 15:292Ti 2:13Rom 3:4Psa 46:11Jn 1:10Isa 32:1-2
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, Psa 43:5Rom 5:5-10Rom 8:28-39Heb 9:7Lev 16:15Lev 16:2Col 3:1Heb 9:3 where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Heb 4:14Heb 3:1Heb 5:6Heb 5:10Heb 1:3Heb 2:10Heb 8:1Heb 9:12