所以我们要离开有关基督的初级道理,努力迈向成熟,而不是再次打基础:教导为致死的行为悔改、信靠上帝、 各种洗礼、按手礼、死人复活、永远的审判等道理。 上帝若许可,我们会这样做。

有些人曾蒙上帝光照,尝过天赐恩典的滋味,有份于圣灵, 尝过上帝之道的甘美,领悟到永世的权能, 却背弃了真道,让他们重新悔改是不可能的。因为他们等于把上帝的儿子重新钉在十字架上,使祂再度公开受辱。 一块经常受到雨水滋润的田地若为耕种的人长出庄稼来,就蒙上帝赐福; 若长出来的尽是荆棘和蒺藜,就毫无价值,它会面临被咒诅的危险,最后必遭焚烧。

亲爱的弟兄姊妹,虽然我们这样说,却深信你们的光景比这强,有得救的表现。 10 因为上帝并非不公义,以致忘记你们为祂所做的工作以及你们过去和现在服侍圣徒所表现的爱心。 11 愿你们各人从始至终表现出同样的殷勤,以便对所盼望的有完全的把握。 12 这样,你们就不致懒散,可以效法那些凭信心和忍耐承受应许的人。

上帝的应许可靠

13 当初,上帝向亚伯拉罕许下诺言的时候,因为没有比自己更大的可以凭着起誓,就凭自己起誓说: 14 “我必赐福给你,使你子孙众多。” 15 亚伯拉罕经过耐心的等待,得到了上帝的应许。

16 人总是指着比自己更大的起誓,并用誓言作保证,了结各样的争论。 17 同样,上帝为要向承受应许的人显明祂的旨意绝不更改,就用誓言向他们保证。 18 上帝绝不说谎,祂将永不改变的应许和誓言给了我们,使我们这些寻找避难所、持定摆在前面之盼望的人可以大得鼓励。 19 我们有这盼望作我们灵魂的锚,既安稳又可靠,一直通往圣幕里面的至圣所。 20 耶稣照麦基洗德的模式成了永远的大祭司,祂替我们先进入了圣幕内。

所以,让我们把关于基督的基本教义留在后边,继续成熟。不要重新打这些基础,即对导致死亡行为的忏悔和对上帝的信仰, 以及关于洗礼的教导,按手礼,死者复活和永恒的判决。 如果上帝允许,这才是我们要做的事情。

再让这些人回归忏悔是不可能的,因为他们已经受到过启蒙,经受过天堂的恩赐,共享过圣灵, 体会过上帝话语的好处,以及即将来临的时代的力量,然后又背离了基督的人。再让这些人回归忏悔是不可能的, 因为,他们再次把上帝的儿子钉死在十字架上,让他当众蒙受羞辱,这对他们自己是个损失。

如果一片土地吸收了频降的雨水,为种地的人长出有用的庄稼,那么它就会受到上帝的祝福; 但是长出毫无用处的荆棘和蒺藜的土地却毫无价值,并有受到诅咒的危险它将被烈火焚烧。

亲爱的朋友们,尽管我们这么说,但是我们还是相信你们会得到更好的事情,那就是给你们带来拯救的事情。 10 因为上帝是公平的,他不会忘记你们的工作和你们对他的爱,这爱体现在你们过去和现在给予上帝子民的帮助之中。 11 但是,我们期望你们每个人努力到底,最终实现你们的希望。 12 我们希望你们不要变得懒惰,而要效仿那些靠信仰和耐心继承了上帝的许诺的人。

13 上帝向亚伯拉罕许诺的时候,因为没有比他更伟大的人可以凭着发誓,他就凭着自己发誓说: 14 “我将赐大福给你,赐给你众多的子孙后代。” 15 于是,亚伯拉罕耐心地等待着,后来就得到了上帝所许诺的。

16 人们都是用高于自己的人起誓,这誓言证明了所说属实,并结束了一切的争论。 17 上帝要让继承他的许诺的人们清楚地知道,他不会改变初衷,所以,便又用一句誓言来担保。 18 上帝这么做,凭着两件不可能改变的事情。上帝是不可能撒谎的,以至使我们这些逃出苦难的人,抓住摆在我们面前的希望的人,受到极大的鼓舞, 19 我们把这希望当做坚固有力的锚,它让我们安全,它使我们进入帘幕后的至圣处。 20 耶稣代表我们首先进入了这个地方。就像麦基洗德一样,他永远是大祭司。

Therefore, let us leave behind the stam (elementary) ikarim (essentials) of the dvarim hahora’ah (words of teaching) about Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and let us move ahead to hitbagrut (maturity), not laying again a foundation of teshuva from ma’asim metim (dead works) and Emunah toward Hashem,

Of divrei torah on tevilot and tohorah and s’michat yadayim and of the Techiyas HaMesim and of the Mishpat Olam.

And this we shall do, im yirtzeh Hashem (if the L-rd wills).

For it is impossible for those who once received the Ohr Hashem, having tasted of the matanah of Shomayim and having become chavrusa partners of the Ruach Hakodesh,

And having tasted the goodness of the Dvar Hashem and the nifla’ot of the Olam Habah,

and then, having fallen away, and become shmad‖it is impossible to renew them again to teshuva, because they have pierced to themselves the Ben HaElohim on HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem and have again held him up to contempt and open bushah (shame).

For the Adamah (Mud), which drinks the geshem (rain) that often falls upon it, and brings forth ESEV (plants, BERESHIS 1:11) suitable for those for whom it is cultivated, receives a bracha from Hashem;

But if Adamah (Mud) is producing KOTZ V’DARDAR (thorns and thistles, BERESHIS 3:18), it is worthless and near to being arurah (cursed, BERESHIS 3:17), whose Ketz (End) is for burning in Eish [T.N. the allusion is to Eish Gehinnom].

However, Chaverim, even though we speak in this way, we have been convinced of better things concerning you and of things belonging to Yeshua’at Eloheinu.

10 For Hashem is not unjust so as to forget your po’al (work) and the ahavah which you have shown toward ha-Shem of him, having rendered avodas kodesh ministry service to the Kadoshim, ken, and you are still serving them.

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same zerizut (diligence) so as to realize the full bitachon of the tikvah (hope) until HaKetz,

12 That you not become atzlanit (sluggards) but imitators of the ones who through Emunah and zitzfleisch (patience) inherit the havtachot (promises).

13 For when Hashem gave the havtachah (promise) to Avraham Avinu, als (since) Hashem had no one greater by which to make a shevu’ah (oath), Hashem made a shevu’ah by Himself, [BERESHIS 22:16]

14 Saying "Surely blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you" BERESHIS 22:17).

15 And thus, having waited with zitzfleisch, Avraham Avinu obtained the havtachah (promise).

16 For Bnei Adam make a shevu’ah by someone greater than themselves, and a shevu’ah given as confirmation, settles every matter decisively.

17 Similarly, when Hashem wanted to demonstrate even more emphatically to the yoreshim (heirs) of the havtachah (promise) the unchangeableness of his willed tachlis (purpose), Hashem guaranteed it with a shevu’ah,

18 In order that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for Hashem to speak sheker, we may have chozek (strength) and great encouragement, we who say that "he is my MAKHSEH (refuge, shelter TEHILLIM 91:2)" and have taken hold of the tikvah (hope) set before us.

19 This tikvah we have as an ogen (anchor) for the neshamah, a tikvah both firm and secure, which enters inside the parokhet,

20 Where Yehoshua has entered as a foroisgeier (forerunner) on behalf of us, having become a KOHEN L’OLAM AL DIVRATI MALKI TZEDEK ("Kohen forever according to the order of Malki Tzedek" Ps 110:4).