Hebrews 6

New International Version

6 Therefore let us move beyond^(A) the elementary teachings^(B) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^[a]^(C) and of faith in God, ²instruction about cleansing rites,^[b]^(D) the laying on of hands,^(E) the resurrection of the dead,^(F) and eternal judgment. ³And God permitting,^(G) we will do so.

⁴It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,^(H) who have tasted the heavenly gift,^(I) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,^(J) ⁵who have tasted the goodness^(K) of the word of God^(L) and the powers of the coming age ⁶and who have fallen^[c] away, to be brought back to repentance.^(M) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God^(N) 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.^(O) In the end it will be burned.

⁹Even though we speak like this, dear friends,^(P) 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.^(Q) ¹¹We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope^(R) for may be fully realized. ¹²We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate^(S) those who through faith and patience^(T) inherit what has been promised.^(U)

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,^(V) ¹⁴saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”^[d]^(W) ¹⁵And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.^(X)

¹⁶People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^(Y) ¹⁷Because God wanted to make the unchanging^(Z) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^(AA) he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,^(AB) we who have fled to take hold of the hope^(AC) 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,^(AD) ²⁰where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.^(AE) He has become a high priest^(AF) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.^(AG)