Warning against Regression

6 Therefore, leaving the elementary message about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,^{(A) 2} teaching about ritual washings,^[a] laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.^{(B) 3} And we will do this if God permits.

⁴ For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit,^{(C) 5} tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age, ⁶ and who have fallen away, because,^[b] to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt.^(D)

Faith Triumphs

5 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith,^(A) we have peace^[a] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(B) 2} We have also obtained access through Him^(C) by faith^[b] into this grace in which we stand,^(D) and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that,^(E) but we also rejoice in our afflictions,^(F) because we know that affliction produces endurance,^{(G) 4} endurance produces proven character,^(H) and proven character produces hope. ⁵ This hope will not disappoint us,^(I) because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts^(J) through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Those Declared Righteous Are Reconciled

⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment,^(K) Christ died for the ungodly.