For it is impossible, in the case of those (A)who have once been enlightened, who have tasted (B)the heavenly gift, and (C)have shared in the Holy Spirit, and (D)have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and (E)then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since (F)they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For (G)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. But (H)if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, (I)and its end is to be burned.

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Because it’s impossible to restore people to changed hearts and lives who turn away once they have seen the light, tasted the heavenly gift, become partners with the Holy Spirit, and tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age. They are crucifying God’s Son all over again and exposing him to public shame. The ground receives a blessing from God when it drinks up the rain that regularly comes and falls on it and yields a useful crop for those people for whom it is being farmed. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it’s useless and close to being cursed. It ends up being burned.

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