Kindergarten Class for Grownups
1Let’s move past kindergarten teachings about the Messiah. Get promoted. Move up to a higher grade and a more mature understanding. Stop rehashing basic 101 stuff like why we should repent for our sins and have faith in God. 2You don’t need to hear another word about those cleansing rituals [1] or laying hands on people when you pray for them or bless them. You don’t need a rerun on resurrection, either. And you don’t need to hear anyone tell you what you’ve already heard about the final judgment and eternity. 3We’ll grow up, if God’s okay with it.4Listen. Let’s say some folks see the light. They get a taste of heaven. They make contact with the Holy Spirit. 5They experience the goodness of God’s word. They witness the power of the new age. 6If they bail on their faith and leave all of that behind, they’re goners. There’s no second chance, no restoring them by having them repent. That would be crucifying the Son of God all over again, shaming him again too. 7A patch of ground is God-blessed when it soaks up plenty of rain and produces a good crop that a farmer planted and maintained. 8But if a field like that grows a harvest of briars and thistles, it’s good for nothing. A farmer will burn it to clear the land.
We Expect More of You
9We’ve been talking tough, my dear friends. But we believe you’re better than what I’ve been describing. We expect that what I’ve said will lead you to salvation. 10God’s going to treat you fairly. He’s not going to disregard the work you’ve done for him and the love you’ve shown for our mission. Especially since you’re still ministering to your fellow believers. 11We want you to keep up the hard work to the very end so you get what you’re hoping for. 12Don’t get lazy. Take a look at the faith and patience of people inheriting what God promises. Imitate them.God Can’t Lie
13When God made a promise to Abraham, God couldn’t swear an oath on the name of some higher power. He is the highest power. So, he swore an oath on his own by simply guaranteeing the promise. 14God told Abraham, “I’m going to bless your life and give you a huge family of descendants.” [2] 15Abraham got what God promised, though Abraham had to wait patiently for it.16When people take an oath, they swear by a higher power. They do this to confirm what they’re about to say. That settles the matter. 17God wanted to show everyone who would inherit the promise that he wouldn’t change his plans later. That’s why he confirmed it with an oath. 18God made a promise and he swore an oath. It’s a done deal, double-dipped [3] in both a promise and an oath. We know we can depend on this promise because God can’t lie. That should encourage those of us who put our faith in God, trusting him to take care of us. It gives us good reason to hold on to the hope [4] we’ve been given.
19This hope holds us steady. It’s a strong anchor for the soul. This hope will one day take us beyond the sacred curtain and into the holiest place in heaven. [5] 20Jesus is already there. He’s representing us until we get there. He’s our high priest forever, in the elite class of Melchizedek.
