Warning Against Apostasy
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of whom o we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become p dull of hearing.
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For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need q milk and not solid food.
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For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is r a babe.
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But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised s to discern both good and evil.
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Therefore, a leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from b dead works and of faith toward God,
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c of the doctrine of baptisms, d of laying on of hands, e of resurrection of the dead, f and of eternal judgment.
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And this we will do if God permits.
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For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted g the heavenly gift, and h have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
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and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
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if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, i since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
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For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, j receives blessing from God;
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k but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
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But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
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For l God is not unjust to forget m your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have n ministered to the saints, and do minister.
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And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence o to the full assurance of hope until the end,
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that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience p inherit the promises.
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Cross References
John 16:12
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
Hebrews 7:1 - 22
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.
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Cross References
Matthew 13:15
For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:1 - 3
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
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Cross References
Ephesians 4:14
That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.
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Cross References
Isaiah 7:15
Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.
Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.
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Cross References
Hebrews 5:12
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
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Cross References
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
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Cross References
John 3:25
Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification.
Acts 19:3 - 5
And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism.
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Cross References
Acts 8:17
Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
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Cross References
Acts 17:31
"because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
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Cross References
Acts 24:25
Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.
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Cross References
John 4:10
Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
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Cross References
Galatians 3:2
This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:5
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? -
Hebrews 2:4
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
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Cross References
Hebrews 10:29
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
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Cross References
Psalms 65:10
You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth.
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Cross References
Isaiah 5:6
I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it.
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Cross References
Romans 3:4
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: "That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.
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Cross References
Romans 15:25
But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
Hebrews 10:32 - 34
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
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Cross References
Colossians 2:2
That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ.
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Cross References
Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.