The Peril of Falling Away

1 Therefore aleaving bthe 1elementary teaching about the 2Christ, let us press on to 3cmaturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from ddead works and of faith toward God,

2 of ainstruction about washings and blaying on of hands, and the cresurrection of the dead and ceternal judgment.

3 And this we will do, aif God permits.

4 For in the case of those who have once been aenlightened and have tasted of bthe heavenly gift and have been made cpartakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 and ahave tasted the good bword of God and the powers of cthe age to come,

6 and then have fallen away, it is aimpossible to renew them again to repentance, 1bsince they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

7 For ground that drinks the rain which often 1falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those afor whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;

8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and aclose 1to being cursed, and 2it ends up being burned.