He is the reflection of God's glory, and the representation of his being, and bears up the universe by his mighty word. He has effected man's purification from sin, and has taken his seat on high at the right hand of God's Majesty,

But of the time when he is to bring his firstborn Son back to the world he says, "And let all God's angels bow before him."

For we who have believed are admitted to that Rest, of which he said, "As I made oath in my anger, They shall never be admitted to my Rest!" And yet God's work was finished at the creation of the world,

So there must still be a promised Sabbath of Rest for God's people.

For all who are admitted to God's Rest rest after their work, just as God did after his.

No being created can escape God's sight, but everything is bare and helpless before the eyes of him with whom we have to reckon.

So let us come with courage to God's throne of grace to receive his forgiveness and find him responsive when we need his help.

Ground that drinks in frequent showers and produces vegetation that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated receives God's blessing.

so that you may never grow careless, but may learn to follow the example of those who through their faith and endurance are the possessors of God's promises.

And in proportion as Jesus was not appointed priest without God's making oath to it,

Now the main point in what I am saying is this: We have such a high priest as this, and he has taken his seat in heaven at the right hand of God's Majesty,

And it is through his doing of God's will that we have been once for all purified from sin through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ in sacrifice.

But Christ has offered for all time one sacrifice for sin, and has taken his seat at God's right hand,

but only the dreadful prospect of judgment and that blazing indignation which is to devour God's enemies.

How much worse a punishment do you think will anyone deserve who tramples the Son of God underfoot, and treats as worthless the blood of the agreement by which he has been purified, and outrages God's spirit of mercy?

but you will need endurance if you are to carry out God's will and receive the blessing he has promised.

For it was by it that the men of old gained God's approval.

It is faith that enables us to see that the universe was created at the command of God, so that the world we see did not simply arise out of matter.

Faith made Abel's sacrifice greater in the sight of God than Cain's; through faith he gained God's approval as an upright man, for God himself approved his offering, and through faith even when he was dead he still spoke.

Faith enabled Abraham, when he was put to the test, to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had accepted God's promises was ready to sacrifice his only son,

for he preferred sharing the hardships of God's people to a short-lived enjoyment of sin,

Yet though they all gained God's approval by their faith, they none of them received what he had promised,

and you have forgotten the challenge addressed to you as God's sons, "My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline, Or give up when he corrects you.

Be careful that no one fails to gain God's favor, or some poisonous root may come up to trouble and contaminate you all??16 some immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his very birthright for one single meal.

to the solemn gathering of all God's elder sons, enrolled as citizens in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of upright men now at last enjoying the fulfilment of their hopes,

Do not forget your former leaders, the men who brought you God's message. Remember how they ended their lives and imitate their faith.

You must not be carried away with strange varieties of teaching. The true way to steadfastness of heart is through God's mercy, not through scruples about food, which have never done their adherents any good.

In his name let us continually offer praise as our sacrifice to God??he utterance of lips that glorify God's name.