1 P or lo tanto, dejemos a un lado las enseñanzas elementales acerca de Cristo, y avancemos hacia la perfección. No volvamos a cuestiones básicas, tales como el arrepentirnos de las acciones que nos llevan a la muerte, o la fe en Dios,

So let us leave the first things you need to know about Christ. Let us go on to the teaching that full-grown Christians should understand. We do not need to teach these first truths again. You already know that you must be sorry for your sins and turn from them. You know that you must have faith in God.

2 o las enseñanzas acerca del bautismo, o la imposición de manos, o la resurrección de los muertos y el juicio eterno.

You know about being baptized and about putting hands on people. You know about being raised from the dead and about being punished forever.

3 T odo esto lo haremos, si Dios nos lo permite.

We will go on, if God lets us.

4 N o es posible que los que alguna vez fueron iluminados y saborearon el don celestial, y tuvieron parte en el Espíritu Santo,

There are those who have known the truth. They have received the gift from heaven. They have shared the Holy Spirit.

5 y saborearon además la buena palabra de Dios y los poderes del mundo venidero,

They know how good the Word of God is. They know of the powers of the world to come.

6 p ero volvieron a caer, vuelvan también a ser renovados para arrepentimiento. ¡Eso sería volver a crucificar al Hijo de Dios para ellos mismos, y exponerlo a la vergüenza pública!

But if they turn away, they cannot be sorry for their sins and turn from them again. It is because they are nailing the Son of God on a cross again. They are holding Him up in shame in front of all people.

7 C uando la tierra absorbe la lluvia que le cae con frecuencia, y produce plantas útiles para quienes la cultivan, recibe la bendición de Dios;

It is the same with a piece of ground that has had many rains fall on it. God makes it possible for that ground to give good fruits and vegetables.

8 p ero cuando produce espinos y abrojos, no vale nada; poco le falta para ser maldecida, y acaba por ser quemada.

But if it gives nothing but weeds, it is worth nothing. It will be hated and destroyed by fire.

9 Q ueridos hermanos, aunque hablamos así, con respecto a ustedes estamos convencidos de cosas mejores, que tienen que ver con la salvación.

Dear friends, even as we tell you this, we are sure of better things for you. These things go along with being saved from the punishment of sin.

10 P orque Dios es justo, y no olvidará el trabajo de ustedes y el amor que han mostrado hacia él mediante el servicio a los santos, como hasta ahora lo hacen.

God always does what is right. He will not forget the work you did to help the Christians and the work you are still doing to help them. This shows your love for Christ.

11 P ero deseamos que cada uno de ustedes muestre el mismo entusiasmo hasta el fin, para la plena realización de su esperanza

We want each one of you to keep on working to the end. Then what you hope for, will happen.

12 y para que no se hagan perezosos, sino que sigan el ejemplo de quienes por medio de la fe y la paciencia heredan las promesas.

Do not be lazy. Be like those who have faith and have not given up. They will receive what God has promised them. God’s Promise

13 C uando Dios hizo la promesa a Abrahán, juró por sí mismo, porque no había nadie superior a él por quien jurar,

When God made a promise to Abraham, He made that promise in His own name because no one was greater.

14 y dijo: «Ciertamente te bendeciré con abundancia y multiplicaré tu descendencia».

He said, “I will make you happy in so many ways. For sure, I will give you many children.”

15 Y Abrahán esperó con paciencia, y recibió lo que Dios le había prometido.

Abraham was willing to wait and God gave to him what He had promised.

16 C uando alguien jura, lo hace por alguien superior a sí mismo. De esa manera confirma lo que ha dicho y pone fin a toda discusión.

When men make a promise, they use a name greater than themselves. They do this to make sure they will do what they promise. In this way, no one argues about it.

17 P or eso Dios, queriendo demostrar claramente a los herederos de la promesa que sus propósitos no cambian, les hizo un juramento,

And so God made a promise. He wanted to show Abraham that He would never change His mind. So He made the promise in His own name.

18 p ara que por estas dos cosas que no cambian, y en las que Dios no puede mentir, tengamos un sólido consuelo los que buscamos refugio y nos aferramos a la esperanza que se nos ha propuesto.

God gave these two things that cannot be changed and God cannot lie. We who have turned to Him can have great comfort knowing that He will do what He has promised.

19 E sta esperanza mantiene nuestra alma firme y segura, como un ancla, y penetra hasta detrás del velo,

This hope is a safe anchor for our souls. It will never move. This hope goes into the Holiest Place of All behind the curtain of heaven.

20 d onde Jesús, nuestro precursor, entró por nosotros y llegó a ser sumo sacerdote para siempre, según el orden de Melquisedec.

Jesus has already gone there. He has become our Religious Leader forever and has made the way for man to go to God. He is like Melchizedek.