For in the case of thosewho have oncebeen enlightenedand have tastedof the heavenlygiftand have been madepartakersof the HolySpirit,
"Afterthe article with the markhas been washed,the priestshall againlook,and ifthe markhas not changedits appearance,even though the markhas not spread,it is unclean;you shall burnit in the fire,whether an eatingawayhas produced barenesson the toporon the frontof it.
"If,however, the markbreaksout againin the houseafterhe has tornout the stonesand scrapedthe house,and afterit has been replastered,
He tookup his discourseand said,"The oracleof Balaamthe sonof Beor,And the oracleof the manwhose eyeis opened;
"Thenit goesand takes alongwith it sevenotherspiritsmore wickedthan itself,and they goin and livethere;and the laststate of that manbecomesworsethan the first.That is the wayit will alsobe with thisevilgeneration."
"You are the saltof the earth;but ifthe salthas become tasteless,howcan it be made salty[again]? It is nolongergoodfor anything,exceptto be thrownout and trampled under footby men.
"Ifanyonedoes not abidein Me, he is thrownawayas a branchand driesup; and they gatherthem, and castthem into the fireand they are burned.
Johnansweredand said,"A mancanreceivenothingunlessit has beengivenhim from heaven.
Jesusansweredand saidto her, "Ifyou knewthe giftof God,and whoit is who saysto you, 'GiveMe a drink,'you would have askedHim, and He would have givenyou livingwater."
Jesusthensaidto them, "Truly,truly,I sayto you, it is not Moseswho has givenyou the breadout of heaven,but it is My Fatherwho givesyou the true breadout of heaven.
Allthe circumcisedbelieverswhocamewith Peterwere amazed,becausethe giftof the HolySpirithad been pouredout on the Gentilesalso.
"ThereforeifGodgaveto them the samegiftas [He gave] to us alsoafter believingin the LordJesusChrist,whowas I that I couldstandin God'sway?"
"And God,who knows the heart,testifiedto them givingthem the HolySpirit,justas He alsodid to us;
But Petersaidto him, "May your silverperishwith you, becauseyou thoughtyou could obtainthe giftof Godwith money!
For I longto seeyou sothat I may impartsomespiritualgiftto you, that you may be established;
in whosecasethe godof thisworldhas blindedthe mindsof the unbelievingsothat they might not seethe lightof the gospelof the gloryof Christ,whois the imageof God.
For God,who said,"Lightshall shineout of darkness,"is the One whohas shonein our heartsto give the Lightof the knowledgeof the gloryof Godin the faceof Christ.
Thisis the only thingI wantto findout from you: did you receivethe Spiritby the worksof the Law,orby hearingwith faith?
So then,does He who providesyou with the Spiritand worksmiraclesamongyou, do it by the worksof the Law,orby hearingwith faith?
[I pray that] the eyesof your heartmay be enlightened,sothat you will knowwhatis the hopeof His calling,whatare the richesof the gloryof His inheritancein the saints,
For by graceyou have been savedthroughfaith;and that not of yourselves,[it is] the giftof God;
of whichI was madea minister,accordingto the giftof God'sgracewhich was givento me accordingto the workingof His power.
But to eachoneof us gracewas givenaccordingto the measureof Christ'sgift.
Do not neglectthe spiritual giftwithinyou, whichwas bestowedon you throughprophetic utterancewith the layingon of handsby the presbytery.
with gentlenesscorrectingthosewho are in opposition,if perhapsGodmay grantthem repentanceleadingto the knowledgeof the truth,
Alexanderthe coppersmithdidme muchharm;the Lordwill repayhim accordingto his deeds.
But rememberthe formerdays,when,after being enlightened,you endureda greatconflictof sufferings,
Godalso testifyingwith them, bothby signsand wondersand by variousmiraclesand by giftsof the HolySpiritaccordingto His own will.
Ifanyoneseeshis brothercommittinga sinnot [leading] to death,he shall askand [God] will for him givelifeto thosewho commit sinnot [leading] to death.There is a sin[leading] to death;I do not saythat he should make requestfor this.
