whohas become[such] not on the basisof a lawof physicalrequirement,but accordingto the powerof an indestructiblelife.
For we knowthat the Lawis spiritual,but I amof flesh,soldinto bondage to sin.
Soalsowe, whilewe were children,were held in bondageunderthe elemental thingsof the world.
But nowthat you have come to knowGod,orratherto be knownby God,howis it that you turn backagainto the weakand worthlesselemental things,to whichyou desireto be enslavedall overagain?
having canceledout the certificate of debtconsisting of decreesagainstus, whichwas hostileto us; and He has takenit out of the way,having nailedit to the cross.
Ifyou have diedwith Christto the elementary principlesof the world,why,as ifyou were livingin the world,do you submit yourself to decrees,such as,
For the Law,since it has[only] a shadowof the good thingsto come[and] not the veryformof things,cannever,by the samesacrificeswhichthey offercontinuallyyear by year,make perfectthosewho draw near.
And this is clearerstill,ifanotherpriestarisesaccordingto the likenessof Melchizedek,
For it is attested[of Him], "YOU ARE A PRIESTFOREVERACCORDINGTO THE ORDEROF MELCHIZEDEK."
(for they indeedbecamepriestswithoutan oath, but He with an oaththroughthe One who saidto Him, "THE LORDHAS SWORNAND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,'YOU ARE A PRIESTFOREVER'");
For the Lawappointsmenas high priestswho are weak,but the wordof the oath,which came afterthe Law,[appoints] a Son,made perfectforever.
Without father,without mother,without genealogy,havingneitherbeginningof daysnorendof life,but made likethe Sonof God,he remainsa priestperpetually.
how muchmorewill the bloodof Christ,whothroughthe eternalSpiritofferedHimselfwithout blemishto God,cleanseyour consciencefrom deadworksto servethe livingGod?
and the livingOne; and I was dead,and behold,I amaliveforevermore,and I havethe keysof deathand of Hades.
