Beholdthenthe kindnessand severityof God;to thosewho fell,severity,but to you, God'skindness,ifyou continuein His kindness;otherwiseyou alsowill be cut off.
For we have becomepartakersof Christ,ifwe hold fastthe beginningof our assurancefirmuntilthe end,
but Christ[was faithful] as a SonoverHis house--whosehousewe are, ifwe hold fastour confidenceand the boastof our hopefirmuntilthe end.
by whichalsoyou are saved,ifyou hold fastthe wordwhichI preachedto you, unlessyou believedin vain.
"Everybranchin Me that does not bearfruit,He takes away;and every[branch] that bearsfruit,He prunesit sothat it may bearmorefruit.
Thereforerememberfrom whereyou have fallen,and repentand dothe deedsyou did at first;orelseI am comingto you and will removeyour lampstandout of its place--unlessyou repent.
Let us not lose heartin doinggood,for in duetimewe will reapif we do not grow weary.
to thosewho by perseverancein doinggoodseekfor gloryand honorand immortality,eternallife;
Let us hold fastthe confessionof our hopewithout wavering,for He who promisedis faithful;
strengtheningthe soulsof the disciples,encouragingthem to continuein the faith,and [saying], "Throughmanytribulationswe mustenterthe kingdomof God."
SoJesuswas sayingto thoseJewswho had believedHim, "Ifyou continuein My word,[then] you are trulydisciplesof Mine;
for nowwe [really] live,ifyou stand firmin the Lord.
Then when he arrivedand witnessedthe graceof God,he rejoicedand [began] to encouragethem allwith resoluteheartto remain[true] to the Lord;
"But the [seed] in the goodsoil,theseare the ones whohave heardthe wordin an honestand goodheart,and hold it fast,and bear fruitwith perseverance.
Then you will see[this], and your heartwill be glad,And your boneswill flourishlike the newgrass;And the handof the LORDwill be madeknownto His servants,But He will be indignanttowardHis enemies.
For thisreason,when I could endure[it] no longer,I alsosentto findout about your faith,for fearthat the temptermight have temptedyou, and our laborwould be in vain.
"But when a righteousmanturnsawayfrom his righteousness,commitsiniquityand doesaccording to allthe abominationsthat a wickedmandoes,will he live?Allhis righteousdeedswhichhe has donewill not be rememberedfor his treacherywhichhe has committedand his sinwhichhe has committed;for them he will die.
"Again, when a righteousmanturnsawayfrom his righteousnessand commitsiniquity,and I placean obstaclebeforehim, he will die;sinceyou have not warnedhim, he shall diein his sin,and his righteousdeedswhichhe has doneshall not be remembered;but his bloodI will requireat your hand.
They wentout from us, but they were not [really] of us; for ifthey had beenof us, they would have remainedwith us; but [they went out], sothat it would be shownthat they allare not of us.
Howgreatis Your goodness,WhichYou have storedup for those who fearYou, Which You have wroughtfor those who takerefugein You, Beforethe sonsof men!
for ifGoddid not sparethe naturalbranches,He will not spareyou, either.
