24. We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things.
25. We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.
26. If we go on sinning after we have learned the truth, no sacrifice can take away our sins.
27. All that is left is a terrifying wait for judgment and a raging fire that will consume God’s enemies.
28. If two or three witnesses accused someone of rejecting Moses’ Teachings, that person was shown no mercy as he was executed.
29. What do you think a person who shows no respect for the Son of God deserves? That person looks at the blood of the promise (the blood that made him holy) as no different from other people’s blood, and he insults the Spirit that God gave us out of his kindness. He deserves a much worse punishment.
30. We know the God who said,“I alone have the right to take revenge.I will pay back.”God also said,“The Lord will judge his people.”
31. Falling into the hands of the living God is a terrifying thing.
32. Remember the past, when you first learned the truth. You endured a lot of hardship and pain.
33. At times you were publicly insulted and mistreated. At times you associated with people who were treated this way.
34. You suffered with prisoners. You were cheerful even though your possessions were stolen, since you know that you have a better and more permanent possession.
35. So don’t lose your confidence. It will bring you a great reward.
36. You need endurance so that after you have done what God wants you to do, you can receive what he has promised.
37. “Yet, the one who is coming will come soon. He will not delay.
38. The person who has God’s approval will live by faith.But if he turns back, I will not be pleased with him.”
39. We don’t belong with those who turn back and are destroyed. Instead, we belong with those who have faith and are saved.