The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming -- not the REALITIES themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices REPEATED ENDLESSLY year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. "

For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Then he ADDS: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold UNSWERVINGLY to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

And let us consider how we may SPUR one another on toward love and good deeds, not GIVING up MEETING together, as some are in the HABIT of doing, but encouraging one another -- and all the more as you see the Day APPROACHING.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a FEARFUL EXPECTATION of judgment and of RAGING fire that will CONSUME the enemies of God.

It is a DREADFUL thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

And without faith it is impossible to PLEASE God, because anyone who COMES to him must believe that he exists and that he REWARDS those who EARNESTLY seek him.

Therefore, since we are SURROUNDED by such a great CLOUD of witnesses, let us throw off everything that HINDERS and the sin that so EASILY ENTANGLES. And let us RUN with perseverance the RACE MARKED out for us, FIXING our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and PERFECTER of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, SCORNING its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such OPPOSITION from sinners, so that you will not grow WEARY and lose heart.

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy without holiness no one will see the lord

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

See to it that you do not REFUSE him who speaks. If they did not escape when thy refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us in heaven.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can not be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe for our God is a consuming fire.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.