Grace and Perseverance

(Hebrews 12:1-3)

1Thou, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that [is] in Christ Jesus, 2and the things that thou didst hear from me through many witnesses, these things be committing to stedfast men, who shall be sufficient also others to teach; 3thou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ; 4no one serving as a soldier did entangle himself with the affairs of life, that him who did enlist him he may please; 5and if also any one may strive, he is not crowned, except he may strive lawfully; 6the labouring husbandman it behoveth first of the fruits to partake; 7be considering what things I say, for the Lord give to thee understanding in all things.

8Remember Jesus Christ, raised out of the dead, of the seed of David, according to my good news, 9in which I suffer evil — unto bonds, as an evil-doer, but the word of God hath not been bound; 10because of this all things do I endure, because of the choice ones, that they also salvation may obtain that [is] in Christ Jesus, with glory age-during.

11Stedfast [is] the word: For if we died together — we also shall live together;

12if we do endure together — we shall also reign together; if we deny [him], he also shall deny us;

13if we are not stedfast, he remaineth stedfast; to deny himself he is not able.

The Lord's Approved Workman

14These things remind [them] of, testifying fully before the Lord — not to strive about words to nothing profitable, but to the subversion of those hearing; 15be diligent to present thyself approved to God — a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth; 16and the profane vain talkings stand aloof from, for to more impiety they will advance, 17and their word as a gangrene will have pasture, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who concerning the truth did swerve, saying the rising again to have already been, and do overthrow the faith of some; 19sure, nevertheless, hath the foundation of God stood, having this seal, ‘The Lord hath known those who are His,’ and ‘Let him depart from unrighteousness — every one who is naming the name of Christ.’

20And in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honour, and some to dishonour: 21if, then, any one may cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified and profitable to the master — to every good work having been prepared, 22and the youthful lusts flee thou, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those calling upon the Lord out of a pure heart; 23and the foolish and uninstructed questions be avoiding, having known that they beget strife, 24and a servant of the Lord it behoveth not to strive, but to be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient under evil, 25in meekness instructing those opposing — if perhaps God may give to them repentance to an acknowledging of the truth, 26and they may awake out of the devil’s snare, having been caught by him at his will.