Father Mike Schmitz

Because of this, he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.

And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also, Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my son.

Today I have begotten you.

As he says also in another place, You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death.

Spiritual Growth About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word.

You need milk, not solid food.

For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, free as a child.

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

Chapter 6 The Peril of Falling Away

Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, with instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

And this we will do if God permits.

For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.

For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to be incursed.

Its end is to be burned.

Though we speak thus, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things that belong to salvation.

For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints as you still do.