9. My friends, we are talking this way. But we are sure that you are doing those really good things that people do when they are being saved.
10. God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won't forget the love you have shown his people.
11. We wish that each of you would always be eager to show how strong and lasting your hope really is.
12. Then you would never be lazy. You would be following the example of those who had faith and were patient until God kept his promise to them.
13. No one is greater than God. So he made a promise in his own name when he said to Abraham,
14. “I, the Lord, will bless you with many descendants!”
15. Then after Abraham had been very patient, he was given what God had promised.
16. When anyone wants to settle an argument, they make a vow by using the name of someone or something greater than themselves.
17. So when God wanted to prove for certain that his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow.
18. God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed.We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
19. This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place.
20. Jesus has gone there ahead of us, and he is our high priest for ever, just like Melchizedek.