Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves ¹  from everything that could defile the body ²  and the spirit, and thus accomplish ³  holiness out of reverence for God. ⁴ 

What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, ¹  so as to invalidate the promise.

namely, that through the gospel ¹  the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members ²  of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

Therefore we must be wary ¹  that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it.

so that you may not be sluggish, ¹  but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,

In the same way ¹  God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, ²  and so he intervened with an oath,

But Melchizedek ¹  who does not share their ancestry ²  collected a tithe ³  from Abraham and blessed ⁴  the one who possessed the promise.

And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.

For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised. ¹ 

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, ¹  yet he was ready to offer up ²  his only son.

Although these false teachers promise ¹  such people ²  freedom, they themselves are enslaved to ³  immorality. ⁴  For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved. ⁵ 

and saying, ¹  “Where is his promised return? ²  For ever since ³  our ancestors ⁴  died, ⁵  all things have continued as they were ⁶  from the beginning of creation.”

You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; ¹  this very day you have fulfilled what you promised. ² 

They ¹  will have no inheritance in the midst of their fellow Israelites; ²  the Lord alone is their inheritance, just as he had told them.

This ¹  is what comforts me in my trouble, for your promise revives me. ² 

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. ¹  Scripture ²  does not say, “and to the descendants,” ³  referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” ⁴  referring to one, who is Christ.

Through these things ¹  he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised ²  you may become partakers of the divine nature, ³  after escaping ⁴  the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. ⁵ 

Indeed, may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, make you a thousand times more numerous than you are now, blessing you ¹  just as he said he would!

Now, O sovereign Lord, you are the true God! ¹  May your words prove to be true! ²  You have made this good promise to your servant! ³