turning away from god

²⁰For if, after taking refuge from the defilements of the world in the understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become entangled and overcome by these things, then the latter state becomes worse than the former. ²¹For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of justice than, after acknowledging it, to turn away from that holy commandment which was handed on to them. ²²For the truth of the proverb has happened to them: The dog has returned to his own vomit, and the washed sow has returned to her wallowing in the mud.

⁴For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have even tasted of the heavenly gift, and have become sharers in the Holy Spirit, ⁵who, despite having tasted the good Word of God and the virtues of the future age, have yet fallen away, ⁶to be renewed again to penance, since they are crucifying again in themselves the Son of God and are still maintaining pretenses.

²But your iniquities have made a division between you and your God, and your sins have concealed his face from you, so that he would not hear.

¹²There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.

⁹If we confess our sins, then he is faithful and just, so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.

²⁶For if we sin willingly, after receiving knowledge of the truth, there is no sacrifice remaining for sins,

⁶⁴It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh does not offer anything of benefit. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁵But there are some among you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who were unbelieving and which one would betray him. ⁶⁶And so he said, “For this reason, I said to you that no one is able to come to me, unless it has been given to him by my Father.” ⁶⁷After this, many of his disciples went back, and they no longer walked with him. ⁶⁸Therefore, Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” ⁶⁹Then Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

¹¹Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I do not desire the death of the impious, but that the impious should convert from his way and live. Be converted, be converted from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?

⁶We have all gone astray like sheep; each one has turned aside to his own way. And the Lord has placed all our iniquity upon him.

⁸But God demonstrates his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, at the proper time,

⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without me, you are able to do nothing.

¹³If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful: he is not able to deny himself.

¹²But if you choose to cling to the errors of these nations that live among you, and to mix with them by marriage, and to join with them by friendship, ¹³even now, know this: that the Lord your God will not wipe them away before your face. Instead, they shall be a pit and a snare to you, and a stumbling block at your side, and stakes in your eyes, until he takes you away and scatters you from this excellent land, which he has delivered to you.