Going On to Perfection

From this text that I have just read to you, I would like to address what it means to "go on to perfection" in living the Christian life. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to what this phrase means in our day, among Christians; even much confusion about this whole passage in general. And therefore, I think that it will be important for us to understand it in its context. I want to attempt to prove to you that for these Hebrews, "going on to perfection" meant their really going on to know the Lord if they did not know Him, and their becoming more mature in the faith if they really were dull of hearing. By opening up the meaning of these phrases in their context and the historic setting in which they were given, I hope to be able to help us all to make better sense of this passage which has been so troubling to many.
So, what I want to do at this hour, is to 1st of all – Explain the meaning of the phrase in verse 1 – "Not laying again the foundation". 2nd – I want to explain the meaning of the phrase in verse 4 – "For it is impossible". 3rd – I want to explain the meaning of the phrase in verse 7 – "For the earth that drinks in the rain". And 4th – I want to explain the meaning of the phrase in verse 9 – "things that accompany salvation". And when I am able to do this, I believe that this passage will actually be seen to offer hope to us who are praying for the salvation of our loved ones who have walked away from Christ. Can they still be saved, even so?