Nowhere in the Bible is entrance into God's kingdom tied to a momentary - or even temporary - faith experience of the past.
Faith that saves continues and is not some shallow, temporary belief that has no root, produces no fruit and withers away.
Why did Satan choose to rebel?
Satan wanted to ascend to the heavens and raise his throne above the stars of God. (Isaiah 14:13)
We might not understand why people choose what they do, but there is a battle for our souls and satan would not fight if there is no chance for him to succeed.
Satan succeeds by blinding the minds of those who do not believe the gospel. (2 Corinthians 4:3,4) The fight is on. Many are on the broad way that leads to destruction, and few are on the narrow way that leads to life. (Matthew 7:13-14) You call that unsuccessful?
All Ten of the virgins in Christ's parable knew Christ, understood that He was comming and had the Holy Spirit.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
:8 KJV And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
They all wanted to go with the bridegroom. But 5 missed out. Not because they didn't understand or want to but because they didn't have enough oil.
The wording of the five foolish virgins in our text is all too familiar to the reader of Matthew’s Gospel:
Matthew 25:11 - "Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’ 12 But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth,
I do not know you!" Matthew 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven" but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven - (See
John 6:40). 22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful works?’ 23 Then I will declare to them,
'I never knew you. Go away from me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (
Matthew 7:21-23) Jesus
never knew these many people which means they were
never saved. Since they were never saved, their sins remain. Hence, you who practice lawlessness in contrast with being saved and practicing righteousness.
Taking Matthew’s words literally, I read that the difference between the foolish virgins and the wise virgins: The wise virgins had oil for their lamps, while the foolish virgins did not. The wise virgins had the opportunity to obtain oil and did so. The foolish virgins had plenty of opportunity to procure oil but did not. It's possible to be in close contact with Christ, and with Christians, and yet not be saved. I am reminded of a similar passage in the Gospel of Luke:
Luke 13:23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" So he said to them, 24 "Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you,
‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will reply,
‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30 But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Jesus may indeed be warning us in this parable that there will be a number of people who look like Christians, who associate with Christians, and who even think they are Christians, who will be shocked to learn that they are not saved at the return of our Lord and Christ never knew them. What a sobering thought!
Many today love Jesus and the gospel but will not be saved because they are not ready.
In 1 Corinthians 16:22, we read - If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Yet you say those who love Jesus will still be accursed. In 1 John 4:7, we read - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Those who believe the gospel are saved. (Romans 1:16) But you say, they are not ready.
