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Originally Posted by ABrotherinFaith
Yes, I think there are believers and unbelievers. Those who accept Christ as their savior and are obedient/endure to the end and those who don't.
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That sounds like more than two here ....
1. believers
2. believers who accept Christ
3. believers who do not accept Christ
4. believers who accept Christ and are obedient
5. believers who accept Christ and endure to the end
6. unbelievers
All these situations (and more) will exist.
Perhaps you would like to give this more thought.
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Originally Posted by ABrotherinFaith
As far as bravery here, I don't think it's a factor. As I explained, I don't know. I can't know. And neither can you. I have ALREADY told you that I am satisfied with Christ's explanation. I don't reduce His words to a children's story. Christ spoke to His disciples in terms they understood. Then He explained the meaning of those things in that context. It's simple, not simplistic. You don't know for sure that the oil is the spirit. You don't know the sleep is death. You don't know that we can buy oil AFTER we die..but you have the courage to say you do.
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In the parable of the sower (Mt 13.1-23) and the parable of the tares, (Mt 13.24-30, 36-43) the Lord went into great length to explain to the disciples what all the details of these parables meant. But in this parable of the virgins, the Lord did not explain in detail what the parable meant. Do you expect me to believe that the Lord spent much time thinking up good parables in His early ministry, filled with meaningful details, but as His death approached, He ran out of time thinking them through? If that was the case, He should have just said, "don't forget to watch." That would be more "simple."
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Originally Posted by ABrotherinFaith
Why didn't He say to repent? I don't know. Is it possible that they would now have to endure being shut out of the feast. How do you think the virgins would feel being outside? Don't you think they would repent. Perhaps they will have to wait until the feast is over and the marriage celebration is complete. You still haven't addressed the looming question. Where's you courage? It's an ominous one and it's been asked before (an hour or so ago in fact)....Where do you get the idea from scripture that we will be able to buy oil/Holy spirit AFTER WE DIE?
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If the only suffering the foolish virgins have to endure is missing dinner, then how bad can that be? But, didn't you say thy are going to hell?
So, am I the only one who has to answer questions? The Lord Himself said the foolish ones have to "buy oil." Can't you accept that? I told you where I got the idea -- it's in the parable -- but you don't think that parable has any meaning to it, so you happen to miss that detail. Obviously the "oil" means something here. I doubt if Pep Boys has this kind of "oil" on their shelves. Didn't you ever realize that the Lord speaks metaphorically at times?
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Originally Posted by ABrotherinFaith
Do you think that there are those who go to a church, who believe there was a guy named Jesus, who believe that God created things but their belief is akin to knowledge. They have never really sought the Lord. They enjoyed the company of the church, the hymns, the idea that heaven was waiting...these are the ones, I think, to whom the Lord will say, "I never knew you." But as YOU say and keep saying, the Lord can't really mean it because He knows everyone. So when He says "I know My sheep, " he's not really saying anything special because, well, he knows everyone. You've reduced Jesus to someone who just plays around with words, saying things He can't really mean.
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When the Bible exhorts us to believe, it is to "believe into." It is not a mere credence, or an acknowledgement of a fact, like the demons who 'believe." Real faith regenerates us with a living hope. We are born again.
The bible calls those who fake the program as unbelievers. They are tares, and not real wheat.
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Originally Posted by ABrotherinFaith
What do you think He means when he says "I don't know you?" or "I haven't known you?"
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It means He does not approve of their works, they have not done the will of the Father. The opposite is for Him to say "well done."
Look at the parable of the sower. Consider the seed sown on rocky places. (Mt 13.5-6, 20-21) This one heard the word with joy, the seed sprouted into a new life, but is short-lived, and persecution stumbles this one. Consider the seed sown in the thorns. (Mt 13.7, 22) This one hears the word, and the plant sprouts and grows more, but the thorns of anxiety and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word so that it becomes unfruitful.