Two Vital Lessons from the Parable of the Ten Virgins (bridesmaids). Matthew 25:1-13
#1. Church attendance or membership identifies you with the visible church of Christ, but only true saving faith makes you a member of the invisible church of those know the Lord and who will dwell in eternity with the Lord.
#2. There is no such thing as borrowed faith.
One striking feature of the parable occurs when the foolish virgins ask the wise virgins to borrow some of their oil. The refusal may seem selfish and unkind unless you understand the situation. To loan the oil would mean that no one would have enough oil, but a larger point is clear. No one can “borrow” another person’s faith. You can’t get into heaven by living near a saved person. One day you will stand before the Lord and He will say, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” What answer will you give?
“My mother was a godly woman,” you might say. “And that’s why she’s in heaven,” the Lord will reply, “but what about you?”
“My dad was an elder,” you might say. “Fine, but that’s not why he’s in heaven, and anyway his eldership won’t do you any good,” the Lord replies.
You can say, “I went to Dallas Theological Seminary or Biola Bible College or Talbot Seminary or whatever school you favor, and the outcome will be same. You can’t “borrow” faith from the school, Bible college or Seminary you attended. Salvation is always a personal affair. You can’t go to heaven by hanging onto someone’s coattails or having friends in the faith.
You must believe in Jesus on your own, for yourself, not relying on the faith of those around you.
