My pastor preached that not all Christians will be allowed to enter New Jerusalem. That in Matthew 25 when talking about those "with oil," it's talking about those who are saved and served the Lord (doers of his word). And those "without" oil are are saved but did nothing for the Lord (slothful servants). The slothful servant still get to go to heaven but never allowed to enter New Jerusalem, because they did nothing for God.
What about the thief on the cross? Jesus promised that he (the thief) will be with Him in paradise. Being that he never did anything for the Lord, yet still allowed to enter the gate? Does God pic and choose?
That thief didn't have much time left to do anything did he ? If you read the account carefully you will learn that he did : confess his sinfulness , acknowledge Christ's sinlessness , acknowledge Christ as his Lord , and believe that Christ was going to be resurrected and receive a kingdom . He managed to pack a lot in to his last few sentences don't you think ?
I believe in eternal security of a believer, once saved always saved. (John5:24), and can never lose their salvation ( John 10: 27-29), believers who wilfully sin after salvation without repenting of that sin may come under the chastisement of the Lord ( Hebrews 12:4-8) but can never cease being saved, sons of God. Anyone believing otherwise never had salvation. Believing in eternal security is part of salvation.
I would agree with your understanding of the Scriptures Eagan, on this matter. Though there are Scriptures that show that the one in Christ is eternally secure ( John 10:27-29; 1 John 5:13; Ephesians 1:13,14; 1 Peter 1:5; and many more), there are also many others verses that seem to show that salvation can be lost & one must work hard in their faith to ensure that they will make it to the end & be accepted.
So, when one considers ALL of the verses pertaining to this subject, somehow it has to be reconciled what Jesus or the other writers are actually saying. Just like whether the Rapture is pre, mid, post, or anything else, we can get into a similar problem. For this one, my underlying Truth is that the Great Tribulation is God's Judgement against the unbelieving Christ-rejecting world, therefore those in Christ will be saved from it.
For Eternal Security, the underlying Truth is the truly repentant soul has come in faith (& nothing else), been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, indwelt by Him, put on a new path towards Heaven, with the Mighty God and His Son being his all-consuming focus & passion & not the world. Can such a person ever be lost again - deciding, 'No, I prefer to follow the world & reject Christ?' We can never know how real another's salvation has been - nor should we ever place ourselves in that position of making such a judgement. Or, whether one's faith is being tested & some errors & backsliding are taking place - to which the Holy Spirit will move, alert, warn or chastise to bring him back. But the fact of the matter is, that 'the Lord knows who are His', He 'knows His sheep & His sheep hear His Voice', and His sheep will obey the Shepherd even if there has to be some stern words & goading.
Thus Galatians 5:22-25 are so important, especially "they THAT ARE Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." These are the marks of the one truly saved, living for Christ.
Yes, there are some that just say the words and think their saved but really they aren't. But those that, from the heart confession was made unto salvation, really did get saved and were filled with the Spirit; they will never lose it. In other words: them that have it (salvation) can never lose it. But them that never had it (salvation) can't lose something they never had. I'm thinking you go to the Church of God, because they believe you can lose their salvation. I'm of a baptist church myself. KJV (only) bible believing, Fundamental, Independent. Anyway, good luck to you. Not that I believe in luck!
This topic about secured (or not) salvation has been discussed a lot between us here on this forum in the past. Beliefs differ. Mine is that salvation can be lost if one leaves God's path and starts following a foreign path and eventually dies in their sin. In my opinion there are many verses in the Bible that state that. One I have gone through recently is in 1 Timothy 4:15-16, (Paul advices Timothy) "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: FOR IN DOING THIS THOU SHALT BOTH SAVE THYSELF, and them that hear thee." Why does Paul say to Timothy that by doing those he WILL save himself, isn't Timothy saved already (by been born again)? Yes but he has to keep his salvation by doing specific things, like obeying and properly teaching God's path(commadments). And the outcome of his life's strives to walk the narrow road will be the final salvation, the crown of righteouness, the crown of victory. A lot more can be said. GBU
Since you mention the "oil", then you are refering to the parable of the 5 wise and the 5 unwise virgins.( Matthew 25:1-12)..
Firstly I must say that I have never heard something like what your pastor teaches about that.
The explanation depends on what one believes, i.e. whether salvation can be lost or not.
I am going to speak on behalf of those who believe that salvation is not secured until our final departure from this life. For the other case I will leave it to somebody else to answer.
Again there are two cases:
1. The rupture of the church occurs before antichrist makes his appearance on earth. In this case the 5 unwise virgins are left out of the rapture and have to go through the great tribulation. So their fate (salvation) depends on their decision to receive the beast's mark or not. (This is my belief as well).
2. Rapture occurs at the very end of antichrist's reign on earth. In this case the 5 unwise virgins are left out of the Marriage, that is they loose their salvation.
Matthew 25:31-46 is refering to the final judgement. In this case the "not doers of His Word" (the slothful servants) are heading to hell, (verse 41) "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"
If we break it down :
1st Jesus asked for their forgiveness: Luke 23:34, John 17, John 6:37-40,
2nd He outwardly confessed & believed Jesus Luke 23:42, John 3:16-18, John 6: 47,
3rd confessed his sins Luke 23:41, 1John 1:9,
4th he showed Jesus mercy & compassion when the crowd, rulers, officers, & others were not: Luke 23:40,
Matthew 25:31-46,
Hopefully these are helpful in your discussion & study
God bless you.
So, when one considers ALL of the verses pertaining to this subject, somehow it has to be reconciled what Jesus or the other writers are actually saying. Just like whether the Rapture is pre, mid, post, or anything else, we can get into a similar problem. For this one, my underlying Truth is that the Great Tribulation is God's Judgement against the unbelieving Christ-rejecting world, therefore those in Christ will be saved from it.
For Eternal Security, the underlying Truth is the truly repentant soul has come in faith (& nothing else), been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, indwelt by Him, put on a new path towards Heaven, with the Mighty God and His Son being his all-consuming focus & passion & not the world. Can such a person ever be lost again - deciding, 'No, I prefer to follow the world & reject Christ?' We can never know how real another's salvation has been - nor should we ever place ourselves in that position of making such a judgement. Or, whether one's faith is being tested & some errors & backsliding are taking place - to which the Holy Spirit will move, alert, warn or chastise to bring him back. But the fact of the matter is, that 'the Lord knows who are His', He 'knows His sheep & His sheep hear His Voice', and His sheep will obey the Shepherd even if there has to be some stern words & goading.
Thus Galatians 5:22-25 are so important, especially "they THAT ARE Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." These are the marks of the one truly saved, living for Christ.
This topic about secured (or not) salvation has been discussed a lot between us here on this forum in the past. Beliefs differ. Mine is that salvation can be lost if one leaves God's path and starts following a foreign path and eventually dies in their sin. In my opinion there are many verses in the Bible that state that. One I have gone through recently is in 1 Timothy 4:15-16, (Paul advices Timothy) "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: FOR IN DOING THIS THOU SHALT BOTH SAVE THYSELF, and them that hear thee." Why does Paul say to Timothy that by doing those he WILL save himself, isn't Timothy saved already (by been born again)? Yes but he has to keep his salvation by doing specific things, like obeying and properly teaching God's path(commadments). And the outcome of his life's strives to walk the narrow road will be the final salvation, the crown of righteouness, the crown of victory. A lot more can be said. GBU
Since you mention the "oil", then you are refering to the parable of the 5 wise and the 5 unwise virgins.( Matthew 25:1-12)..
Firstly I must say that I have never heard something like what your pastor teaches about that.
The explanation depends on what one believes, i.e. whether salvation can be lost or not.
I am going to speak on behalf of those who believe that salvation is not secured until our final departure from this life. For the other case I will leave it to somebody else to answer.
Again there are two cases:
1. The rupture of the church occurs before antichrist makes his appearance on earth. In this case the 5 unwise virgins are left out of the rapture and have to go through the great tribulation. So their fate (salvation) depends on their decision to receive the beast's mark or not. (This is my belief as well).
2. Rapture occurs at the very end of antichrist's reign on earth. In this case the 5 unwise virgins are left out of the Marriage, that is they loose their salvation.
Matthew 25:31-46 is refering to the final judgement. In this case the "not doers of His Word" (the slothful servants) are heading to hell, (verse 41) "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"
GBU
Matthew 7,
James 1:5, John 14:26, John 17, James 2:13-20, context James 2,
Hopefully these are helpful in your study
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