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Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise…
Matthew 25:1-2 NKJV
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Have you considered what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ? The word faith appears more than 200 times in the authorized version of the Bible and yet it is a word that is regularly misunderstood.
The 86th question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks this question: What is faith in Jesus Christ? If one cannot be saved without faith in Jesus Christ, surely every Christian will always have this answer in his heart. The Bible’s answer, summarized in the answer to question 86 is:
Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered to us in the gospel.
The wise virgins knew something of Jesus Christ. They knew something of His Word and His gospel. Faith begins with knowledge, with understanding. We cannot believe in Him whom we do not know. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God… The catechism addresses this aspect of faith at the conclusion of the answer even though logically it comes first. Faith comes first by hearing and therefore knowing the Word of God. But faith does not end with knowledge… even the demons have a knowledge of God.
The wise virgins went further than knowledge in their faith and so must we. They also received the Lord Jesus Christ as He is offered in the Scripture. They agreed with, believed, or assented to the Word of God concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. They didn’t just know of Him through hearing, they cried out like Peter, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of living God”. Saving faith begins with knowledge and adds to knowledge belief, agreement, assent with that which is proclaimed. But faith goes even beyond knowledge and assent.
The wise virgins also rested in Christ. They counted Him faithful who had promised and rested confidentially upon His promises. He promised he would return and they received His Word with faith, resting in Him and embracing His promises to come to pass. This is evident in that even as they slept they were then sleeping with their lamps filled with oil. They slept in comfort knowing that God the Lord is their God even through death (Psalm 48:14). Though the bridegroom should return while they slept, they were confident that they would be ready and would meet him at His arrival. How could they have such a confidence? They were His children, and He was their God. The bridegroom came at midnight for them, and the wise virgins who trusted the Word of the bridegroom, were ready.
The wise virgins knew the bridegroom well and loved his voice. When they received His promise they accepted it, took comfort in it, embraced it, and were satisfied. The message of Isaiah to Israel was Comfort ye, Comfort ye, my people. Speak ye comfortably and cry unto her that her iniquity is pardoned for she hath received double for all her sins. Do we rest in this promise? Saving Faith receives the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation and it rests in Him alone for salvation. He who has saving faith is satisfied with Christ and looks nowhere else for the way of everlasting life. Saving faith does not look to Mary or Paul or any other Christian now living or that ever has lived. Saving faith is built on nothing less and nothing else than Jesus blood and righteousness.
When the bridegroom came and the virgins were called to the feast the wise virgins did not rise in shame or in fear, they rose in faith and eagerly went to the marriage feast of the lamb.
Dear Christian, there are many who lay down in sleep trusting in their own works, the works of other Christians, or an opportunity in the future to become good enough with God to obtain heaven. None of those people will be present at the marriage supper of the lamb. If they have not the oil now, they will not be able to obtain it then. Today, while it is called today, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Know, trust, and rest in Him who is faithful towards all His servants.
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