J Jump said:
That is only one way a person is made ready for the return of Christ. The person also must have obtained proper wedding attire and that is done through the righteous acts of the saints. We are to array ourselves, clothe ourselves to make ourselves ready for the bridegroom.
You completely leave out the second step which is exactly what the parable we are discussing is all about. It has nothing to do with being clothed in Christ's blood, but preparing ourselves. The only ones that are even able to prepare themselves are saved people.
Why do you add "works" to salvation? We ARE attired in the "righteousness of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:21). We have NO righteous of our own--all our righteousness is "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6)--being IN CHRIST is our ONLY righteousness. There is NOWHERE in the Scriptures which commands us to "prepare ourselves"--that is adding "works". The "works" which we do after salvation are a "result" of Christ "working" in us, through the power of the Holy Spirit (the oil being a "symbol of the Holy Spirit).
For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:8-10)
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
But we are all as an
unclean thing, and
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
(Isaiah 64:6)
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
(Romans 11:6) No gray areas here--it's either grace or works--can't be both.
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you,
Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3) This is what I see in your posts, J.Jump--adding works to grace.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) Either the blood of Christ is sufficient to cleanse us from all sin or it isn't---NO works are necessary to be added to what Christ has already done for us! Praise the Lord!!
The 5 foolish virgins took NO oil (Matthew 25:3)--what part of N

IL do you not understand? Their lamps went out because there was no oil in them to keep them lit.