Difference between revisions of "21.No oil?"
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<p><em>(Bonar, "Religion Without the Holy Spirit")</em><br> | <p><em>(Bonar, "Religion Without the Holy Spirit")</em><br> | ||
"The five who were foolish took<strong> no oil </strong>for <br /> | "The five who were foolish took<strong> no oil </strong>for <br /> | ||
− | their lamps." Matthew 25.3< | + | their lamps." Matthew 25.3<br><br> |
This parable has many sides and aspects. <br /> | This parable has many sides and aspects. <br /> | ||
It is prophetical; it is also practical. <br /> | It is prophetical; it is also practical. <br /> | ||
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It is a parable for the church. <br /> | It is a parable for the church. <br /> | ||
It comes in to the inner circle of Christian <br /> | It comes in to the inner circle of Christian <br /> | ||
− | profession, and sifts it, divides it.< | + | profession, and sifts it, divides it.<br><br> |
There are points of likeness between the two classes. <br /> | There are points of likeness between the two classes. <br /> | ||
They get the same <strong>name</strong>, virgins; <br /> | They get the same <strong>name</strong>, virgins; <br /> | ||
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they both have <strong>lamps</strong>; <br /> | they both have <strong>lamps</strong>; <br /> | ||
they both <strong>slumber and sleep</strong>. <br /> | they both <strong>slumber and sleep</strong>. <br /> | ||
− | They have thus many features in common.< | + | They have thus many features in common.<br><br> |
<strong>The peril of mere externalism</strong> is that which our <br /> | <strong>The peril of mere externalism</strong> is that which our <br /> | ||
Lord points out here. This externalism may not <br /> | Lord points out here. This externalism may not <br /> | ||
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day of wrath? The name, the dress, the lamp, <br /> | day of wrath? The name, the dress, the lamp, <br /> | ||
the outward show, will all go for nothing in <br /> | the outward show, will all go for nothing in <br /> | ||
− | that day of universal discovery and detection.< | + | that day of universal discovery and detection.<br><br> |
Though in most respects they were all alike, <br /> | Though in most respects they were all alike, <br /> | ||
yet there was a difference. It was <strong>within</strong>; it <br /> | yet there was a difference. It was <strong>within</strong>; it <br /> | ||
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and unerring detection. It is the day of <br /> | and unerring detection. It is the day of <br /> | ||
weighing in the balances! It is the separation <br /> | weighing in the balances! It is the separation <br /> | ||
− | of the false from the true.< | + | of the false from the true.<br><br> |
The difference was confined to a single point, <br /> | The difference was confined to a single point, <br /> | ||
the lack of <strong>oil</strong>. <strong>The oil is the Holy Spirit.</strong> Thus <br /> | the lack of <strong>oil</strong>. <strong>The oil is the Holy Spirit.</strong> Thus <br /> | ||
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features of a Christian, and yet be lacking in the <br /> | features of a Christian, and yet be lacking in the <br /> | ||
main one. He may have the complete dress of <br /> | main one. He may have the complete dress of <br /> | ||
− | the saint, and yet not be one.< | + | the saint, and yet not be one.<br><br> |
He may have a good life, a sound creed, a strict <br /> | He may have a good life, a sound creed, a strict <br /> | ||
profession; he may be one who says and does <br /> | profession; he may be one who says and does <br /> | ||
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may profess to be looking for Christ's coming, <br /> | may profess to be looking for Christ's coming, <br /> | ||
and going forth to meet the bridegroom, yet <br /> | and going forth to meet the bridegroom, yet <br /> | ||
− | not necessarily a Christian!< | + | not necessarily a Christian!<br><br> |
− | He may lack the <strong>oil</strong>, the <strong>Holy Spirit</strong>.< | + | He may lack the <strong>oil</strong>, the <strong>Holy Spirit</strong>.<br> |
− | <strong>A religion without the Holy Spirit profits nothing.</strong>< | + | <strong>A religion without the Holy Spirit profits nothing.</strong><br><br> |
There is the religion . . . <br /> | There is the religion . . . <br /> | ||
of the intellect, <br /> | of the intellect, <br /> | ||
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of mysticism, <br /> | of mysticism, <br /> | ||
of humanity. <br /> | of humanity. <br /> | ||
− | But what are these without the Spirit?< | + | But what are these without the Spirit?<br> |
− | Christianity without <strong>Christ</strong>, what would that be?< | + | Christianity without <strong>Christ</strong>, what would that be?<br> |
− | Worship without <strong>God</strong>, what would that be?< | + | Worship without <strong>God</strong>, what would that be?<br> |
− | So religion without the<strong> Holy Spirit</strong>, what would that be?< | + | So religion without the<strong> Holy Spirit</strong>, what would that be?<br> |
The five who were foolish took<strong> no oil </strong>for their lamps. <br /> | The five who were foolish took<strong> no oil </strong>for their lamps. <br /> | ||
"Sir! Sir!" they said. "Open the door for us!" <br /> | "Sir! Sir!" they said. "Open the door for us!" <br /> |
Latest revision as of 14:50, 25 January 2013
Back to The HOLY SPIRIT and the believer Index
(Bonar, "Religion Without the Holy Spirit")
"The five who were foolish took no oil for
their lamps." Matthew 25.3
This parable has many sides and aspects.
It is prophetical; it is also practical.
It suits all ages, but especially the last days.
It suits the world, but especially the church of God.
It is searching and sifting.
It is also quickening and comforting.
It suits us well in these days of . . .
profession,
fashionable religion and
religiousness.
It is a parable for the church.
It comes in to the inner circle of Christian
profession, and sifts it, divides it.
There are points of likeness between the two classes.
They get the same name, virgins;
they wear the same dress;
they are on the same errand;
they both have lamps;
they both slumber and sleep.
They have thus many features in common.
The peril of mere externalism is that which our
Lord points out here. This externalism may not
always be hypocrisy, but it is imitation. It is not
the flower in its natural color and growth, but
painted, artificial. Let us watch against an
artificial life, and an artificial religion. What
does it profit now? What will it profit in the
day of wrath? The name, the dress, the lamp,
the outward show, will all go for nothing in
that day of universal discovery and detection.
Though in most respects they were all alike,
yet there was a difference. It was within; it
was imperceptible from without; it could only
be discovered when the bridegroom came. Up
until then all were completely similar. Only
then the deficiency came out in the foolish.
Then was it seen who were wise, and who
were foolish. That day is the day of certain
and unerring detection. It is the day of
weighing in the balances! It is the separation
of the false from the true.
The difference was confined to a single point,
the lack of oil. The oil is the Holy Spirit. Thus
a man may be very like a Christian, and yet
not be one. He may come very near the kingdom,
and yet not enter in. He may have all the outward
features of a Christian, and yet be lacking in the
main one. He may have the complete dress of
the saint, and yet not be one.
He may have a good life, a sound creed, a strict
profession; he may be one who says and does
many excellent things; he may be a subscriber
to all the religious societies in the land, a member
of all their committees, or a speaker at all their
meetings, and supporter of all their plans; he
may profess to be looking for Christ's coming,
and going forth to meet the bridegroom, yet
not necessarily a Christian!
He may lack the oil, the Holy Spirit.
A religion without the Holy Spirit profits nothing.
There is the religion . . .
of the intellect,
of the sense,
of the imagination,
of the flesh,
of the creed,
of the liturgy,
of the catechism,
of nature,
of poetry,
of sentiment,
of mysticism,
of humanity.
But what are these without the Spirit?
Christianity without Christ, what would that be?
Worship without God, what would that be?
So religion without the Holy Spirit, what would that be?
The five who were foolish took no oil for their lamps.
"Sir! Sir!" they said. "Open the door for us!"
But He replied, "I tell you the truth, I don't know you."
Back to The HOLY SPIRIT and the believer Index