Difference between revisions of "21.No oil?"

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(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."