WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT
Matthew 25:1-13 Text: v.10
SCRIPTURE: 1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 "And at midnight a cry was heard: ’Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 "And the foolish said to the wise, ’Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 "But the wise answered, saying, ’No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ’Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 "But he answered and said, ’Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
TEXT: "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut
PROPOSITION: That the hearers may understand the finality of their deci-sion concerning Christ.
INTRODUCTION:
I. THE SHUT DOOR INDICATES THE FAILURE OF CHOICE
The shut door indicates the failure of choice because ...
A. No Longer Can One Choose
"... and the door was shut."
Application: You now have the freedom of choice - You are choosing either heaven or hell.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (God said ...) I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your children may live.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Application: I am sure that if these virgins could, they would have changed their minds and taken extra oil also. I wonder how many people here today will one day wish they had made the choice to trust Christ?
The shut door indicates the failure of choice because ...
B. No Longer Can One Confess
Application: There is no time to confess - there is no one to hear the confession.
v.12 But He answered and said, assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.
Application: A barrier -the door- now prevents the bridegroom from hearing their explanations ... one day eternity will prevent God from hearing every lost person.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.
The shut door indicates the failure of choice because ...
C. No Longer Can One Change
Application: These foolish virgins couldn’t undo anything. Their actions have forever sealed their fate. "... and the door was shut." The past has decided the present.
Galatians 6:7,8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, the he will also reap. 8. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlast-ing life.
II THE SHUT DOOR INDICATES THE FULFILLMENT OF GRACE
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding: and the door was shut.
Grace is fulfilled because ...
A. God’s Grace is Freely Given Only For a Time
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Grace is fulfilled because ...
B. God’s Grace Can Be Exhausted
1. Grace is Exhausted by Unrepentant Hearts.
Genesis 6:3 And the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh ..."
2. Grace is Exhausted by Excessive Sin.
Genesis 6:5-7 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil con-tinually. 6. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7. So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth ... for I am sorry that I made them."
Application: Some would say, That’s Old Testament – God wouldn’t do that to-day. Not so!:
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowl-edge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Grace is fulfilled because ...
C. Gods Grace Will Eventually Give Way to Judgment
Jude 14b,15 Behold the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints, 15. to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
III. THE SHUT DOOR INDICATES THE FINALITY OF JUDGMENT
A. Judgment is Final Because Grace is Fulfilled.
Application: God’s Grace is the only means to salvation
Ephesians 2:8,9
For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.
B. Judgment is Final Because of Man’s Freedom to Choose
Application: Men choose their destiny - God must respect man’s choice. All ten virgins had a decision to make ... five chose to prepare for the bridegroom and were warmly accepted into the marriage feast. The other five were left on the outside of the shut door.
C. Judgment is Final Because God Says So
Revelation 21:6-8 And He [God] said "It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of life freely to him who thirsts. 7. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. 8. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
CONCLUSION: "... and the door was shut."
