The Wise and the Foolish Virgins is an excellent example of the differences in our views. You think the foolish virgins failing to maintain their latterns is an indication of them losing their salvation. They took latterns with them but no oil??? The term "foolish" is a term almost always ascribed to unbelievers in scripture. Our Lord Jesus is merely saying the "foolish" virgins never were prepared to begin with (e.g. never accepted Him).
The fact all (foolish and wise) got "drowsy and began to sleep" is an indication that even the very wise would sometimes not be fully on guard. However, the wise virgins' latterns remained lit.
It certainly would be persumptuous of me to believe that I could maintain my "spirituality" (what little I have) for the rest of my life. The simple fact is, as the Westminster Confession states, I don't trust myself to maintain my spirituality. I trust God will help and see me through. God will not "lead me into temptation" and He will "deliver me from evil". Will I fail from time now to the time I die? Bet on it. Will God help me back on the path of righteousness for His name sake? Its a promise.
At the risk of sounding like an altar call or sounding preachy, you must place your trust in our Lord Jesus that He will see you through and He alone will help you to persevere. You can examine the present to see if you are in the faith-He will take care of the future. It is only then that you can rest on the promises of God's assurance.
As far as:
You stated: Again, speaks of past or present actions, not future actions. That is why it is important to pray for perseverance, just as Paul does. I would call your attention to the part I underlined. What exactly do you think our Lord Jesus is guarding that we have so entrusted to Him?
As far as you quote from Hebrews goes, Hebrews is an evangelistic message to the Jews and I find most of the quotes out of contexts.
When have I EVER given you THAT idea? Really. Why must I constantly reminding you that Catholics believe that we can do nothing ALONE? Our Councils are clear on this, as have I. Never have I once said that I am saved by my OWN actions. Over and over I have mentioned that I cooperate in Christ - that I am a new creation in Christ and that anything that I do is WITH Christ - who enables me to do anything. Why must I continuously hear this from you? I am sadly disappointed that you cannot let your prejudices go and get rid of that misperception that Catholics teach we are saved by our OWN works...
He who made you without your own self will NOT justify you WITHOUT yourself (Augustine, Sermon 169)
The term "foolish" is a term almost always ascribed to unbelievers in scripture. Our Lord Jesus is merely saying the "foolish" virgins never were prepared to begin with (e.g. never accepted Him).
I heartily disagree! You are reading your theology into the parable. The requisites for being a bridesmaid is to be a virgin. They thus had all met these initial requirements. ANY of them were potentially part of the wedding party, just as we are as Christians. This the parable makes clear. The catch phrase of the parable is Mat 25:13... "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
This is a common idea in Scriptures. Now. Why are we told to watch, over and over again, in Scriptures??? It refers to not being ready to be held accountable for our actions. Scripture makes it clear that we will be held accountable for what we do in this life. We are being warned that - given the gift of faith that we have received, to practice it. (all understood, of course, that we ALONE do not do it, but God in us allowing us to do it).
Of course, the immediately proceeding verses leading up to the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins should also give you a clue...
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming. And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mat 24:44-51
The Wise and Foolish Virgins is merely another means of telling the same concept with different metaphors. The OIL, ones "deeds" must be present - along with "her" virginity, her initial requirement - a child of God. BE READY means to be ready to give an accounting of yourself, as we never know when God will call us to participate in the Wedding Feast in heaven. Even though a "virgin", A CHRISTIAN, Christ can tell us "I never knew you", just as Matthew says in Matthew 7:21-24
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Paul clearly also warns his communities to be awake...
"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]. Rom 13:10-14)
Thus, be prepared, for we don't know when we will be held accountable for the talents that we have been given (another parable that is told in the same portion of Matthew's Gospel - they all say the same thing...)
The simple fact is, as the Westminster Confession states, I don't trust myself to maintain my spirituality. I trust God will help and see me through. God will not "lead me into temptation" and He will "deliver me from evil".
The simple fact of the matter is that you are ASSUMING that you are one of the ELECT! You yourself have over and over told me about God's sovereign will and God has preordained this or that. But from the sounds of it, you have preordained YOURSELF to the elect! It is clear that the Scriptures note that we, part of the Promised People of God, can and DO fall away...
"...all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor 10:1b-12.
Paul, in the same letter, tells CHRISTIANS that they will NOT inherit the KINGDOM of heaven if they ... and he gives a list of sins that keep us out of heaven (1 Cor 6:9-10). He does this again in Galatians 5. And Paul repeats this line of thought in Hebrews 3 and 4. He continues this throughout Hebrews with such interesting verses as:
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" Heb 10:26-27
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Heb 10:38
Brother, the idea that we are guaranteed salvation is refuted over and over by Scripture. We are told over and over that we will be held accountable for what we do, in nearly EVERY book of the NT, with the exception of perhaps Philemon. It is a dominant theme in Christ's ministry. We are told to be awake, as the time of our accountablility is unknown to us. Tell me. Why WORRY about this if we are already guaranteed salvation? Why are we warned over and over? BECAUSE WE CAN THROW AWAY the GIFT of God's salvation while still here on earth. That is the bottom line. We CANNOT EARN salvation, but WE can THROW IT AWAY. And it is IMPOSSIBLE for US to know that we will NOT!
2Ti 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
ENTRUSTED. I have not yet ENTRUSTED to God my future deeds and faith and repentence, so that is not ENTRUSTED (past tense). My FUTURE deeds and such are not guarded. If I commit fornication in 4 years, is that entrusted to God? Nowhere does this verse even remotely suggest that our future is entrusted.
Regards
"I believe the ONLY reason a person perseveres is simply because God has transformed them so they will perform good works. It goes back to Augustine's interpretation of Ezekiel 36 where God states that He will put a new heart in us and cause us to walk in His statues."
One of the holy hermits of the Egyptian desert in the 4th century was a black monk named Abba Moses the Lybian. Even during his lifetime he was renowned for his holiness and his wisdom in matters of theosis. In his opinion, "The strength of those who wish to acquire the virtues is as follows: if they fall, let them not lose their courage, but let them be sure to make a new beginning at their endeavor. Insofar, then, as we put all our energy into practicing the virtues, let us await the Lord, showing Him a generous resolve and calling on His aid, and without fail He will strengthen us with His mercy and bestow His Grace on us in abundance, in which case we will accomplish every good easily and without exertion."