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The House of Faith Church
NUMBER 1,000; OR, ENTRANCE AND EXCLUSION
A Sermon
Intended for Reading on Lord’s-day, October 18th, 2026,
Delivered by
Rev. Bruce A. Shields,
at the house of faith church, east tawas
Adapted from the sermon “Entrance and Exclusion,” No. 2,500, by C. H. Spurgeon, originally preached May 21, 1885, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, London, England.
Reorganized and expanded by Rev. Bruce A. Shields
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PRIMARY SCRIPTURE TEXT
Matthew 25:10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.”
INTRODUCTION
With this being my 1,000th sermon preached here at The House of Faith Church, I spent weeks thinking about what this milestone message would be about.
I settled on the sermon notes from one of my favorite preachers of all time, Charles H. Spurgeon.
He was often called the “Prince of Preachers,” and was one of the most influential Baptist pastors in Christian history. He preached to thousands in London each week, faithfully proclaiming the authority of Scripture, the necessity for repentance, and salvation through Christ alone.
130 years after his death, his sermons and notes are still used by thousands of preachers worldwide.
I chose to use his sermon notes for today's message because the biblical truths are just as relevant to the church now as when they were first preached on May 21st, 1885.
That truth is this. Christ will return, those who belong to Him will enter into everlasting joy, and those who remain spiritually unprepared will face eternal exclusion.
Ten virgins. Ten lamps. One bridegroom. One wedding celebration.
All ten had received the same invitation. All ten went out to meet the bridegroom. All ten anticipated his arrival, and when his coming was delayed, all ten grew weary and fell asleep.
To anyone watching, there appeared to be very little difference between them. Yet five were wise, and five were foolish.
The distinction wasn't found in their invitation, their outward appearance, or even their expectation that the bridegroom would eventually arrive. The difference was found in their preparation. Five had made provision for his coming. Five had not.
When the midnight announcement came, the difference that had remained hidden suddenly became apparent. Those who were ready entered the celebration. Those who were unprepared found themselves outside.
And then the door was shut.
Jesus gave this parable to teach His disciples the necessity of readiness for His return. It is both an extraordinary promise to those who belong to Him and a sobering warning to those whose confidence rests upon outward religion rather than genuine faith.
The question before us is not simply whether we believe Jesus will return. The question is whether we are prepared to meet Him when He does.
I. THE BRIDEGROOM WILL CERTAINLY COME
a. The return of Jesus Christ is an absolute certainty
i. The virgins waited because they knew the bridegroom was coming
ii. His arrival was the central expectation of the entire evening
iii. Likewise, the return of Jesus Christ is not a mere possibility for Christians to consider. It is a promise upon which the believer can depend
John 14:3 Jesus personally promises to come again and receive His disciples to Himself. His return rests upon His own word.
Acts 1:11 The angels declare that Jesus will return in the same manner in which He ascended into heaven.
Hebrews 9:28 Christ’s second appearing is connected to the final salvation of those who are prepared and eagerly await Him.
The first coming of Jesus Christ established the certainty of His promised return. Those who fulfilled the Father’s purpose in His first coming will fulfill His promise to return.
b. The delay of His coming must never be mistaken for His absence
i. The bridegroom did not arrive when the virgins expected. Hours passed. Darkness deepened. Still, he did not appear.
ii. Yet his delay did not cancel his coming
iii. Nearly 2,000 years have passed since the ascension of Jesus Christ.
iv. Generations have lived and died waiting for His return, but the passage of time has not weakened a single promise of God.
2 Peter 3:9 The apparent delay of God’s promise reflects His patience, not His inability or unwillingness to fulfill His word
Matthew 24:36 The precise day and hour of Christ’s return remain known to the Father alone.
God’s patience must never be confused with God’s indifference. Each additional day is an opportunity for repentance, faith, faithful service, and the sharing of the gospel, as we are commanded to do in Matthew 28, if we are truly His disciples
c. The uncertainty of His arrival demands continual watchfulness
i. All ten virgins slept, but five had prepared before they fell asleep.
ii. The difference between them was not that one group had successfully calculated the bridegroom's arrival.
iii. The wise had simply made the necessary preparations beforehand
iv. A follower of Christ should always live in such a manner that the unexpected return of Jesus Christ would not find him spiritually unprepared
Matthew 25:13 Jesus commands His disciples to be watchful because the day and hour are unknown.
In our current sermon series in the Gospel of Mark, we read in Mark 13:35-37 that Jesus commands His followers to remain spiritually alert because the master’s arrival cannot be predicted.
Luke 12:40 the disciples are commanded to be ready because the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour
Readiness is not achieved by predicting when Christ will return. It is demonstrated by belonging to Him and faithfully and obediently walking with Him today.
II. THOSE WHO ARE READY WILL ENTER WITH CHRIST
a. Spiritual reediness begins with genuine salvation
i. The five wise virgins possessed something the others lacked
ii. The oil in the parable illustrates the inward grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.
iii. Jesus warns, making one thing unmistakable, outward religious participation cannot replace genuine spiritual readiness.
iv. No matter how many robes, collars, tall hats you wear, or how big your bible is you carry about for show.
v. No person enters the kingdom of heaven because of church membership, baptism, religious activities, personal accomplishments, and you cannot ride the coattails of your spouse, mother, grandmother, pastor, or anyone else into the kingdom.
vi. Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is only possible through the saving work of Jesus Christ.
John 3:3-7 Jesus teaches Nicodemus that a person must be born again to see and enter the kingdom of God.
Titus 3:5 Salvation is grounded in God’s mercy and the renewing work of the Holy Spirit, not in religious deeds performed by men
Ephesians 2:8-10 Salvation comes by grace through faith, while good works follow as the intended fruit of the new life God gives
The issue is not whether someone looks like a Christian but whether that individual has truly been made alive in Jesus Christ.
b. The entrance of believers will be immediate and personal
i. A beautiful aspect about this passage is that the prepared virgins enter the wedding celebration with the bridegroom
ii. They did not arrive independently. They entered in his company
iii. For the believer, the greatest promise of eternity is not simply escape from judgment or entrance into heaven. It is the privilege of being forever with Jesus Christ
iv. Forever with Jesus.
v. Do you want to spend eternity with the Lord?
vi. How much time do you spend with Him each week? Each day? Each hour?
1. If you spend little to no time with the Lord here and now, are you truly preparing to spend eternity with Him?
Matthew 25:10 Those who were prepared entered the wedding celebration with the bridegroom upon his arrival.
John 17:24 Jesus prays that those whom the Father has given Him will be with Him and behold His glory.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 At Christ’s return, the dead will rise, living believers will be gathered to Him, and His people will remain with Him forever
Heaven’s greatest treasure is not its beauty, its gates, or its eternal rewards. The greatest treasure of heaven is Jesus Christ Himself.
c. The entrance into heaven begins an eternity of joy
i. A wedding represents celebration, fellowship, and the beginning of a new relationship.
1. Everyone enjoys celebration, but how are you doing with fellowship in your life?
ii. Jesus deliberately uses the imagery of a marriage celebration to portray the joy awaiting those who belong to Him.
iii. The people of God will not merely witness heavenly joy from a distance. They will participate in the blessings secured for them through Jesus Christ.
1. How are you doing with participation in your life?
iv. Every earthly sorrow, burden, and trial will eventually give way to the everlasting joy of His presence.
Revelation 19:7-9 The marriage of the Lamb is portrayed as a time of rejoicing, with blessing pronounced upon those invited to the marriage supper.
Revelation 21:3-4 God’s eternal dwelling with His people brings the removal of death, mourning, crying, and pain.
Matthew 25:46 Jesus contrasts eternal punishment with the eternal life awaiting the righteous.
The same Lord who sustains His people through the suffering of this present world has promised them everlasting life in His presence
Whatever hardships the Christian must endure today, none can compare with the glory that awaits those who belong to Christ.
III. THOSE WHO ARE UNPREPARED MUST RESPOND BEFORE THE DOOR CLOSES
a. A profession of religion cannot replace possession of salvation
i. Perhaps the most unsettling feature of this parable is how similar the wise and the foolish virgins appear
ii. All ten carried lamps. All ten expected the bridegroom. All ten were part of the awaiting company.
iii. Yet five remained unprepared.
1. This tells us plainly that not all of those who profess Christ, regardless of the outward appearance, speech, or activities within the Christian community, are prepared. Many will not be entering the kingdom of God with our Lord
iv. Perhaps there is a good reason the Lord Jesus says that the path to everlasting life is narrow, and few find it.
v. The foolish virgins represent the danger of possessing the outward characteristics of faith without the inward reality of salvation.
vi. A person may attend church, know the Scriptures, participate in religious activities, and be recognized by others as a Christian while never having genuinely trusted in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him Lord truly belongs to Him, even when impressive religious activities accompany that profession.
2 Timothy 3:5 Paul warns of those who maintain an outward appearance and form of godliness while denying its power
The true power of God is not signs and wonders as the Charismatics falsely claim, which can be replicated as shown in Exodus by the Pharaohs sorcerers, and by the antichrist himself as we read in Revelation, which deceives even the elect.
No, the true power of God is salvation and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit!
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Membership in church is not the same as membership in the Body of Christ. Religious knowledge is not the same as saving faith.
We must examine whether our confidence rests upon what we have done religiously or upon what Jesus Christ has accomplished for sinners.
b. The closing of the door represents a final and irreversible judgment
i. The foolish virgins eventually returned with their oil, but their opportunity had passed.
ii. Their good intentions could not change the situation. Their previous association with the others could not secure their entrance.
iii. They pleaded for admission, but the door remained closed.
iv. This exclusion is both just and final.
v. They had been given time to prepare, but they failed to make the necessary provision.
vi. Likewise, the Scriptures warn that the opportunity to repent and believe does not remain open indefinitely.
Matthew 25:10-12 The arrival of the bridegroom brings decisive separation between those who enter and those who remain outside.
Luke 13:25-27 Jesus describes the master of the house closing the door and refusing entrance to those who appeal to their outward familiarity with him.
Hebrews 9;27 Humanity faces death followed by judgment, establishing the seriousness of responding to God DURING this life.
1. NOW is the trial. When you die and stand before Him, you will receive your judgment, not plead your case.
The most frightening words in this parable concern people who expected to enter but discovered too late that they were unprepared
There is no promise in Scripture that a person can reject Jesus Christ in their life and receive another opportunity for salvation after death.
No last rites, no purgatory, no second chance or do-over.
The door of mercy is open today. Scripture gives no assurance that tomorrow will bring another opportunity. No one is promised tomorrow. What are you doing with today?
c. The time to repent and trust Jesus is NOW.
i. There is a real and present danger of spiritual procrastination in our text.
ii. Think of a great ship going on a long ocean journey.
iii. Some possessed life jackets. Others intended to obtain them but continually postponed doing so. When the storm arrives, good intentions and unfulfilled plans offer no protection
iv. There are many false converts living in a dangerous assumption, some outside of the church, and some in it.
v. Many people intend to turn to Christ “someday”
vi. They plan to take their spiritual condition seriously when life becomes complicated, when they grow older, or when they have finished pursuing the things of the world.
Isaiah 55:6-7 God calls the wicked to forsake their ways and return to Him while He may be found, promising abundant pardon.
Acts 16:30-31 Paul and Silas direct the Philippian jailer to believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2 Paul emphasizes the present urgency of receiving God’s saving grace
Jesus Christ does not call the sinners to improve themselves until they become worthy of salvation. He calls them to repent and believe the gospel.
The person who intends to trust Christ tomorrow but refuses to trust Him today remains without the salvation Christ offers
CONCLUSION
For those who have never genuinely trusted in Jesus Christ, the call is to repent and believe the gospel today.
For those who profess Christ but have become spiritually careless, examine your life in the light of Scripture. Return to faithful obedience, prayer, fellowship, and the pursuit of holiness.
For those who truly belong to Christ, live with confidence in His promises and with urgency toward those who remain without Him.
Do not allow the uncertainties of tomorrow to distract you from the certainty of His return.
FINAL THOUGHT
There were ten virgins, but only five entered.
All ten knew he was coming. All ten had been given time to prepare. All ten heard the announcement of his arrival.
But knowing that he was coming was not enough
Five had prepared, and five had not
When the bridegroom arrived, the opportunity for preparation ended. Those who were ready entered the wedding celebration with him, and those who were not ready remained outside.
This is the solemn warning Jesus places before us today
The day is coming when Jesus Christ will return. For those who belong to Him, His appearing will mean the fulfillment of every promise, the end of every sorrow, and the beginning of everlasting joy in His presence
For those who live disobediently, ignoring the call to repent and believe, refusing to allow the Holy Spirit of God to transform you, His coming will bring judgment and eternal separation
But that day has not yet arrived!
Today, the gospel is still being proclaimed. Today, sinners are still being called to repentance. Today, forgiveness and eternal life are offered through faith in Jesus Christ.
The greatest tragedy would not be to have never heard the gospel. It would be to have heard it repeatedly, understood its warning, recognized the necessity of salvation, and still refused to respond.
What will matter when Jesus Christ returns is not how religious we appeared, how many services we attended, or how frequently we spoke about heaven.
What will matter is whether we truly belong to Him.
The question is not merely whether you are expecting the Bridegroom. The question is whether you are ready to meet Him.
When the door finally closes, which side will you be on?
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