2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 NIV [6] God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you [7] and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. [8] He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might [10] on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. …
This passage says that one group Jesus will judge at his return is those who are disobedient to the gospel. Those christians who receive such great grace and life and then live selfishly with disobedience to the Great Commission command to Go into all the world and preach the good news and heal the sick, cast out devils etc. The oil is supplied to those christians who obey Gods commands in following the lead of the holy spirit in doing these works.
Acts 5:32 NIV We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.
This parallels the parable of the talents where the one said I hid mine and did nothing with it, the Masters response was the same as to the foolish virgins. He gives more talents to those who are faithful with what they are given.
I think an emphasis in scripture we are missing here is that scripture talks about those born again babes growing up to become sons which means overcoming influences of sin in the flesh, sin in the world system we live in and influence of powers of darkness that try to cause us to fall.
1 John 2:12-14 NIV [12] I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. [13] I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. [14] I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. …
This passage shows that we as christians grow from being babes to children,young men then Fathers. Babes & children make a mess and struggle with sin still, Young men have learnt to rely on the Spirit to have strength to overcome sin and the evil one. This is why discipleship in christian community is so important.
There is a tension in the life of every christian explained by others here that while a christian is one spirit with God through salvation there is also the law of sin working in the flesh and the enmity exists between the flesh and spirit of every believer.
Romans 8:5-6 NIV [5] Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. [6] The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. …
Some christians live with sin and enjoy its fruit. Who has bewitched you - you foolish Galatians Gal 3:1 you began in the spirit and now live in the flesh - this parallels the foolish virgins.
Galatians 3:1-3 NIV [1] … You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. [2] I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? [3] Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? …
The wise christians realise that Paul said in Romans that the way to overcome the sinful nature is to live as if you are crucified with Christ. Those who practice this lifestyle which by choice lays down living for self and enters life style of choosing to live in obedience to God’s commands receive oil to meet the need there while praying for lame to walk, freedom for drug addict, salvation of lost etc. It is poor doctrine to teach that a christian can receive such wonderful grace of salvation and then live in sin and expect to be still saved. I think the truth is that if we live like this we grieve the holy spirit.
Romans 8:13 NIV [13] For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Galatians 6:8 NIV [8] Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
We are custodians of a life in the spirit and i think the cut off point is if we habitually live a life of sin with heart hardened and no repentance. Christ is formed in the life of a son and the seed of Christ sown in his heart grows with deep roots in fertile soil and produces good fruit. It is clear that the parable of the wise & foolish virgins needs to grouped with ‘Friend where is your wedding garments’- cast him into outer darkness matt 22:13, and the talents parable Matt 25:30. The wedding garment is likely to match Rev 7:9-14 where a multitude who stood in white robes those who had washed their robes in the blood of the lamb. This is a similar preparation that every christian is expected to have present ie living a life where there robe of righteousness is not marked with sin.
Luke 9:23-24 NIV [23] Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. … In Romans Paul is not saying he is a sinner, he is highlighting the problem of sin that every christian faces to show the key to living a victorious life in Christ is the application of the cross to lose our lives (or selfish will)
Romans 6:6-7 NIV [6] For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, a that we should no longer be slaves to sin— [7] because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Whilst it is clear that all christians may at times sin and the Grace of God is ever present to forgive and cleanse, it is also clear that Gal 5:21 those christians who practice a life style of habitual sin, if they dont repent may lose their salvation. These are the foolish virgins. We all chose what path we walk down in life and Paul is saying sin can be completely defeated in the life of a believer if they lay down their lives, present themselves a living sacrifice, to be obedient to God’s commands to live for others more than self.