Kathleen, thank you for your input about the 10 virgins.  Its the things that you pointed out and that I pointed out that logically prove that the virgins are not the Church.  You didn't actually say what you personally believe on this subject, but I am hoping that you and others can understand this line of reasoning that the 10 virgins are not potential candidates for Bridehood.  And believing that they are leaves one with no choice but to admit the necessary follow-up belief that either:  1) God will reject some of those who are waiting on the Bridegroom just because they were less than wise, or 2) that members of the Body of christ can lose their salvation, or both.

Those who teach that born again believers can lose their salvation, or may be rejected by Christ because they are less than perfect, really ought to stop and think about what they are claiming.  These teachings totally discredit God's grace and promises, as well as the purpose of Jesus dying on the cross.  Born again believers continue to sin.  Thats a fact.  But God has forgiven those sins, back at Calvary.  Yes, we need to acknowledge our sins, understand how they interfere with the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, and ask God for the power to overcome our sinfulness.  But what we are not supposed to do is feel guilty about our sins, which gives them immense power....the power they had prior to the crucifixion.  For the unbeliever, sin has the power to separate them from God eternally.  But the believer's sins are forgiven, and they cannot makes us unworthy.  To say that sin in the life of a born-again believer has the power to cause Christ to lose His grip on us, or cause us to somehow pry ourselves from His grip, is to say that sin is more powerful than God!! 

Doesn't it discredit and even nullify what happened at Calvary to say that a born again believer's lack of perfection can make him/her unworthy of God's grace.   He sacrificed His life to purchase our salvation, to make us His Bride.  And once we accept His sacrifice on our behalf and accept His salvation, we are a new creation!  A creation in which the Holy Spirit now has power in our life, not sin.  Jesus wants us to love Him and trust Him and have faith in Him.....trust Him to keep His promise to forgive us and work within us and come back to get us!!  And to say that our lack of perfection can make Him see us as unworthy is simply wrong.