Matthew 25 - Unprofitable Servants
It is possible to be in God's service and be rejected at the end. I will not pretend to know whether these unprofitables are truly "saved" or not, but they seem to believe they are. Yet, they are of no good to God and are cast out.
Note that the 1st parable is about "Then...", about Christ's return. [I think it still applies to all believers, but the actual coming of the bridegroom will only happen once in history (not twice, as with some eschatologies. cf. Matthew 24)] The virgins (who are bridesmaids, not brides; cf. Mark 2:19) are all waiting, but the foolish ones have done nothing to prepare.
In the 2nd parable, the last servant lives in fear, and refuses to be a steward of the talent entrusted to him. [However, he IS a servant, and the Master DOES hold him accountable.]
The 3rd story is not a parable, but a description of what will happen when the Son of Man comes in His glory. [It uses simile more specifically than the preceding parables.] Those who neglect to "do" are sent into eternal punishment.
So, the servant who is unprofitable has no evidence of his relationship to the Master. He rejects God by his refusal to bear fruit and is subsequently rejected himself. (cf. Matthew 21:18-19)
Note that the 1st parable is about "Then...", about Christ's return. [I think it still applies to all believers, but the actual coming of the bridegroom will only happen once in history (not twice, as with some eschatologies. cf. Matthew 24)] The virgins (who are bridesmaids, not brides; cf. Mark 2:19) are all waiting, but the foolish ones have done nothing to prepare.
In the 2nd parable, the last servant lives in fear, and refuses to be a steward of the talent entrusted to him. [However, he IS a servant, and the Master DOES hold him accountable.]
The 3rd story is not a parable, but a description of what will happen when the Son of Man comes in His glory. [It uses simile more specifically than the preceding parables.] Those who neglect to "do" are sent into eternal punishment.
So, the servant who is unprofitable has no evidence of his relationship to the Master. He rejects God by his refusal to bear fruit and is subsequently rejected himself. (cf. Matthew 21:18-19)
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