We should focus our current priorities that relate to the upcoming Wedding requirements, specifically acceptable Wedding attire!
The Wedding Party is going to be made up of believers who have labored to genuinely partake of Christ’s Life, become overcomers, and thus, produce the “fruit of righteousness.” These believers are not perfect, but they will be “qualified” (axios G514) to enter that second gate.
Jesus spoke the parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew chapter 22:
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
“ For everyone is invited to enter in, but few respond in excellence.”
The issue is not salvation, it is disqualification or lack of sanctification, required for the Wedding ceremony.
Paul wrote about disqualification when he wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 9:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Paul was not speaking of the free gift of justification, he was focused on sanctification where we must strive in our efforts and endure obstacles.
And in 2nd Corinthians chapter 13:
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified.
6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.
And in Titus chapter 1:
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
We are to beware of teachers who teach false doctrines for their doctrines can cause us to stumble thus be disqualified. It is our mistake to assume supposed experts of the Scripture are accurate. A PhD does not guarantee accuracy of Divine Intent. We must rely on The Holy Spirit to guide us in all Spiritual matters. To someone who is pure in heart, he or she can be led astray by those who are impressive due to their education and/or oratories. The love of money is often the root of the issue.
We must rely on The Word to help us discern any teaching, including this one.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 17:
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they (The Bereans) received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
You and I need to be as Bereans and confirm what is being taught. I have made the mistake of not confirming certain doctrines in the past and paid dearly for such a mistake.
If our “works” abide the testing of fire at the Bema Seat, we’ll have on the “garment of fine linen”. If our works are burned, we’ll be found to be “naked”.
Jesus spoke to John to write an Epistle to Sardis (the dead church) in Revelation chapter 3:
3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘
And to the lukewarm church in Revelation 3:
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Get the picture?