The Catechism of the Catholic Church has these details on Purgatory:
1030 - All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 - The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.
We find an entry from the Catholic Encyclopedia on Purgatory:
Purgatory (Lat., "purgare", to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. The Catholic doctrine of purgatory supposes the fact that some die with smaller faults for which there was no true repentance, and also the fact that the temporal penalty due to sin is it times not wholly paid in this life.
From these Catholic sources, it is very clear that when a believer dies he or she does not automatically go to Heaven to be with God. But due to some smaller unrepented sins, the believer goes to a final purification before entering Heaven.
As a Protestant who upholds the truth of Scripture, it is my task to prove that Jesus Christ has sufficiently paid for our sins and that the believer in Christ has been purified so that he or she will be worthy to enter Heaven upon his or her physical death. The believer will no longer go another state of purification when he dies because Christ has done it with his sacrifice and death.
The apostle Paul writes:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39
Paul here is talking to believers who are obviously still alive on Earth. He isn't talking to those who have already died. I would like everyone to take notice of the words justified and glorified in verse 30. It is the Lord who does these actions, and when the Lord does these things you can be sure that they will come to pass. That's why in verses 31-35 Paul was confident that nothing will separate the believers from the love of Christ. Paul further asserts in verses 36 to 39 that the believers are more than conquerors and nothing would ever separate them from the love of God.
Imagine now for a moment that there is a purgatory. Paul said that nothing can separate us from the love of God because God himself is the one who justifies and glorifies during the lifetime of the believers. Paul even asserted the Christ intercedes for all believers. And yet the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory would temporarily separate us from God.
The blood of Christ already provides purification during the believer's life on Earth:
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22
The author of Hebrews mentioned here the word confidence. It means the author is encouraging us not to doubt as we approach God. Why is that? Because Christ already provided our purification.
Paul again gives us an assurance:
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1st Corinthians 6:9-11
Again, Paul here is talking to believers who are still alive. He stated consistently that the believers already washed, sanctified, and justified. Does this leave room for Purgatory? No!
Some of you now are asking, "But Christians still commit sin! Therefore we cannot be sure that were completely clean when we die." Folks, God knows that. The apostle John has this to say:
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1st John 1:8
John knows the limitations of the believers, they still commit sin. However, John also knows that the believers who sinned can still have purification during their lifetime. In the next verse he writes:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1st John 1:9
We can see the faithfulness of God in the believers. Despite of the believers' limitations, God will forgive them of their sins. No person is instantaneously perfect when he or she becomes a Christian. But in the process of maturing, God always take the active role of changing His children. One of which is found in Hebrews:
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11
From the above verse we read the God disciplines his children to become better Christians. God is in charge of one's spiritual growth.
What are the other verses that deny the existence of Purgatory? I will list some:
1. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
The thief in the cross, who showed faith during the last minutes of life, was saved by Christ. Christ told him, "Today, you will be with me in paradise." Christ didn't say, "You will be in purgatory first and then you will be with me in paradise." Christ didn't also say, "After considerable time in Purgatory..." Christ said, today.
2. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. Hebrews 9:27
This need not any further explanation. When a person dies, he is judged by God. No more room for Purgatory here.
3. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. Luke 16:26
This is the story of the rich man and Lazarus. After their death Lazarus was with Abraham while the rich man was suffering in hell. Christ here teaches that there are only two destinations of man's soul when they die. Christ didn't give room for a state of Purgatory. In fact, the verse specifically states that no one can cross between two realms.
Finally, I would like to say that neither the prophets nor the apostles who died ever taught a state of purification after death.
Therefore, from the above series of verses that we have just read, I confidently say that the Roman Catholic Purgatory is not necessary. Purgatory betrays one's belief that Christ's blood cleanses us from all sins. Purgatory denies God's active role in transforming all believers to become better Christians.
Thank you.
1030 - All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 - The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.
We find an entry from the Catholic Encyclopedia on Purgatory:
Purgatory (Lat., "purgare", to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. The Catholic doctrine of purgatory supposes the fact that some die with smaller faults for which there was no true repentance, and also the fact that the temporal penalty due to sin is it times not wholly paid in this life.
From these Catholic sources, it is very clear that when a believer dies he or she does not automatically go to Heaven to be with God. But due to some smaller unrepented sins, the believer goes to a final purification before entering Heaven.
As a Protestant who upholds the truth of Scripture, it is my task to prove that Jesus Christ has sufficiently paid for our sins and that the believer in Christ has been purified so that he or she will be worthy to enter Heaven upon his or her physical death. The believer will no longer go another state of purification when he dies because Christ has done it with his sacrifice and death.
The apostle Paul writes:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39
Paul here is talking to believers who are obviously still alive on Earth. He isn't talking to those who have already died. I would like everyone to take notice of the words justified and glorified in verse 30. It is the Lord who does these actions, and when the Lord does these things you can be sure that they will come to pass. That's why in verses 31-35 Paul was confident that nothing will separate the believers from the love of Christ. Paul further asserts in verses 36 to 39 that the believers are more than conquerors and nothing would ever separate them from the love of God.
Imagine now for a moment that there is a purgatory. Paul said that nothing can separate us from the love of God because God himself is the one who justifies and glorifies during the lifetime of the believers. Paul even asserted the Christ intercedes for all believers. And yet the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory would temporarily separate us from God.
The blood of Christ already provides purification during the believer's life on Earth:
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22
The author of Hebrews mentioned here the word confidence. It means the author is encouraging us not to doubt as we approach God. Why is that? Because Christ already provided our purification.
Paul again gives us an assurance:
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1st Corinthians 6:9-11
Again, Paul here is talking to believers who are still alive. He stated consistently that the believers already washed, sanctified, and justified. Does this leave room for Purgatory? No!
Some of you now are asking, "But Christians still commit sin! Therefore we cannot be sure that were completely clean when we die." Folks, God knows that. The apostle John has this to say:
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1st John 1:8
John knows the limitations of the believers, they still commit sin. However, John also knows that the believers who sinned can still have purification during their lifetime. In the next verse he writes:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1st John 1:9
We can see the faithfulness of God in the believers. Despite of the believers' limitations, God will forgive them of their sins. No person is instantaneously perfect when he or she becomes a Christian. But in the process of maturing, God always take the active role of changing His children. One of which is found in Hebrews:
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11
From the above verse we read the God disciplines his children to become better Christians. God is in charge of one's spiritual growth.
What are the other verses that deny the existence of Purgatory? I will list some:
1. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
The thief in the cross, who showed faith during the last minutes of life, was saved by Christ. Christ told him, "Today, you will be with me in paradise." Christ didn't say, "You will be in purgatory first and then you will be with me in paradise." Christ didn't also say, "After considerable time in Purgatory..." Christ said, today.
2. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. Hebrews 9:27
This need not any further explanation. When a person dies, he is judged by God. No more room for Purgatory here.
3. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. Luke 16:26
This is the story of the rich man and Lazarus. After their death Lazarus was with Abraham while the rich man was suffering in hell. Christ here teaches that there are only two destinations of man's soul when they die. Christ didn't give room for a state of Purgatory. In fact, the verse specifically states that no one can cross between two realms.
Finally, I would like to say that neither the prophets nor the apostles who died ever taught a state of purification after death.
Therefore, from the above series of verses that we have just read, I confidently say that the Roman Catholic Purgatory is not necessary. Purgatory betrays one's belief that Christ's blood cleanses us from all sins. Purgatory denies God's active role in transforming all believers to become better Christians.
Thank you.
[He stated consistently that the believers already washed, sanctified, and justified.]
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that 1st Corinthians was written by Paul for the main purpose of scolding the Christians over at Corinth for their hardheadedness.
Paul told them in the verses you've quoted that the Kingdom of God is NOT for sinners, then he goes on to remind them of their position in Christ: HOLY, SAINTS, PURIFIED. He exhorted them to live according to their position in Christ.
This definitely leaves no room for any purgatorial concept whatsoever. Good job.
To "anonymous":
ReplyDeleteYou might want to go over my point by point rebuttal of Gerry's opening statement over at www.faiththirstingunderstanding.blogspot.com
Hi Abe,
ReplyDeleteI didn't post your other comment. You're debating me for now.
Thanks.