PURGATORY
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ROME SAYSThe Roman Catholic Church does not teach its people to have confidence in the full forgiveness of their sins through the death of Christ alone. Nor are they taught that the righteousness of God accomplished by Jesus Christ is their permanent possession. The result is that the faithful Catholic is taught never to come to full assurance of salvation during their earthly life, for they are still capable of committing “mortal sin.” A Catholic’s redemption is always dependent on their maintaining a faithfulness to the Church’s doctrine and practice. 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. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Council of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire. “As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire.” 1032-This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.” From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead. (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Decree Concerning Purgatory Since the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Ghost, has, followed the sacred writings and the ancient tradition of the Fathers, taught in sacred councils and very recently in this ecumenical council that there is a Purgatory, [1] and that the souls there detained are aided by the suffrages of the faithful and chiefly by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar, the holy council commands the bishops that they strive diligently to the end that the sound doctrine of Purgatory, transmitted by the Fathers and sacred councils, [2] be believed and maintained by the faithful of Christ, and be everywhere taught and preached. The more difficult and subtle questions, however, and those that do not make for edification and from which there is for the most part no increase in piety, are to be excluded from popular instructions to uneducated people. [3] Likewise, things that are uncertain or that have the appearance of falsehood, they shall not permit to be made known publicly and discussed. But those things that tend to a certain kind of curiosity or superstition, or that savor of filthy lucre, they shall prohibit as scandals and stumbling- blocks to the faithful. The bishops shall see to it that the suffrages of the living, that is, the sacrifice of the mass, [4] prayers, alms and other works of piety which they have been accustomed to perform for the faithful departed, be piously and devoutly discharged in accordance with the laws of the Church, and whatever is due on their behalf from testamentary bequests or other ways, be discharged by the priests and ministers of the Church… (The Council of Trent) |
THE BIBLE SAYSThe Bible is quite clear that we can have complete forgiveness of our sins. Eph. 1:7-“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Heb. 9:12-“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he (Christ) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” 1 John 5:13-“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” We certainly do agree that sinners need to be cleansed before they can enter Heaven. The Bible speaks of a complete cleansing that was accomplished by an infinite Savior. 1 John 1:7-“The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin.”
II Cor. 5:21-“For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Titus 3:5-“Not be works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy ghost;” The tradition of the Church as mentioned in certain Scriptures certainly is no proof for Purgatory. The only passage mentioned is found in II Maacabees 12:46 which is in the Apocrypha. A careful study of this entire chapter reveals that the men to whom the prayer was being offered had actually died because they were idol worshippers. Therefore, according to Roman Catholic teachings, idolatry is a mortal sin which certainly would have sent these men to Hell instead of Purgatory. The Catholic Church also sometimes uses 1 Cor. 3:13,15 as a proof text for Purgatory. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself is judged of no man.” It is so obvious that these verses have absolutely nothing to do with Purgatory. The man is saved but his works are tried by the fire. The fire tries the works and not the worker. The works are not tried by fire; rather so as by fire (as if it were by fire). Furthermore, the day mentioned in verse 13 occurs at the end of the world when, according to Catholic teaching, Purgatory would have ceased to exist. Once again we find the mention of ancient traditions of the Fathers. Also sacred councils are mentioned. The fact of the matter is that the doctrine of Purgatory did not become an official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church until the year 1439 at the Council of Florence. This doctrine was further refined at the Council of Trent in 1549. Catholic teaching would have us to believe that that the departed can be helped by suffrages (alms giving, prayers, rosaries, etc.) and especially by ‘the sacrifice of the altar’ (having masses said for the souls of the departed). Obviously, this comes with a price which must be paid in advance of any mass being offered. Everything before mentioned involves works. However, the Bible says that good works are not necessary. Is. 64:6-“But we all are as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” Eph. 2:8,9-“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Finally, I notice that certain issues concerning the teaching of Purgatory are to be kept from or hidden from the uneducated people (the laity). Therefore, the priests are discouraged from discussing the true nature of the teaching of Purgatory, lest it cause any controversy to arise in the Church. The faithful then are strictly forbidden to ask any questions about the superstitious nature of Purgatory or to even dare to ask why ‘testamentary bequests’ are required in payment for having a mass said for the departed loved one. My! My! What a false hope is given to Catholics that their departed loved ones will one day enter into Heaven if enough money is paid and enough works are done on their behalf. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? SCRIPTURAL TEACHING AGAINST PURGATORY John 5:24-“He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” Hence he that heareth and believeth already has eternal life. Those who have experienced Biblical salvation by grace through faith alone, according to Jesus will not come into judgment. What is Purgatory if it is not a judgment or purging from the temporal consequences of sins? Luke 23:43-“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” No Purgatory here, the repentant thief was clearly told by Jesus that he would immediately go to paradise. John 19:30-“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” What was finished? By Christ’s one time offering for sin, he paid our eternity in hell and now by grace through faith alone we have eternal life. Heb. 5:9-“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” Heb 7:26,27-“For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Heb. 9:12-“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Heb. 9:28-“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb 10:10,12-“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand f God.” BIBLICAL REBUKE FOR PURGATORY God’s word leaves absolutely no possibility for sin to be purged away by anything other than the blood of Jesus Christ. The beloved apostle John penned these words with irrefutable clarity. I John 1:7 & 9-“But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sins. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Notice that John did not say some or most sins, rather all sin! This soundly rebukes the need for a sin purging fire. In Hebrews 9:22, the Bible declares, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission.” According to Hebrews 1:3, Jesus “when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Those who desire to have their sins purged need to trust in a person and not in a place (purgatory) that does not even exist. The blood of Christ is the only cleansing agent needed for sin! Those who come to the cross of Christ must come with empty hands of faith, bringing nothing but their sins. Every blood bought believer is instantly present with their Redeemer at the very moment of death. The apostle Paul boldly declares in II Corinthians 5:6-8: “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” The Lord Jesus certainly reaffirms this when He declared to the repentant thief at Calvary “Verily I say unto thee today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Our Catholic friends need to be asked, “Who is in charge of releasing souls from the purging fire of Purgatory?” It certainly cannot be God because of His promise to believers found in Hebrews 10:17-“And their sins and iniquities will I remember nor more.” After our conversion, God no longer counts sins against His children. This is clearly shown in II Corinthians 5:19-“To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” Romans 3:24-25 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (propitiation=to appease, pacify or make atonement for) Jude 24-“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” My dear Catholic friends, you have a simple choice to make. Will you continue to believe in the man made doctrine of Purgatory (a place that does not even exist) or will you come to a true saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Please experience true Biblical salvation by grace through faith alone and be born again into the family of God.
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