Purgatory does exist?

Question

the Bible has approval of prayers for the dead:
"In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the dead to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin" (2 Macc. 12:43–45). Prayers are not needed by those in heaven or hell so what is it?
Christ refers to the sinner who "will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matt. 12:32), suggesting that one can be freed after death of the consequences of one’s sins. Similarly, Paul tells us that, when we are judged, each man’s work will be tried. And what happens if a righteous man’s work fails the test? "He will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire"

The Fundamentalist resistance to the biblical doctrine of purgatory presumes there is a contradiction between Christ’s redeeming us on the cross and the process by which we are sanctified. There isn’t. And a Fundamentalist cannot say that suffering in the final stage of sanctification conflicts with the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement without saying that suffering in the early stages of sanctification also presents a similar conflict. The Fundamentalist has it backward: Our suffering in sanctification does not take away from the cross. Rather, the cross produces our sanctification, which results in our suffering, because "[f]or the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Heb. 12:11).

Macc is Maccabees which was taken out of your fundie bible

Answer 1

Hi RS! I have to agree with B and Crowstr, very good answers.
I would like to clarify if I may that WE will be going to either Paradise or Hades until the end of the tribulation. There is a difference in who went where when...and I am still studying this and will share in a question when I have it completed. It is
my understanding, that Before Jesus ascended into Heaven He descended into Hades and brought all to Heaven with him. So all those souls were saved by grace and the blood atonement. Also all the apostles went to Heaven after death. But what I don't understand completely yet is that WE will sleep a peaceful sleep until till the 1000 years reign begins when Satan is tied up so to speak. But from what I understand so far is that this sleep will feel like a blink of an eye and we will be with Jesus, It won't feel like a thousand years. Again I am studying this so don't have to all down yet. To answer your question, NO there is no purgatory both Crowstr and B are right about all that. Macc. IS NOT an accepted book of the Bible. YES the Catholic church has all the early works of the early Christians but they have added books, and doctrines and dogma that was never meant to be. I know I was raised Roman Catholic. I wasn't born again until I was about 31. Matt. 12:32 - You have to read the the verses before and after to get the meaning in context. This passage refers to ones stubbornness in not heeding what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. As Paul said each man will be judged at the White Throne after Satan is sent to the fiery lake. Here is where we will receive our just rewards based on what we did or didn't do on earth. For example did we spread the word of God? I think that would get you a reward. Did we believe but lead a good but carnal life...then we get a reward but maybe not what the other one got. We will suffer the loss of rewards. That is a simple way to explain it. This is because God is a just God. SO relax, when we die we are going to go into a peaceful sleep and then bingo! we are with the Lord. B is right there will be A new Heaven and a new earth and a New City and as I understand it we will be able to travel back and forth between these places, when why or how I am not sure yet.. The testing through the fire is when we are judged and then rewarded as we so deserve. So you could have less in Heaven than another. It is late and I am too tired to find the scripture but the Bible does give an example of this in that "the meek will inherit the earth... and is speaking of these rewards. Sweet dreams RS!

Answer 2

Purgatory is clearly implied in Jesus' teaching and in other New Testament scriptures. Christ taught that the sinner who speaks against the Holy Spirit "will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matt. 12:32). This implies there are lesser sins that will be forgiven after death. How? By paying the just penalty for these sins in purgatory. The apostle Paul tells us that when we are judged, each man’s work will be tried. And what happens if a righteous man’s work fails the test? "He will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire" (1 Cor 3:15). How can we suffer loss after death, but still be saved? Paul can't be talking about hell because no one is saved there. He can't be talking about heaven because there is no suffering ("fire") there. Only purgatory explains this passage. Purgatory explains how God can be perfectly just and perfectly merciful. His justice requires that every sin incurs a penalty, a time of suffering and purification in purgatory. While God's forgiveness restores God's friendship, the penalty for violating God's just laws is not canceled. We need purgatory to purify our hearts. If we have lived selfishly and hurt others, even if we wisely repent and go into death with a heart full of love for God, our character has been sullied by years of bad attitudes and contempt. We are not ready to meet God, who is holy, holy, holy. The bottom line on purgatory: Jesus taught it. Paul explained it. The Church has always defined it. And justice demands it. Cheers, Bruce

Answer 3

First of all Maccabes isn't even an accepted book of the bible for anyone but Catholics. And your second scripture in Matthew you are reading something into it that isn't there. We are forgiven of all the sins we repent of here on earth, but we sin everyday without knowing it and those will be forgiven too when we stand in judgement.

If you believe in purgatory, then you don't believe that Christ paid for all of your sins. Purgatory is taught as a place that we go to pay for sins like prison. And once we have paid for them there, then we can move up to heaven. Don't you see that doctrine is in direct contradiction with the basic Christian doctrine that Jesus paid for your sins on the cross? That no man can pay for their own sins no matter how big or small. It's works, it's saying you can earn your way to heaven. It's a lie.

Answer 4

It is biblical, because it did exist, but not now!

Before Christ there certainly was Purgatory!

Hebrews 12:14 gives a clear biblical basis as to why final sanctification is necessary.

It says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (NIV).

Now, is this the “holiness” we receive by “faith alone”? If so, why is the writer of Hebrews telling these believers that they must attain to a degree of holiness in order to see the Lord?

Forgiveness of sins is one thing; becoming actually holy is quite another.

Answer 5

well I won't say rather Purgatory does or doesn't exist. the Anglican Church declared the teaching heresy in the 16th century. however, praying for the dead is good in that it can help comfort you. only God knows if praying for the dead actually does any good. my view on it is undecided, but my church declared the doctrine Anathema. may I point out that only Roman Catholics believe in Purgatory? no other ancient christian rite teaches it. Rome invented the doctrine after the 1054 schism with the Orthodox. Orthodoxy doesn't teach it. also the official view of Jerome, scholar who assembled the Bible canon, got it laid down as church dogma that the Apocrypha books like 2 Maccabees are good for reading but not doctrine. the Roman Catholic Church has gotten away from the church's original view on this as well.

Answer 6

The purpose of the Purgatory is to just sit in there until the end of time, when God will anyways redimmed us of our sins. In which case, Satan ends up empty handed! I believe this another option created by men to keep a hope that we will ALL be saved one way or another. You die, and if you were good you go to heaven, if not, you go to hell. At least this is what I was taught, but my own thinking tells me none of this is real!

Answer 7

Heck, it better exist. I consider it the "waiting list." I've had too much fun to get into Heaven on the first round and will need to make that waiting list. As a former Catholic High School football coach with a winning record, I should eventually make it. We have connections.

Answer 8

Aren't you basing your belief in something only recognized in the "Catholic Bible"? The book you reference isn't in the KJV of the Bible.


As far as you last question, a righteous man that hasn't works to support him really didn't believe in his heart. The works that flow from the heart of a believer will be good.

Answer 9

Purgatory is an illusion of the mind sown by the Bible. But the purification process envisaged by it should be in our heart that can guide us through the right path.

Answer 10

Yes, purgatory does exist. Don't expect to get any educated answers on the scripture you quoted in Maccabees because Protestants don't have that book in their bible (they took it out 500 years ago).