Isn't Purgatory just the Catholic confusion about Gods work of sanctification here on Earth?

Question

When they try to quote from the Bible to suppor the idea of Purgatory, all of these passages in the context of the Bible refer to the Christian life on Earth.

Little Princess - I am not laughing. I am asking you to read the Bible, study what it says about life after Death, and come to the conclusion that the Bible gives.

Objectively, the Bible only teaches about Heaven or Hell. Purgatory is absolutely nowhere to be found in the Bible.

Answer 1

Q: Isn't Purgatory just the Catholic confusion about Gods work of sanctification here on Earth?

A: For independent thinkers, the words catholic and confusion are synonymous.

Answer 2

The Catechism even says that the Catholic Church created it:
"The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent." Pg. 268-269, #1031

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,..." 1 Corinthians 15:52-54

This verse alone proves that purgatory is unnecessary, if not made up. Why, because Jesus is going to change everyone in a "twinkling of an eye" who has been saved by the washing of His blood. Besides, I have yet to meet a catholics who has any idea how long a person must remain in purgatory before God would allow them out of it anyway. When I was a catholic, we were never told how long a person must remain in purgatory. Therefore, this verse also proves that even if purgatory were true, it's obsolete because of what the Bible clearly states.

Up Date:

Our Little Princess, baptism has nothing what so ever to do with going to heaven.

"I do not know of any scriptures that state this and I have not found it in the Bible." Doesn't that tell you something then?

Answer 3

Catholics believe that sanctification starts here on earth, but it's highly unlikely for any person to be completely done while still in the flesh. You might want to read Romans 7 for more on this.

Since no person in the flesh is COMPLETELY without sin, the process of sanctification is completed (by Christ) upon our deaths. We call that process "purgatory" because we believe all traces of sin are completely purged from our souls by the Blood of the Lamb so that we can enter heaven, because, as you know, "nothing unclean can enter heaven," as it says in Revelations 21.

Do YOU think it's possible for a person to live in the flesh completely free of sin and even the remotest thought of sin?

Answer 4

No.

"But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire." (1 Cor 3:15)

"So that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Pet 1:7)

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. (Wisdom 3:1-6)

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings.

Depending on the amount of change needed by different people, this can be an easy or slightly harder process.

Everyone in purgatory is on his or her way to heaven.

I do not think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

For more information see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1030: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Huh? Purgatory is where the souls go that were either not saved (bapitised), or who are stuck in limbo because of some unfinished business. Many spirits that walk the earth are in purgatory. I do not know of any scriptures that state this and I have not found it in the Bible, but it is what has been told to me by the dead that walk among us. Being stuck on the realm of earth after death is purgatory.

Answer 6

I've said this about a million times, but I certainly don't mind saying it again: the Catholic notion of "Purgatory" denies the complete sufficiency of Jesus' sacrificial death to cleanse us from ALL past, present and future sins. It is therefore a heretical belief.

But what do we expect -- Catholics believe that Jesus is literally re-crucified during each Mass. Which is also without Scriptural substantiation.

EDIT: JP, you are absolutely correct. Nice analogy, but it doesn't support Purgatory, given Jesus' sacrificial death.

Answer 7

Purgatory perfectly mirrors the Jewish teachings on Gehenom.

However, Hell is something which Christians and Muslims share that Jews have no concept of, and is inimical to the deity Jews believe in.

How is it that Christians and Muslims see YHVH as such a malicious, hateful, sadistic being? It certainly didn't come from Judaism.

Answer 8

Jesus Christ's blood was enough for those who believe to be saved. there is nothing man can do now or after death to earn salvation. Purgatory is a myth.

Answer 9

You got that right. They are trying to read into Scripture something that is not there.

The primary Scriptural passage Catholics point to for evidence of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:15, which says, “If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” The passage (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) is using an illustration of things going through fire as a description of believers’ works being judged. If our works are of good quality “gold, sliver, costly stones,” they will pass through the fire unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality “wood, hay, and straw,” they will be consumed by the fire, and there will be no reward. The passage does not say that believers pass through the fire, but rather that a believer’s works pass through the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer “escaping through the flames,” not “being cleansed by the flames.”

Answer 10

No. There's a lot of confusion based on sole scriptura.