What did Jesus teach about
Purgatory?
Did Jesus teach about Purgatory?
According
to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Purgatory 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.”
To summarize, in Catholic theology
Purgatory is a place that a Christian’s soul goes to after death to be cleansed
of the sins that had not been fully satisfied during life.
Did Jesus each about Purgatory? No!
Is this doctrine of Purgatory in
agreement with the Bible? Absolutely not!
.
Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins (Romans 5:8).
.
Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins (Romans 5:8).
Isaiah 53:5 declares, “But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was
upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
Jesus suffered for our sins so
that we could be delivered from suffering.
To say that we must also suffer
for our sins is to say that Jesus’ suffering was not sufficient.
To say that we must atone for our
sins by cleansing in Purgatory is to deny the sufficiency of the atoning
sacrifice of Jesus (1 John 2:2).
The idea that we have to suffer
for our sins after death is contrary to everything the Bible says about
salvation.
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.”
Purgatory, like many other Catholic dogmas, is based on a misunderstanding of
the nature of Christ’s sacrifice.
Catholics view the Mass and the
Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice because they fail to
understand that Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice was absolutely and perfectly
sufficient (Hebrews 7:27).
Catholics view meritorious works
as contributing to salvation. This is due to their failure to recognize that
Jesus’ sacrificial payment has no need of additional “contribution” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Similarly, Purgatory is understood
by Catholics as a place of cleansing in preparation for heaven. They would not acknowledge
that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are already cleansed, declared righteous,
forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, and sanctified..
The doctrine of Purgatory and the doctrines that are attached to it all fail to recognize that Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay the penalty for ALL of our sins (prayer for the dead, indulgences, meritorious works on behalf of the dead, etc.)
Jesus, who was God incarnate (John 1:1,14), paid an infinite price for our
sins (1 Corinthians
15:3).
Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for
our sins (1 John 2:2).
.
To limit Jesus’ sacrifice to atoning for original sin, or sins committed before salvation, is an attack on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.
.
To limit Jesus’ sacrifice to atoning for original sin, or sins committed before salvation, is an attack on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.
If we must in any sense pay for,
atone for, or suffer because of our sins – that indicates Jesus’ death was not
a perfect, complete, and sufficient sacrifice..
For believers, after death is to be
"away
from the body and at home with the Lord."
"So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:6 (ESV).
"I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." Philippians 1:23 (ESV)
Notice that above verses do not
say "away from the body, into Purgatory with the cleansing fire."
No, because of the perfection,
completion, and sufficiency of Jesus' sacrifice, we are immediately in the
Lord's presence after death - fully cleansed, free from sin, glorified,
perfected, and ultimately sanctified..
God brings to completion what he started: .
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
Are
you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will
play out?
Why
not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He
says, “I will instruct you and teach you
the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask
God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and
begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus
Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus
Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided
for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way,
the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my
heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life,
and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy
Spirit that is in me now. I surrender my life to You.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen.”
Related Posts:
lyrics
You did not wait for me
to draw near to You
But You clothed Yourself with frail humanity
You did not wait for me to cry out to You
But You let me hear Your voice calling me
And I'm forever grateful to You
I'm forever grateful for the cross
I'm forever grateful to You
That You came
To seek and save the lost
But You clothed Yourself with frail humanity
You did not wait for me to cry out to You
But You let me hear Your voice calling me
And I'm forever grateful to You
I'm forever grateful for the cross
I'm forever grateful to You
That You came
To seek and save the lost
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