Previous Questions and Answers
Does purgatory exist?
It
says in the Bible that there only 2 roads. Either you are saved and are on the
narrow path going to heaven, or you are on the road heading to hell. So why do Catholics believe in purgatory?
Matthew
7:13-14 says, “13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is
the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Notice that it does not say that “few find it,
at first; and then many, eventually.” It
says, “wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many
there be which go in thereat.” These
verses do not teach a “temporary” destruction, but a “permanent”
destruction. There are two roads from which to
choose in life. That choice is an eternal one,
and must be made while a person is still alive.
The
Catholic doctrine of purgatory is not based upon the Bible, but upon the teachings of the
Apocrypha. The Apocrypha
is defined as, “writings or statements of dubious authenticity; books included in the
Septuagint and Vulgate but excluded from the Jewish and Protestant canons of the Old
Testament”(Webster’s
11th Collegiate Dictionary). So the Apocrypha is made up of religious writings
that are not Scripture, but are included in the Catholic bible. As is noted in Webster’s Dictionary, the Jews
and the Christians have rejected those books and have not included them in the canon of
Scripture.
The
Catholics define purgatory:
“(Latin, "purgare", to make clean, to purify) ...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.”(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm)
Here
we find that they are not teaching what the Bible clearly teaches, that the Lord Jesus
Christ, and His shed blood, is the total satisfaction for our sin. 1 John 2:1-2 says, “1 My little children,
these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2
And he is the PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of
the whole world.”
The
above verses tell us that the Lord Jesus Christ is the propitiation
or satisfaction
for our sins, meeting the requirements of the Almighty and absolutely holy God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 says, “20 Now then we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's
stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For HE HATH
MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, who knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
IN HIM.” Those verses are clear that we
are made the righteousness of God (declared to be holy) through the sacrifice of the Lord
Jesus Christ becoming sin for us.
1
Peter 2:21-24 says, “21 For even hereunto were ye called: because CHRIST ALSO
SUFFERED FOR US, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 WHO DID NO SIN, neither was guile found in
his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that
judgeth righteously: 24 WHO HIS OWN SELF
BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Catholic
doctrine teaches to the contrary of those clear verses, and says Jesus and His sacrifice
are not enough to meet the full demand of sin’s punishment, and that purgatory is
necessary for a person to complete that on his own: “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.”(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm). Do you see how that Catholic doctrine clearly
teaches that man is responsible to complete the payment for his own sins? That is a works
salvation (which is a false salvation). Ephesians
2:8-9 says, “8 For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: 9 NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” Titus 3:4-6 says, “4 But after that the
kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 NOT BY 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; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly THROUGH JESUS
CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR.”
The
Catholic’s belief in purgatory is necessary because of their belief in prayers for
the dead. If it is necessary to pray for the
dead, then they must be suffering in some way, and still in eternal danger. If the dead are safely in God’s hands in
heaven, then why would you need to pray for them?
They
get the teaching of prayers for the dead from the Apocrypha — not from the Bible. One of the Apocryphal books is 2 Maccabees, and it
says in 12:43-46, “43. And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of
silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice TO BE OFFERED FOR THE SINS OF THE DEAD, thinking well
and religiously concerning the resurrection. 44.
(For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed
superfluous and vain to PRAY FOR THE DEAD), 45.
And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace
laid up for them. 46. IT IS THEREFORE A HOLY
AND WHOLESOME THOUGHT TO PRAY FOR THE DEAD, THAT THEY MAY BE LOOSED FROM SINS.”(http://www.newadvent.org/bible/2ma012.htm#43).
This
very clearly shows that Catholics do not believe that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross
is enough to satisfy the demands and payment for sin.
They believe that man himself must satisfy part of the payment for his sins
through suffering after death. That is a works
salvation,
which makes it a totally false
salvation. The Catholic church is thus teaching a false
gospel. Galatians 1:6-9 says, “6 I marvel that ye are
so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that
trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which
we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than
that ye have received, let him be accursed.” How
can so many religious leaders call the Pope a “great man,” when he is leading
millions of people astray through a false gospel of works?
The
word gospel
means, “good news.” But they are
going to realize that their gospel
is not good news at all, when they die and find out that no amount of good works can save
a person. It is either a total trust in the
Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross, or it is an eternity in the lake of fire
suffering eternal punishment.
Many
in the Charismatic Movement are going to find out the same thing — only too late. Matthew 7:22-23 says, “22 Many will say to me
in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.” Notice that these people do
not stand before the Lord pleading the precious blood of Jesus Christ as their only hope
of salvation. They stand before Him pleading
their OWN WORKS as the basis for entering heaven. “Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” They stand there telling God WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
FOR HIM.
It
is not what we have done for God that saves us — that would clearly be a works
salvation
(thus, a false salvation). What saves us is
what God did for us through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ upon
One
text in the New Testament is used by the Catholic church to try and teach purgatory. The passage is actually talking about the Judgment
Seat of Christ — not purgatory. 1
Corinthians 3:11-15 says, “11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build
upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 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. 14 If any
man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” The Catholics write, “While this passage
presents considerable difficulty, it is regarded by many of the Fathers and theologians as
evidence for the existence of an intermediate state in which the dross of lighter
transgressions will be burnt away, and the soul thus purified will be saved.”(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm).
Please
notice that the Catholic church admits, “this passage presents considerable
difficulty” to them and their false doctrine. The
reason is that the passage clearly teaches that it is not the Christian who faces the
fire, but his works
that face it. “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.” This has nothing to do with the Christian
suffering, but with the works that he has done upon earth.
Those works go through the fire to see what sort of works they were.
Were
they done selfishly? It is possible to speak
before others about the Lord (which is good), but to do it for the limelight and
self-glory (that is bad). 1 Corinthians 13:1
says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I
am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
It is also possible to do great sacrifice — but all for self-glory, and
not really for those in need. 1 Corinthians
13:3 says, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my
body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” This is why all of the works of Christians will
face the fire.
Some
Christians will end up with no rewards in the end. 1
Corinthians 3:15 says, “If any man's WORK SHALL BE BURNED, he shall suffer loss: but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Notice,
once again, that it is not the Christian who is suffering in the flames — IT IS HIS
WORKS THAT ARE FACING THE FLAMES. And what if
all of his works are burnt up at the Judgment Seat of Christ? Does it say that he shall then suffer in the flames
himself? No.
He shall suffer the loss of rewards, but he shall be saved.
Remember
what the Lord told the dying repentant thief on the cross?
Luke 23:39-43 says, “39 And
one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save
thyself and us. 40 But the other answering
rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due
reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy
kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I
say unto thee, TO DAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”
The
dying thief had no way to pay for any of his crimes at that point — he was being put
to death for his crimes. But Jesus told him
that he would be with Him THAT DAY in PARADISE. Where
is paradise? 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 says,
“2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot
tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one CAUGHT UP TO
THE THIRD HEAVEN. 3 And I knew such a man,
(whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God
There
is no such place as purgatory. It is but another doctrine
of devils. It gives mankind the false hope that he can still
make things right with God after death. But
such is not the case. The deceiver is simply
at his old work again. Sadly, many will hold
onto the thought that they can still redeem themselves by suffering after death, instead
of placing their total faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
