Learn Religions. Copyright 2002-2022 Got Questions Ministries. You dont. Later, when I started studying, I heard all kinds of jokes about purgatory. Clarence L. Haynes Jr.is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Lets return to this definition of purgatory and consider some challenges I see with this teaching. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." Luke 16:22-26. Come, share your masters joy" (Mt 25,23). 1 Peter 3:9 also seems to refer to imprisoned spirits whom Jesus ministered to. This is a sobering reminder that your eternal destination is determined before you die, and you cannot change it after you die. But does the Bible confirm purgatory?. ", Why There Must be More than just Heaven and Hell. All who die in Gods 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. Here are a few more references from the Bible that give a glimpse of peoples life after death, either in hell or Heaven. What Does the Bible Say about Women Pastors? Perhaps many of the readers of this article have perused Dantes Divine Comedy, learned about purgatory through popular culture, or attended church at a denomination where they believe in the existence of purgatory. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. (Corinthians 5:6-8), And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! Purgatory is believed by some as a place for sinners who have Gods grace but need to endure temporal punishment for transgressions that did not receive payment during their lives. I dont know how it could be much clearer than to say that away from the body is at home with the Lord. Thats our immediate hope not any intervening purgatory between being away from the body and being at home with the Lord. Now in that text, theres no hint of passing through an extended period of time with the aim of cleansing us from our own impurities. We know that certain differences of belief will exist between denominations. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.. However, in one of the books of Maccabees, you will find a couple of references. She is also the co-author of the Dear Hero duology, which was published by INtense Publications. "Only after this purifying pain will we be capable of meeting his loving gaze in untroubled heavenly joy". Saint Peter and Saint Paul both speak of "trials" that are compared with a "cleansing fire." Thus his contention, condemned by Pope Leo, that "Purgatory cannot be proved from Sacred Scripture which is in the canon."). This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. When attempting to answer the question is purgatory in the Bible, I want to turn to one passage that gives us a vivid picture of life after death. "How come everything is so sad here? 1 Cor 3:13 says of the "co-workers of God" that "the work of each will come to light, for the Day* will disclose it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life (Revelation 21:27). He probably has got parts of it memorized, and his theology is generally true. Read last 8 days, track your progress, collect badges, and never miss daily with personalized reminders! The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. These books are included in most Catholic Bibles, however most orthodox and evangelical faiths do not see these books as being inspired and are not included as part of the Biblical canon. But if that is so, why would Christ mention the possibility of such forgiveness? Purgatory is not a second chance for conversion if the man is already justified. On the same night that my Protestant friend asked me whether I was sure of my salvation, I brooded over whether I hoped to enter eternal life. Mile after mile we drove through a grey, burned, looted world in which people in grey lived very poorly. Since Jesus was the one telling the story you would expect him to paint an accurate picture of life after death which he does. As Jesus was telling the story notice he only mentions two destinations for people after they die. Or perhaps he has led a life too weak for heaven and too good for hell. There is nothing else that has been done and can be done. Every waking day of a Christ-followers life is a day for Christ to refine us spiritually. The people neither lived good nor bad lives, by the Greek definition of them. What Did Jesus Mean by 'Man Shall Not Live on Bread Alone'? (YOUCAT 159). What Does it Mean to Walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2022, Christianity.com. Because the teaching developed from these books we need to see if the teaching of purgatory is mentioned or even found within the traditional canon of scripture. And therefore, we should exercise caution when reading these passages. When you are young you play all kinds of tricks; you fight, tease each other, and when you get older you get offended at certain things and exhort others by raising your index finger. The Scriptural idea of Gehenna, in the Judaism sense, could also fit some of the molds of purgatory. Christ Himself, in Matthew 12:31-32, speaks of forgiveness in this age (here on earth, as in 1 Peter 1:6-7) and in the world to come (as in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15): If all souls go directly either to Heaven or to Hell, then there is no forgiveness in the world to come. They used to ask Catholic believers: "Are you sure of your salvation?" Now we dont live in sin, but we can still fall victim to sin. Many of us are familiar with the belief of this in-between space between heaven and hell. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Otherwise, wed be incinerated, and God would be defiled and dishonored. Now, whats typical of Lewis here, as in most places, is that he rarely quotes Scripture. As for purgatory, the most common language we see used is refinement, purification, and fire.. Heres what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says in defining purgatory. Romans 5:18-19. No one took purgatory seriously, as it was very poorly accounted for in the Bible. . One of those books is 2 Maccabees, and in 2 Maccabees 12:45, there is this sentence: Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin. Now from that statement, the Catholic Church infers that not only should you pray for the dead, but the dead have sins from which they must be delivered, which leads them to postulate purgatory. But heres the assumption that Lewis and the Catholic Church bring to the situation: their assumption is that it requires another process, beyond the process of this life, to get abiding sin out of our lives. This is not just true for the apostle Paul this is true for all who have put their faith in Christ. But this passage has broiled itself in debate for millennia. In this case, this person is in purgatory: the Lord looks at us, full of love, and we experience burning shame and painful remorse over our wicked or 'merely' unloving behavior. What Is the Biblical Basis for Purgatory? To come into the full light of God would not mean being swallowed up so that I no longer existed, but rather to fully understand both God and myself in full clarity. Thats why some do not agree with this thought. He says flat out in Letters to Malcolm (Ill give you a longer quote than was given to us), I believe in Purgatory. Now, that instantaneous change of our bodies at the resurrection is a better, more biblical picture of what happens to the imperfect soul at death. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Hebrews 10:12-14, For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. The passages in the currentCatechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 1030-1032) spell out the Catholic Church's teaching on the widely misunderstood topic of Purgatory. This goes against what Paul said in 2 Cor. Each ones work [each Christians work] will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it [this is the judgment day, in which we are going to be shown to be true or false, and our works are going to be shown to be stubble or valuable], because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. As for other religions, Hinduism and Buddhism have a variant form of purgatory. Therefore, no one will stay there forever, not go to hell. Thats not going to happen. Books and apps to get to know the Catholic faith in an easy and attractive way. All rights reserved. But suddenly I became aware of the fact that when my whole life is spread out before God in dazzling light, I would also be overcome by another sentiment deep, deep shame. The concept of purgatory, of course, doesnt arise out of thin air or didnt spontaneously spawn in the Middle Ages. Were all in agreement about that. There are many other scriptures that all point to the same thing. All who die in Gods grace, 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. The Bible clearly implies a place for an intermediate state of purification after we die. Are there different levels of punishment in hell?
In other words, there are conditions to be met, whereas the church believes that many people are purified or purged during their lifetime and not after death. Therefore, let's discuss the support and opposition to the concept of purgatory within the Christian faith. The above text was considered a proof of Purgatory by Origen and St. Ambrose, who posits the water of baptism and the fire of Purgatory. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. Often after committing sin, man becomes remorseful and regretful. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire [itself] will test the quality of each ones work" (1 Cor 3:13). . Verses in the Apocrypha that support the idea of purgatory include 2 Maccabees 12:39-46 (which includes prayers and indulgences to help guide souls out of purgatory). Should we not reply, With submission, sir, and if there is no objection, Id rather be cleaned first. It may hurt, you know Even so, sir. (14546). Learn more about Y-Bible, YOUCAT and DOCAT. - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions, Definition and Examples of Literary Terms. In this story, there was a wealthy man who despised God and Lazarus who was a beggar who longed to eat the scraps that fell off the table of this wealthy man. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. We are always of good courage. Surprisingly, or maybe not, purgatory is not mentioned in this Bible story neither is the concept. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. What Is the Concept of Essentialism for Christians? There is one passage in the Old Testament speaking of making "atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin" (2 Macc 12:45). Hope Bolinger is a multi-published novelist and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. The following night I understood why purgatory really exists and why it could be my lot to end up there after death. Would you now then, in great mercy, complete the purchase of your Son namely, my cleansing and simply say the word Be clean the way your Son did?, When the apostle Paul pictured the resurrection of all the imperfect saints in 1 Corinthians 15:5152, he said, Behold! We should note that purgatory is seen as a gift of Gods grace. No doubt, he knows his Bible goodness gracious, he can quote his Greek New Testament probably better than I can. This third in-between place was known as the Fields of Asphodel. It is interesting to know that this talks about greed and people who had stolen money in various ways. This world needs more people willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world so that more in the world might be saved. It could be stealing, robberies, money-laundering, banking frauds, and similar crimes. Intense joy also does appear to occur here along with pain. But if he has completely refused to love, then he is in hell. It seems to make salvation a works-based process instead of a gift given freely by the grace of God through his sons sacrifice and resurrection. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. In the story Abraham said there is a great chasm that prevents this from happening so once you enter eternity you are either in comfort or torment and that destination is final. However, for people who deliberately indulge in sin, this rule does not apply. In the Apocrypha, we also run into a number of scriptures that support the idea of purgatory. Entrance into Heaven demands their momentary suffering due to sins whose guilt has not been forgiven. But Chrysostom was arguing not against those who thought that such sacrifices were unnecessary, but against those who thought that they did no good: In this passage, Chrysostom sums up all of the Church Fathers, East and West, who never doubted that prayer and liturgy for the dead were both necessary and useful. In this article, well discuss the nature of purgatory, whether Scripture talks about purgatory, and what we can learn from this. There is no specific place is mentioned for it. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gods divine mercy refers to the fact that he forgives any sin as long as the sinner is truly repentant and sorry. . Also, purgatory has some doctrinal issues. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
This is how it is defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. So, Purgatory gives a chance to overcome this regret and pay for the sin before going to Heaven, so the soul is purified and righteous to pass the gates of Heaven. Drought and heat consume the snow waters, So does Sheol those who have sinned. (Job 24:19), So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies, we are not at home with the Lord, for we live by believing and not by seeing. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, God says to us, just like Jesus said to the leper in Luke 5:13, Be clean. And immediately his leprosy left him. Gods justice, however, is that good is rewarded and evil punished. What Are the Keys to the Kingdom that Jesus Gave Peter? Neraka or Naraka (depending on which of the two religions) exists as a holding place for the soul in between life cycles and reincarnations. Let me go back and suggest why what C.S. Purgatory has some doctrinal issues. Richert, Scott P. "What Is the Biblical Basis for Purgatory?" Once the person is dead, they have to return every last penny or amount they had taken. In other words, while the Catholic Church bases the doctrine of Purgatory on both scripture and tradition, Pope Leo emphasizes that scripture is sufficient to prove the existence of Purgatory. The rich man also died and was buried. Purgatory is a place or a state after physical death for the purification of the soul before going to Heaven. So, is purgatory in the Bible? In an age inundated with entertainment, how do Christians stay awake to the glory of Christ and help others do the same. . More than 1,200 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digestto Keys for Kids. The Ancient Greek understanding of the afterlife was that people want to one of three places: a place of torment, a place of paradise, and a place somewhere in-between the two. Rather, this verse is the basis of the Church's belief that all those who undergo purgation after their earthly life ends (those whom we call the Poor Souls in Purgatory) are assured of entrance into Heaven. Scripture also appears to support the idea that when those who are saved die, they immediately go to heaven, no temporal refinement process involved. He told me that since they are not having a good life they believe that this is a sign that they are condemned for eternity! We should note that most denominations do not believe the verses found in the Apocrypha to exist as part of the biblical canon. Why would we not rather assume that God does it first progressively in this life, and then at the end finishes it instantaneously? 21:27). Article Images Copyright . If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved even though only as one escaping through the flames(1 Corinthians 3:15). Even though we are justified and made righteous we are imperfect because we still sin. And those on earth can speed up the process via indulgences and prayer (fingers crossed, right?). Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. One could point to the fact that the refinement process described in the verses above represents sanctification, an ongoing process of purification a Christian receives during their life to become more like Christ. If you are Catholic or you believe in purgatory and you are reading this article, this is not meant in any way to discredit you. All of our episodes are available atLifeAudio.com. Both men died, and we get a glimpse into what happened to them after their deaths. I don't remember what I answered precisely, but I said something like this: "I am very sure that Christ died for me and that he saved me. You Can Share a Gift & a Bible With a Fatherless Boy, What Is Purgatory? . They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. None of us believes that is going to happen. 7 Spiritual Elements in Thor: Love and Thunder. To the question "Where do we go after death", the Catholic Church gives a twofold answer: His body lies in the grave, but his soul stands before God. What does the New Testament say about Purgatory, In Mathew 5:26 and Luke 12:59 Christ is condemning sin and speaks of liberation, Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.. I hope it jumped out at you when you read what purgatory is. Dante's Purgatory Painting, by Gustave Dore. According to Roman Catholics, the soul of those who dies in Gods grace, absolve or pardon their sins before going to Heaven. This place of purgatory is not heaven nor is it hell, but in my words, it is like a pre-heaven that prepares you for final arrival. What are indulgences and plenary indulgences, and are the concepts biblical? That will happen physically at the resurrection, and for those who die before the resurrection, it happens spiritually at death. Its dead wrong, but I love it. It is only then we will see the reward or what we have done in life. The belief in purgatory does not prevent someone from attaining salvation, and vice versa, the nonbelief in the place does not remove someones security from heaven. It could well be the case that I will commit a few devilish things in my life that will definitely bar me from heaven. I just simply believe that according to Gods Word that the sacrifice Jesus made was enough to cover all our sins and to offer us righteousness. Hence, a few Christians believe that the reference must be applied to the PurgatoryPurgatory, third place between Heaven and hell. Article Images Copyright 2022 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny (Matthew 5:26). That story is the rich man and Lazarus. (1 Peter 1:7) The truth that something like a purifying fire between heaven and hell really exists was only established as a certainty of faith in the Church in the sixth century. In studying this it is important to recognize that purgatory is not a place for those who are eternally condemned but it is a place for those who will eventually end up in heaven. Most of the passages listed above have a rebuttal found here. Scripture only seems to discuss two distinct destinations after we perish: heaven or hell. To be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord, which, Paul says, is far better. On the contrary, several texts point in the opposite direction about what happens when we die as Christians. Hes not a heretic, but if he had tried to support this belief with Scripture, he would have been hard put to do it.
All rights reserved. It seems to make salvation a works-based process instead of a gift given freely by the grace of God through his sons sacrifice and resurrection. But if you ask me if I will end up in heaven, I can only tell you I don't know right now. Origin, Support, and Opposition. In conclusion, in the Bible, there is no direct reference to Purgatory. This book clearly favored by Roman Catholic teaching, as the whole book was removed from the Protestant Bible. If you believe in purgatory, then you are saying that his sacrifice was not enough for all. Catholics believe that Purgatory evens the score and fulfills justice while accommodating mercy.
Do they simply not like the idea of purgatory? The moment you place your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation at that point you are justified, and you are made ready for heaven. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Now I understand that the adults were trying to say that I would have to atone for my actions for eternity and it would not be fun. These correspond to the seven deadly sins or seven roots of sinfulness: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Avarice (and Prodigality), Gluttony, and Lust. Purgatory means a cleansing place, where souls are purged from the small stains of sin. In 1 Peter 1:6-7, Saint Peter refers to our necessary trials in this world: And in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, Saint Paul extends this image into the life after this one: But "he himself shall be saved." Nobodys going into the very presence of God with any stain or inner sin left. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise, (Luke 23:42-43), He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. (Malachi 3:2), It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to the place of silence (Psalm 115:17). The chief Old Testament verse that indicates the necessity of purgation after death (and thus implies a place or state where such purgation takes placehence the name Purgatory) is 2 Maccabees 12:46: If everyone who dies goes immediately to Heaven or to Hell, then this verse would be nonsense. But we do know that those who believe in purgatory advise others to avoid it and that the saints still living here on earth can help guide people on their journeys in purgatory through prayers and indulgences. If that gives you any idea, purgatory doesnt exactly scream Easy Street. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The Bible speaks very little about a purifying fire. Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? Biblically speaking, 1 Corinthians 3:1015 is the most common biblical proof for it.
Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer. . Out of mercy and love, God sends the man (humans) through Purgatory on his way to Heaven so that his soul can be purified to be able to join God in Heaven. All Rights Reserved. This is contradictory to what the Bible teaches because even Jesus himself declared on the cross, It is finished. (John 19:30). Its not because of what you do but because of everything he has done for you. Because I come from a non-Catholic tradition, I do hold the latter view. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. All of this explains why, from the earliest days of Christianity, Christians offered liturgies and prayers for the dead. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. Now, why would they assume that? I know that some older Christians believed in a secondary refinement or purgatory, a purging of the soul after death and before heaven. I want you to also notice that there was no ability to cross from one side to the other. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from sin.. Purgatory is like the secondary art of recovery the healing, cleaning, and bandaging. The practice makes no sense unless at least some souls undergo purification after this life. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Bible often describes this place as a place of refinement, as going through the fire. The Bible does not use the direct word Purgatory; instead, it makes references for it. Its on my phone. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Hi, Pastor John! Even if other belief systems have similar concepts, we need to analyze what Scripture says and follow accordingly. He has written about Catholicism for outlets including Humanitas and Catholic Answers Magazine. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. The first letter of Peter speaks of steadfastness in faith "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." You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. You have probably heard of heaven and hell but what about purgatory? We should always analyze why we believe what we believe and how it affects our actions as well as in the context of Scripture. https://www.learnreligions.com/biblical-basis-for-purgatory-3970768 (accessed July 21, 2022). A great deal of pain and lossoccurs as someone experiences the purification of their sins and the harms their transgressions have caused others. If purgatory is a valid place, then the sacrifice of Jesus was not enough and if it is not enough then it is not enough for you and me as well. When I did not answer immediately, they asked more sharply: "Are you absolutely sure of your salvation?" In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. If youve read Lewis (and Ive read almost all of Lewis), you know you dont go to C.S. I have never seen a bleaker world. They need to go through a final purification process, which is unclear how long that will last, and when that process is complete at that point they will be ready for heaven.