Lets discuss Purgatory

[yashualover]

According to the Handbook for Today's Catholic, page 47, "If you die in the love of God but possess any stains of sin, such stains are cleansed away in a purifying process called purgatory. These stains of sin are primarily the temporal punishment due to venial or mortal sins already forgiven but for which sufficient penance was not done during your lifetime."
The Catholic Catechism, paragraph 1030, says that purgatory is for "All who die in God's 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."

What does this mean to you?

 

[BrRichSFO]

According to the Handbook for Today's Catholic, page 47, "If you die in the love of God but possess any stains of sin, such stains are cleansed away in a purifying process called purgatory. These stains of sin are primarily the temporal punishment due to venial or mortal sins already forgiven but for which sufficient penance was not done during your lifetime."
The Catholic Catechism, paragraph 1030, says that purgatory is for "All who die in God's 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."

What does this mean to you?

The first part is "loosely" worded so much so that I might even say that it incorrectly presents the Catholic teaching. Which I assume was intended.


It is not explicitly found in the Bible.

It does not have to be!

It implies that the righteousness of Christ does not cleanse from all sin.

Not at all, Christ obtained the possibility of Forgiveness of the guilt of our sins. Not the effects of them.

It implies that justification is not by faith alone.

It says that Salvation is not by Faith alone, which it isn't.

It implies that there is something we must do in order to be cleansed of sin.

That is correct, we must repent and ask that the forgiveness obtained by Christ on the Cross be applied to our sins.

 

[yashualover]

The first part is "loosely" worded so much so that I might even say that it incorrectly presents the Catholic teaching. Which I assume was intended.


It is not explicitly found in the Bible.

It does not have to be!

It implies that the righteousness of Christ does not cleanse from all sin.

Not at all, Christ obtained the possibility of Forgiveness of the guilt of our sins. Not the effects of them.

It implies that justification is not by faith alone.

It says that Salvation is not by Faith alone, which it isn't.

It implies that there is something we must do in order to be cleansed of sin.

That is correct, we must repent and ask that the forgiveness obtained by Christ on the Cross be applied to our sins.

1. Afterlife is a very serious issue and must be backed up with scripture, otherwise you may end up in the wrong afterlife. I reject answer one.

2.The righteousness of Christ cleanses the elect from all sin, purgatory is not required.

3.Justification is a one time event in the life of the elect, never to be repeated.
Eph 2:8 For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God
Eph 2:9 and not the result of works, lest anyone boast.

4.Repentance is a gift from God, this does not come from you.

 

[yashualover]

Of course, the Catholic will say that as a Protestant, I come to the argument with the preconceived belief that (1) Purgatory is unbiblical, (2) that I am biased against it, and (3) that I have an agenda to accomplish. To each of these accusations I admit guilt. None of us are perfectly unbiased and most everyone has personal beliefs that are reflected in their actions and words. In this case, having read and studied the Bible thoroughly, I find no place in it for the Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory.