Purgatory

[ps139]

Hi everyone,

Before I write the content of my post I want to make it known that I have read and I understand this forum's rules. I am not looking for a debate in which I cannot participate, I am looking for opinions only.

That being said:

Do any Protestants here believe in purgatory, or a final purification? I know that C.S. Lewis, a Protestant and one of the greatest Christian authors ever, did believe in purgatory. I'm curious if anyone in this forum does, and if so, why?

Pax Christi.

 

[Momzilla]

Honestly, I don't know enough about it to say whether I believe or don't. I know it's not taught in Protestant churches.

 

[Lotar]

C S Lewis was Anglican, so he was only semiProtestant

I don't believe in it.

 

[countrymousenc]

I couldn't say that I believe in the Roman Catholic version (or at least what's generally understood by us Protestants to be the RCC's version), but I do agree with Lewis that we are really to be made, inside and out, pure and holy and fit to be citizens of Heaven, companions of God. It seems unthinkable that God initially created us in His image to finally populate Heaven with "dressed animals." Nor do I believe that idea contradicts imputed righteousness. It's not either/or, it's both-and.

 

[JVAC]

There is no basis for it in Scripture, actually it seems mormanish. Purgatory is about as real as the rapture. Also, purgatory always leads into indulgences and works emphases.

 

[pgp_protector]

Last year I would of said NO !!!

But Now, after Reading one thing, I half to question my absolute NO

When Jesus Died, Where Did He Go ?

If not to heaven, where is Paradise where both He & The theaf went on the Day they died ?

 

[JVAC]

Last year I would of said NO !!!

But Now, after Reading one thing, I half to question my absolute NO

When Jesus Died, Where Did He Go ?

If not to heaven, where is Paradise where both He & The theaf went on the Day they died ?

As the creed states he decended into the dead, Greek Hades, Hebrew Sheol. He just did what all dead people do, what ever that is. He didn't necessarily have to kick it in Purgatory. I think we all have this inset idea that the afterlife is all a "Divine Comedy" (yes he is citing Dante).

 

[Phoebe]

I dunno...

Sometimes I think I'm currently in purgatory.



No. I don't believe in purgatory. I suppose you were looking for responses in the affirmative and not the negative.

 

[ByzantineDixie]

There is no scriptural support for purgatory and we do not need something "extra" to cleanse us beyond Christ's perfect atoning sacrifice.

Peace

Rose

 

[O'Factry]

I've never read scriptural evidence of purgatory.

 

[Crazy Liz]

I believe 1 Corinthians 3:12 may refer to the same thing the Roman Catholics call purgatory.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

Didn't Martin Luther believe in purgatory??

 

[Lotar]

Nope.

God placed two ways before us in His Word: salvation by faith, damnation by unbelief (Mark 16:16). He does not mention purgatory at all. Nor is purgatory to be admitted, for it obscures the benefits and grace of Christ.
-Martin Luther

 

[JMRE5150]

There is no basis for it in Scripture, actually it seems mormanish. Purgatory is about as real as the rapture. Also, purgatory always leads into indulgences and works emphases.

Are you stating that you don't believe in the rapture? If not, may I ask why?

I've just been interested on other peoples views, in a more relaxed friendly thread amongst brothers/sisters. The "End Times" forum can be completely out of hand at times.

However, I do absolutely agree with you on purgatory.

 

[LuxPerpetua]

I believe in the possiblity of an in-between state for the believers whom God has not chosen to reveal His glory to until the Last Judgment. I'm not sure that this is a place of torment, though, but I do think that it is a time of prayer and some sort of spiritual purification. I don't think that most believers will be able to partake of the joys of heaven itself until after the Last Judgment. I believe that whatever happens to my soul will be under God's control and that as long as I love and trust Him I do not need to either fear or worry.

I've never been to a Protestant church that taught *against* the idea of Purgatory, but the churches I've been to say that they do not know the exact mysteries of our existence immediately after death, but that we can know for sure that one day we will be with God and live forever with him if we have faith in him and keep his commandments.

 

[Phoebe]

Are you stating that you don't believe in the rapture? If not, may I ask why?

I've just been interested on other peoples views, in a more relaxed friendly thread amongst brothers/sisters. The "End Times" forum can be completely out of hand at times.

However, I do absolutely agree with you on purgatory.

There's a thread devoted to this topic on page three of this forum.

 

[Boanerge]

I believe that the Moment the Lord comes, it would be "unexpected". Those who are faithful, will be see His coming and will be lifted up with Him. Those who call themselves christian will only realise afterward that the saints have risen... The realisation that they have "slept" on God's calling, not doing as they shouldve done, being lukewarm, compromising the Gospel, walking in vain works without faith, this is the "fire" that would purge them: "Did you really believe in ME? Did you really trust in ME?"..

[font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]3:12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, [/font][font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]3:13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. [/font][font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]3:14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. [/font]

Now i do not know what happens in the afterlife, but i do know that God works with you on the here now, He does not wait until you die to Work with your soul.

 

[JVAC]

I'm not sure that this is a place of torment, though, but I do think that it is a time of prayer and some sort of spiritual purification.

What you just described is called Lent!!

 

[Rechtgläubig]

What you just described is called Lent!!

 

[LuxPerpetua]

What you just described is called Lent!!

Yep! And I think that that is probably the state that we exist in until the Day of Judgment. Truth be known, we should live in Lent all of the time here on earth, since it is during this time that we recognize our need for God's grace the most--at least those are my feelings on the subject.