1 Corinthians 3:11-15
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 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. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
This has nothing to do with purgatory. First of all the works are tested by fire not the believer and if the works fail the test the works are burned up not the believer. The loss that is suffered is a loss of the rewards we will receive in heaven according to our deeds. Nothing in this entire chapter has anything to do with sin. Paul said
“
Now if anyone builds on the foundation (Christ) with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work.”
1 Corinthians 3:12-13 NASB2020
You cannot build on the foundation of Christ with sin. This is about fruitful works and unfruitful works. Fruitful works will be rewarded in heaven. Unfruitful works will not. Neither of these works represent sin. There is only ONE atonement for sin that is Jesus Christ who sacrificed Himself to pay for ALL our sins not some of them.
“And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds,
yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”
Colossians 1:21-23 NASB2020
The Roman catechism disagrees saying that Christ’s sacrifice does not atone for all our sins and that some sins will only be forgiven after we pay the penalty for our sins after death in purgatory.
The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire. [Cf. 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.] As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come.
From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. [St. Gregory the Great, Dial. 4, 39: PL 77, 396; cf. Mt 12:32-36.]"
1472. "To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the 'eternal punishment' of sin.
On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the 'temporal punishment' of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that
no punishment would remain.
This doctrine contradicts Paul’s statements “holy and blameless beyond reproach” According to the catechism those who are in Christ are not beyond reproach.
Once our sins have been forgiven God will no longer remember them.
“
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “
THIS IS THE COVENANT WHICH I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEARTS, AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR MIND,” He then says, “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER.”
Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:14-22 NASB2020
There is no judgement for those who abide In Christ.
“The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
John 3:18 NASB2020
So how can we be Holy and blameless beyond reproach and God will not remember our sins but yet we must be punished for these sins? There’s a good reason why the RCC is completely alone in this doctrine.
