Should I be worried about Purgatory?

[DiscipleEthan]

I assume that everyone in this thread is Non Denominational. so I want to know something. What's everyone's view on the doctrine of Purgatory. If you don't believe in purgatory or know purgatory isn't real, then how do you know? I was never taught purgatory and I never really believed it, but part of me also worries because I don't want to suffer for my sins because I always thought that Jesus paid it all so that we can go to heaven. Isn't that what Non Denominationals believe? Can I have assurance that I'll just go straight to heaven when I die so that I won't have to worry?

 

[Xalith]

I assume that everyone in this thread is Non Denominational. so I want to know something. What's everyone's view on the doctrine of Purgatory. If you don't believe in purgatory or know purgatory isn't real, then how do you know? I was never taught purgatory and I never really believed it, but part of me also worries because I don't want to suffer for my sins because I always thought that Jesus paid it all so that we can go to heaven. Isn't that what Non Denominationals believe? Can I have assurance that I'll just go straight to heaven when I die so that I won't have to worry?

The Holy Scriptures say nothing about Purgatory to my knowledge, and Jesus Himself told us what we must do, which is to believe in Him, believe that He was the Son in the flesh, who led a sinless life, without blemish, who died on the cross to defeat once, and forever, Satan and Sin for good and all that we must do, is Believe that He will wash away our sins with His blood, and that He resurrected 3 days after, to overcome death and went into Heaven. We must also Repent and declare Him Lord of our lives, and give our lives to Him.

There's more to it, but that's the basics. I assume if I've spoken wrong, someone can correct me on this, I'm still somewhat new to this myself.

Also, gotquestions.org is a very good reference, they have some Q&As about the doctrine of purgatory as well that might answer better than I can.

 

[BrokenWarrior]

Purgatory is a myth made up by man and is found no where in Scripture.

Scripture states multiple times that once you are forgiven you are saved for good.

Saying you would still have to face punishment for your sins after Christ Himself says otherwise. Is basically saying that Christ's sacrifice is not good enough to forgive you.


"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?"
-Galations 3:1-3

So unto you oh Brother,I ask,what do you believe?

God be with you!
-Your Brother In Christ

 

[High Fidelity]

No more so than Big Foot or Nessie.

 

[Alithis]

3 replies that state it about as clear as it can be stated .
its not in the bible ..

 

[faroukfarouk]

Hebrews 1 says of believers in the Lord Jesus that He 'by Himself purged our sins'. Hebrews chapters 9 and 10 make it clear that the lord Jesus was once offered at the Cross. There is thus no need for more purging of sins to occur if the finished work of Christ at the Cross is indeed perfect.

 

[joshuanazar]

The Catholics get the idea of purgatory from a book that is not apart of scripture. You should be no more afraid of purgatory than a unicorn.

 

[CGL1023]

I assume that everyone in this thread is Non Denominational. so I want to know something. What's everyone's view on the doctrine of Purgatory. If you don't believe in purgatory or know purgatory isn't real, then how do you know? I was never taught purgatory and I never really believed it, but part of me also worries because I don't want to suffer for my sins because I always thought that Jesus paid it all so that we can go to heaven. Isn't that what Non Denominationals believe? Can I have assurance that I'll just go straight to heaven when I die so that I won't have to worry?

2 Cor 5:8 gives the idea that to be absent from the body (to have died as a believer) is to be present with the Lord. The link to follow is biblehub.com for that verse and you can read commentators' notes on the subject, which I have summarized. http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-8.htm

 

[Sketcher]

Paul really leaves no room for that as a possibility for him in the book of Philippians as he contemplates death. He stated in Phil 3:12 specifically that he was not yet perfect, but Purgatory never comes up in the book - just life on Earth, or life in Heaven with Jesus. If Purgatory were a possibility, he would have mentioned it given all the revelations he had from God up to that point.

The Eastern Orthodox don't even have Purgatory. That should tell you something about its authenticity.

 

[joshuanazar]

I

Paul really leaves no room for that as a possibility for him in the book of Philippians as he contemplates death. He stated in Phil 3:12 specifically that he was not yet perfect, but Purgatory never comes up in the book - just life on Earth, or life in Heaven with Jesus. If Purgatory were a possibility, he would have mentioned it given all the revelations he had from God up to that point.

The Eastern Orthodox don't even have Purgatory. That should tell you something about its authenticity.

I have never heard of Eastern Orthodox until I got on this site. I hear a lot of denominations and doctrines that I never heard before.

 

[Sketcher]

I

I have never heard of Eastern Orthodox until I got on this site. I hear a lot of denominations and doctrines that I never heard before.

They're pretty important to know about. They and the Catholics both claim to be the historic church and accuse each other of breaking off of them, in a nutshell.

 

[joshuanazar]

So is the Eastern Orthodox church also bound in a lot of tradition?

 

[Sketcher]

So is the Eastern Orthodox church also bound in a lot of tradition?

They love tradition just as much as Catholics do.

 

[Neogaia777]

I assume that everyone in this thread is Non Denominational. so I want to know something. What's everyone's view on the doctrine of Purgatory. If you don't believe in purgatory or know purgatory isn't real, then how do you know? I was never taught purgatory and I never really believed it, but part of me also worries because I don't want to suffer for my sins because I always thought that Jesus paid it all so that we can go to heaven. Isn't that what Non Denominationals believe? Can I have assurance that I'll just go straight to heaven when I die so that I won't have to worry?

Purgatory is some dim witted mans idea of his theory on the afterlife, specifically hell, some things the Bible just doesn't tell us, and purgatory is one of them, it's just some mans theory...

God Bless!

 

[Gunny]

In my humble opinion: Heaven=eternity spent with God
Hell= eternity apart from God
Purgatory=a non existent place (man made doctrine)

 

[Job8]

Can I have assurance that I'll just go straight to heaven when I die so that I won't have to worry?

Since the Bible does not contain a single reference to Purgatory, you can rest assured that there is no such place. Also, someone has quoted Scripture which assures believers that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Those who believe in Purgatory do not really understand what God has accomplished through Christ. Indeed, they do not really accept the true Gospel.

 

[joshuanazar]

They love tradition just as much as Catholics do.

I'm not real big on tradition. I'm sure you're not either. I like a majority of your posts. Though I might not agree with them all, they show thought and reason and don't really seem bound by traditions like some of your posts in a thread about tattoos.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I'm not real big on tradition. I'm sure you're not either. I like a majority of your posts. Though I might not agree with them all, they show thought and reason and don't really seem bound by traditions like some of your posts in a thread about tattoos.

The question is always, Is the doctrine and tradition backed up by Scripture.

 

[joshuanazar]

Well when I say tradition I mean doing something out of obligation or just because it has always been done without knowing the reason that it should be done in the first place. Prayer is something that we can all agree is good. But it becomes tradition when people pray just because they feel as if they have to in order to please God or just going through the motions because of religious views. The reason behind pray is because we have a real relationship with God and we love to talking to him and listening to him. Any other reason besides that we simply want nothing more than to spend time with the Father is not able to develop the relationship with him that we need. Regardless of whether there is a biblical reason behind the tradition or not, if the motive behind it are not out of love, it is empty and of no effect.