Would you be willing to answer my questions, since you believe in redemptive suffering and purgatory? The questions I would like to ask you are taken from my previous post in this thread, located
here. I'm going to adapt the questions to align with the theme of this post. I ask that you to please take the time to read the post in its entirety, so you will have a better understanding of my position on this subject. The apostle Paul said that even if we speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, we have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. He said that even if we have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though we have all faith, so that we could remove mountains, but have not love, we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-5). I will apply what the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:1-5 to my own life. He said even if I speak to you with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And even if I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Therefore, may the LORD set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalms 141:3). I pray my words are a blessing to you and not a curse (James 3:8-10).
Therefore, before I go any further in writing this post, I would like to make it clear to you that I am by no means questioning your salvation nor trying to judge you or belittle your personal faith. I am not trying to be harsh and I certainly don't want to insult you, offend you, or hurt your feelings. It is my sincerest intention for my words or deeds to be done in the name in Jesus and for my words and deeds to glorify God (Colossians 3:17). I hope and pray that you and I can have a respectful and civil discussion on this subject. I want to thank you, in advance, for reading my post. I hope you will be willing to discuss this subject with me. I would like to encourage you to seek God first (Matthew 6:33) in everything you do and acknowledge Him in all your ways (Proverbs 3:6), because He has already overcome the world (John 16:33) and He is your refuge and strong tower (Psalm 61:3; Proverbs 18:10). He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). You can turn to Him in your troubles and He will comfort you (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7). May He bless you abundantly (John 10:10), and give you a peace that will surpass all understanding (Philippians 4:6-8). I pray He will strengthen you in your faith (Isaiah 40:29-31; Philippians 4:13), so that you can live for Him (Galatians 2:20) as a living sacrifice unto Him, holy and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1).
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (
1 Peter 3:15-16)
And now, I would like to continue on with my questions.
(1) Do you believe that Jesus bore your sins and nailed them to the cross once and for all?
According to Scripture:
Jesus bore our sins (1 Peter 2:24) and nailed them to the cross (Colossians 2:14) once and for all (1 Peter 3:18).
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(2) Do you believe that Jesus death on the cross was sufficient enough to pay the penalty for ALL of your sins?
According to Scripture:
His sacrifice on the cross was sufficient enough to atone for our sins (Romans 3:25; Romans 5:8-9; Hebrews 7:27; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10), once and for all (1 Peter 3:18).
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(3) If you have to atone for your sins in purgatory then doesn't that deny the sufficiency of Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross?
According to Scripture:
His suffering and death on the cross appeased God's wrath against sin (Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 11:6; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 10:10-18; 1 Peter 2:24).
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(4) How will you be able to atone for your sins in purgatory when your own works of righteousness are like filthy rags to God?
According to Scripture:
Our works of righteousness are like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6)and that the sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to Him and an abomination to Him (Proverbs 15:8; Proverbs 21:27).
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(5) If you have to atone for your sins in purgatory, then wouldn't that mean you are still under condemnation of God and still a child of wrath?
According to Scripture:
Before we came to Christ, we were under the condemnation of God (John 3:18) and His wrath remained on (John 3:36), making us, as the apostle Paul described, children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3).
According to Scripture:
When we come to Christ, we are saved from God's wrath through Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross (Romans 5:9) and we are no longer under condemnation (Romans 8:1).
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(6) Do you believe that you can be forgiven, justified, and redeemed by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ?
According to Scripture:
We are forgiven, justified, and redeemed by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13; 3:16-18; 3:36; 4:14; 5:24; 6:26-27; 6:35-40; 6:47-51; 6:54; 10:27-29; 11:25-26; 12:44-46; 17:1-5; Romans 3:21-26; 5:1-11; 6:22-23; 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:8-9; Colossians 1:13-14; Galatians 2:16; 3:4; Titus 1:2; Titus 3:4-7; 1 John 5:9-13; 1 John 5:20),
in accordance with the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7-8).
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Jesus said, "
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (
John 5:24)
Jesus said, '
I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.' (
John 6:35-40)
Jesus said, "
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." (
John 10:27-30)
Jesus said, "
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. "Do you believe this?" (
John 11:25-26)
Jesus said, "
Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (
John 17:1-5)
John 1:12-13 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,
to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
John 20:30-31: "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
Romans 3:21-26 "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,whom God set forth as
a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that
He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Romans 8:28-30: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."
Ephesians 1:13-14: "
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also,
having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 2:4-9: "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (
by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10: "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but
to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."
1 John 5:9-13: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."
