Originally posted by stupid girl
You lost me at "purgatory"
There is no basis for this catechistic belief in the Bible.
stupid girl, hello,
I don't know if you realize, you are following Martin Luther's denial of Purgatory. Purgatory exists. We have
to account for everything because God is perfectly just besides being perfectly loving. Why does it say
in Scripture...nothing unholy enters Heaven? It's about "reparation" for our choices in this life, if we don't
make reparation for our sins (venial and mortal sins even though we have repented and confessed them)
here on earth by our loving acts, sufferings and prayers, we make reparation after death in Purgatory. Everyone
in Purgatory is destined from Heaven. Jesus' words "to the last farthing" in Matthew are about Purgatory.
Back to Luther. The Jewish people believed in a place of purgation. It's written in 2 Machabees, I think it
is 2 Machabees 12:46. This is the reason Luther threw out the Book of Machabees. Obviously went against
his teachings, from his head, not God.
There are words in Scripture every Christian believes but aren't specifically stated but are described. One of
them is Trinity. The same for Purgatory. All these verses refer to Purgatory.
blessings,
colbe
_ _ _ _
Scripture
I. A State After Death of Suffering and Forgiveness
Matt. 5:26,18:34; Luke 12:58-59 – Jesus teaches us, “Come to terms with your opponent or you will be handed over to the judge and thrown into
prison. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” The word “opponent” (antidiko) is likely a reference to the devil (see the
same word for devil in 1 Pet. 5:8) who is an accuser against man (c.f. Job 1.6-12; Zech. 3.1; Rev. 12.10), and God is the judge. If we have not
adequately dealt with satan and sin in this life, we will be held in a temporary state called a prison, and we won’t get out until we have satisfied
our entire debt to God. This “prison” is purgatory where we will not get out until the last penny is paid.
Matt. 5:48 - Jesus says, "be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect." We are only made perfect through purification, and in Catholic
teaching, this purification, if not completed on earth, is continued in a transitional state we call purgatory.
Matt. 12:32 – Jesus says, “And anyone who says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but no one who speaks against the Holy Spirit will
be forgiven either in this world or in the next.” Jesus thus clearly provides that there is forgiveness after death. The phrase “in the next”
(from the Greek “en to mellonti”) generally refers to the afterlife (see, for example, Mark 10.30; Luke 18.30; 20.34-35; Eph. 1.21 for similar
language). Forgiveness is not necessary in heaven, and there is no forgiveness in hell. This proves that there is another state after death, and the
Church for 2,000 years has called this state purgatory.
Luke 12:47-48 - when the Master comes (at the end of time), some will receive light or heavy beatings but will live. This state is not heaven or hell,
because in heaven there are no beatings, and in hell we will no longer live with the Master.
Luke 16:19-31 - in this story, we see that the dead rich man is suffering but still feels compassion for his brothers and wants to warn them of his
place of suffering. But there is no suffering in heaven or compassion in hell because compassion is a grace from God and those in hell are deprived
from God's graces for all eternity. So where is the rich man? He is in purgatory.
1 Cor. 15:29-30 - Paul mentions people being baptized on behalf of the dead, in the context of atoning for their sins (people are baptized on the
dead’s behalf so the dead can be raised). These people cannot be in heaven because they are still with sin, but they also cannot be in hell because
their sins can no longer be atoned for. They are in purgatory. These verses directly correspond to 2 Macc. 12:44-45 which also shows specific prayers
for the dead, so that they may be forgiven of their sin.
Phil. 2:10 - every knee bends to Jesus, in heaven, on earth, and "under the earth" which is the realm of the righteous dead, or purgatory.
2 Tim. 1:16-18 - Onesiphorus is dead but Paul asks for mercy on him “on that day.” Paul’s use of “that day” demonstrates its eschatological
usage (see, for example, Rom. 2.5,16; 1 Cor. 1.8; 3.13; 5.5; 2 Cor. 1.14; Phil. 1.6,10; 2.16; 1 Thess. 5.2,4,5,8; 2 Thess. 2.2,3; 2 Tim. 4.8). Of
course, there is no need for mercy in heaven, and there is no mercy given in hell. Where is Onesiphorus? He is in purgatory.
Heb. 12:14 - without holiness no one will see the Lord. We need final sanctification to attain true holiness before God, and this process occurs
during our lives and, if not completed during our lives, in the transitional state of purgatory.
Heb. 12:23 - the spirits of just men who died in godliness are "made" perfect. They do not necessarily arrive perfect.... continued.