7/20/2018 – Question of the Week: Where does the doctrine of Purgatory come from?
Verses: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, Hebrews 7:27, 1 Corinthians 15:3
Purgatory is commonly taught among Roman Catholic circles. It is commonly defined as, “a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.” This tradition isn’t something they claim without biblical support. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:15 that there will be those who are saved as though through fire. With this in mind, they conclude that this process is something that happens in a state between Heaven and this life. Traditions and other non-biblical material aside, this proof text for Purgatory is taken out of context and conflict with other very clear passages in scripture. Firstly, Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 3 was referring to those being saved from the flames, not being saved through them. In full context, it is referring to those who will stand before Jesus saved from their sins with the possibility of rewards being given for the things they did through Him in this life. There will be those who have rewards, and others who will simply be grateful to have escaped Hell with nothing more to show for it based on how they lived their lives. That’s all. Secondly, the Bible is very clear that apart from Jesus we have no hope for salvation from our sins. When He died on the cross, He didn’t say, “That should get them far enough. A few thousand years of fire and they’ll make up the difference.” He said that it was finished. Hebrews clarifies with the Old Testament sacrifices in mind that Jesus’ sacrifice was made once for all sins. Not most of them. The moment a believer dies, they are in His presence on the basis of His mercy alone. For these reasons and many others, we’d conclude that purgatory is not a biblical teaching.
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