DOES PURGATORY EXIST?
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (AMPC)
Dear people of God, whilst majority of Christians believe in the existence of a Heaven and a Hell, the Roman Catholics believe in a third place called Purgatory where souls unqualified to enter heaven or hell would be cleansed or purged before final entry into heaven.
This doctrine is based on the premise that there are two kinds of sins, the mortal sins that qualify people to go straight to hell at death and the venial sins that qualify people to first be purified in purgatory before entry into heaven.
From today’s lead Holy Bible text above, we see that every human being is a spirit, has a soul and lives in a body. Now, when a person becomes born again, it is his spirit that becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus as stated in God’s Word in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
The person’s soul (mind, will and emotion) does not become born again; the person’s body or flesh does not become born again.
Let us see what God’s Word says about the soul in James 1:21, “So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.”
The Bible tells us clearly that it is the Word of God implanted and rooted in our hearts that contains the power to save our souls. How does the Word of God become implanted and rooted in a person’s heart? It is through meticulous study, meditation and prayer.
So while the spirit is saved at Christian re-birth by hearing God’s Word preached, conviction by the Holy Spirit, believing, accepting the Word of God preached, repenting of sins, confessing sins to God, forsaking sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour, the soul is saved by the implanted and rooted Word of God through constant and scheduled Bible study, meditation and prayer.
As for the flesh, it is always drawing one in the direction of sin because it is not renewed by God’s Word nor does it become born again.
This is why the Bible speaks of works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the doings (practises) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,
20 Idolatry, sorcery (drug use), enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),
21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
So how does one deal with the works of the flesh? Romans 12:1, “to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.”
In essence, you must keep your body or flesh subject to your renewed spirit in obeying the commandments of God. You must never allow your flesh to take an upper hand but your spirit that is born again.
Now, it is equally pertinent to note that when the Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary, He took away our sins and gave us righteousness – 1 Peter 2:24. This implies the Lord Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind that the blood of animals could not atone for.
We see proof of this in Hebrews 10:14 &18, “For by a single offering He (Jesus Christ) has forever COMPLETELY cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy.
18 Now where there is ABSOLUTE remission (forgiveness and cancellation of the penalty) of these [sins and lawbreaking], there is no longer any offering made to atone for sin.”
Dear friend, from these Scriptures in Hebrews 10:14 & 18 above, we see a contradiction in the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory. Since Christ has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy and there is no longer any offering made to atone for sin, why does someone have to go to a supposed “purgatory” to atone again for sins committed after becoming a Christian?
This doctrine of purgatory therefore makes nonsense of the Great Event that took place at Calvary and rubbishes what the Lord Jesus did.
It therefore follows that this doctrine of purgatory is a false and misleading one and Roman Catholics who desire to go to heaven should focus on what the Lord Jesus Christ did.
They should also ensure to note that ONLY Heaven and Hell exists for eternal reward and eternal punishment of saints and sinners respectively.
Everything a Christian must do to enter heaven happens only while alive here on earth and nowhere else. It is pertinent for Romans Catholics to understand this very important point so they don’t get themselves in a state of eternal regret when they die and reach eternity to find themselves in HELL.
We will continue this message in part 2 of the post on this same topic. Please watch out for it.
May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Most Merciful Name, Amen.
Gabriel Ama.
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