I have been married for 27 years. Both of us are cradle Catholics. My wife and I came to Christ over a decade ago. I read the Bible. I read the Catechism. I read “Catholicism For Dummies.” I went to confession and followed the rules. I would not join in the Eucharist with sin on my soul. Then I started to have questions. My family is currently attending the local Baptist church. But maybe you can convince me to come back.
Question: What is purgatory and is it truly based on scripture?
-Prison Guard
What purgatory isn’t:
-Purgatory isn’t a middle destination for those not ‘good enough for heaven’ or ‘bad enough for hell.’
-It’s not a second chance for damned souls.
-It’s not a place where the dead make up for a lack in the saving work of Christ by their own good deeds.
What purgatory is:
Imagine your mother telling you as a little boy not to touch a hot stove. You touch it anyway and are burnt. She quickly forgives you, of course, but that doesn’t make the burn on your hand go away! The effect of the sin is still there and needs healing. Catholics would look on sin as a sort of BURN on our souls: the Ten Commandments aren’t arbitrary rules, they are a safety net to keep us from the consequences of sin. Purgatory then would be a healing of any ‘burns’ caused by our sinfulness which we have at the time of our death.
It probably involves suffering, because sanctification involves suffering. (Rom. 5:3–5) (Heb. 12:6, 11) Though it is also quite joyful I imagine: freedom from sin and the desire to sin, and having certitude in one’s final salvation in a way unimaginable to us here!
Though it involves suffering, purgatory in no way stands contrary to the fact that Christ’s suffering on the cross is sufficient for our salvation, because those who enter purgatory are already saved. Any pain experienced there doesn't make them 'more redeemed.’ It's a one-way street of becoming acclimatized to Glory.
Where it is and isn’t in the Bible:
You won’t find the word purgatory in your Bible. You also won’t find the words ‘Trinity,’ ‘Incarnation,’ or’ Sola Scriptura.’ (Sola Scriptura being the Protestant teaching that the Scriptures are the exclusive authority for the Christian faith: a teaching not actually found in the Scriptures themselves).
All that being said, here is one argument on your terms:
The book of Revelation in describing heaven, states that "nothing unclean shall enter it." (21:27) I think we would agree that the large majority of people aren’t perfect when they die (I can only think of one or two exceptions). According to this verse then, either there must be some manner of being made clean after death and before entering heaven or else there is no one in heaven except for those who die utterly perfect, with no trace of sin or anything unclean on their soul. This cleansing and sanctification is an application of the purifying power of the cross. Unlike the prison you work in, purgatory is a gift, not a punishment.
Also, check out Mt.5:25-26 and 1Cor.3:12-15 and 1Pet.3:18-20. If these verses aren’t about purgatory, I can’t imagine what exactly they are about.
Write me again if that doesn’t convince you, I’ve got a lot more to say than that, but we can take it one piece at a time.
Purgatory is either going to be there or not when you die, but Christ truly present in the Eucharist is one thing that is certain NOW. Come back to the Catholic Church: if not for yourself then for us, we need men like you.
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