Doctrine Of Purgatory

(1030) All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. (Page 291)

Purgatory is a man made doctrine. It was never taught by the early church fathers, and it is not taught in the Word of God! It is, as catechism 1031 says, a “tradition.” The rich man that died and went to hell in Luke 16, prayed to Father Abraham, but Abraham told him that his fate was sealed. It could not be changed.

Luke 16:22-26 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell (what happened to purgatory?) he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime (you had your chance when you were living) receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you CANNOT; NEITHER CAN THEY PASS TO US, that would come from thence.

You cannot change what God has done. It cannot be changed.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, IT SHALL BE FOR EVER: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

(1031) The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The CHURCH FORMULATED her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Council of Florence and Trent. The TRADITION of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire.

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. (Page 291)

The only blasphemy against the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible must be spoken. There is no sin too great that God can not save. The sin and blasphemy that He cannot forgive is a continual “NO” spoken to the Holy Spirit when He convicts one of sin, and prods them to trust in Jesus. The passage of Scripture that is being perverted here is dealing with accusations made against Jesus. Jesus had just cast a devil out of a poor soul, and the religious crowd, the Pharisees, accused Jesus of doing this wonderful work by the power of Beelzebub, who was the prince of filth, the devil. They attributed the good work of the Holy Spirit to that of Satan. They were saying “NO” to the convicting Holy Spirit. They witnessed the good work and miracles of Christ, yet they were saying “NO.” There is the context of this blasphemy.

Matthew 12:31-32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever SPEAKETH (it was a spoken word) against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The Bible clearly teaches the Christian will be judged for rewards, not salvation, at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:6-10). There are several rewards of crown that can be earned for the WORK of the Christian life (2 Tim. 4:8, Jas. 1:12, Rev. 2:10; 3:10, 1 Pet. 5:4). A Christian can loose his reward but will be SAVED, SO AS BY FIRE. This is not a purifying Purgatory to see whether or not you will make it. Purgatory is a man made doctrine designed to keep men under the power and fear of other men. It is not in the Word of God!

1 Corinthians 3:11-16 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this (Jesus Christ) foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is (gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble). If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a REWARD (did not say salvation, salvation is a free gift of God). If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss (did not say loss of salvation, but rewards is the subject): but he himself SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If the Spirit of God dwells in you, and you go to Hell, then the Holy Spirit would have to go to Hell with you, because he promised, “...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb 13:5b.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, NOR FORSAKE THEE.