What
Catholics Don’t Want You to Know About Purgatory
Mark Hart, the Executive Vice President of Life Teen, a
Catholic youth outreach program, wrote this statement on his website:
"… Catholics still very much believe in Purgatory (Catholics who
follow the Church, that is and not “their own” set of beliefs). Purgatory is a
temporary state of purification where imperfect saints have the effects of
their sin purged.” [End quote] (Hart).
Scott P. Richert, a Catholic author and editor, wrote:
“Through
penitential practices, prayer, works of charity, and the patient endurance of
suffering, we can work through the temporal punishment for our sins in this
life. But if any temporal punishment has been left unsatisfied at the end of
our life, we must endure that punishment in Purgatory before entering Heaven.” [End
quote] (Richert). (Posted on Sept. 6, 2018).
The above quotes are verbatim. Catholics believe in
Purgatory, which is said to take place after a Catholic dies. According to
Catholic teaching, purgatory is a place of torment and suffering. Augustine of
Hippo, one of the founders of Catholicism, said:
"That there should be some fire even after this life is not
incredible, and it can be inquired into and either be discovered or left hidden
whether some of the faithful may be saved, some more slowly and some more
quickly in the greater or lesser degree in which they loved the good things
that perish, through a certain purgatorial fire." [End
quote]. ("Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Charity" c. 421 A.D.) (The quote
was taken from: "Purgatory: What …”).
According to Catholic “church
fathers,” purgatory is a place of suffering which supposedly cleanses deceased
Catholics of the “stains” of their sins which they did on earth.
To support their belief in purgatory, Catholic websites refer
to extra-Biblical writings, such as the Second Book of Maccabees and the
writings of “church fathers.” They also take a few random verses from the
Bible, here and there (out of context). But, take a look at what Colossians
chapter 2 says.
What the New Testament Says
The Apostle Paul wrote:
[Colossians 2:8-15]
"8.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10. And ye
are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11. In
whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the
faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13. And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14. Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to
us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15. And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them
in it." [End quote].
[Acts 20:29-31]
“29. For I
know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you,
not sparing the flock. 30. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31. Therefore watch, and
remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night
and day with tears.” [End quote].
False teachers would come and speak false things to lead
people astray, according to the apostle who wrote a large portion of the New
Testament. The Old Testament and the New Testament both speak of how all sins
will be blotted out and not remembered. There is no mention of any purgatory
anywhere in the Old Testament or the New Testament.
In Isaiah 43:25, God said: "25. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." [End quote].
What Romans Chapter 4 Says
The Apostle Paul wrote these words in Romans chapter 4 below…
Romans 4:1-13
“1 What
shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath
found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he
hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For
what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not
reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth
on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even
as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth
righteousness without works,
7 Saying,
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed
is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh
this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision
also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How
was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in
circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a
seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised:
that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not
circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And
the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but
who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had
being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the
promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his
seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” [End
quote].
Conclusion
I encourage you to read the Bible and call out to God to
reveal Himself to you. Call on Jesus to save you from your sins and to give you
new life in Him, through His blood, and only by His merit, and not yours. Then,
you are saved. You may have been baptized, but if Jesus is not the only one or
thing you trust in to save you—if you trust in yourself plus Jesus, you are not
trusting only in Jesus. You are not walking by faith: you are walking by works.
Turn to Jesus today, repent from trusting your own works, and
call on Jesus to save you, and make Him the Lord of your life. Don’t trust the
Catholic Church or any church that tells you that praying a prayer and doing a
set of works will save you, for our own works are as filthy rags, as the
prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 64:6.
Read more about salvation here.
Read more about salvation here.
Isaiah 64:6
“6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our
iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” [End quote].
Cited
Material
Richert, Scott P. "Does the Catholic Church Still
Believe in Purgatory?" thoughtco.com. (Sept. 6, 2018)
Hart, Mark. "Purgatory: Heaven’s Waiting Room."
lifeteen.com. Life Teen, Inc.
"Purgatory: What Can I Expect There?"
stillcatholic.com.
The Authorized King James Bible. (Read it and see what God’s Word says about being made completely
holy through the blood of Jesus Christ, and not at all by any works.)
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