Purgatory is a alleged interim place in the afterlife that souls are kept in to purge their sins. It is s middle realm between heaven and hell where godly people who still have one or more of The Deadly Sins get purged before they can enter the peace of heaven. The doctrine was formulated from the deuterocanonical (Apocrypha) books, specifically 2 Maccabees 12:42-44, and a loose interpretation of the apostles Peter and Paul’s words of purification by fire (1 Corinthians 3:15, 1 Peter 1:7). However, Paul and Peter were not talking about doing works to get to heaven lest they contradict themselves (Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:9, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 5:4, Acts 15:1-11, 1 Peter 3:18), Paul and Peter simply are talking about that you “will be saved as if by fire, your works being burned up if they do not pass the test,” as to say you can lose rewards for your good works if you undermine them with evil actions afterwards (Thomas Kinkade, famous Christian painter who had a huge witnessed died an adulterer at a young age, being a good example), but the apostles are not talking about salvation, and the fire purification is God, “for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29) but we are protected from God’s wrath, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9).
The Roman Catholic Church is responsible for the doctrine of purgatory. They introduced the noun in Latin, “purgatorium” between 1160-80 A.D. which gave rise to the belief in it being a place. The Roman Church made purgatory official canon at the Council of Trent (1545-1563 A.D., but had defined it as a tradition earlier at The Councils of Florence (1438-1445 A.D.), and The Second Council of Lyons (1274 A.D.). The Eastern Orthodox Churches rejected the doctrine of the third place in the afterlife called purgatory. The tradition of the Purgatorium has been one of the issues along with the Filoque and Papal Supremacy, that has kept the dream of reunification of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox into one church as they were before 1054 A.D. an elusive goal.
The famous poet Dante Alighieri (1275-1321 A.D.) had visions of heaven and hell on his sick bed and penned them in two volumes: “The Inferno” and “The Paradiso.” The Roman Catholic clergy were so furious that Dante had omitted Purgatory, that Dante was threatened with Anathema, and so he wrote “The Purgatorio.” Another reason Dante almost suffered excommunication and worse was his heavy critiques of the Pope and the Roman Church that bordered on Lutheran Protestantism in the Paradiso.
Prior to The Resurrection of Jesus, it is documented that Christ descended into Hades and emptied it of occupants, “Now the saying, “This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people."He ascended” — what does it mean but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:8-9), “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people,” (Matthew 27:50-53), “But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:5-6), “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit, in which He also went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built,” (1 Peter 3:18-20), “Jesus tasted death for everyone. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who hadg the power of death. Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (Hebrews 2:9, 14-15), and “ I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” (Revelation 1:18). According to Jesus’ story of Lazarus (Luke 16:1-36), there was a holding place called Abraham’s Bosom (see Luke 16:30-36), probably what King David called Sheol (Abaddon being the inferno). This holding place was for the righteous old testament kings and prophets, because no one prior go The Incarnation, could see God and live (Exodus 33:20), and so Jesus having made the Way to heaven possible by His blood went to prisoners in Sheol to preached to them in hell so that Abraham, Mose, David, Esther, Ruth, and Company could join us Christians in heaven. So Purgatory did exist as Sheol, but it is now emptied and no one goes there now because unlike Moses and company who couldn’t know the gospel, we have it, “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:14-18). Jesus made an exception only for those who were born and died before He died and rose from the dead. Everyone after Resurrection Day (John 20:1-23) must believe the gospel while we are in this present life.
There is no New Testament Scriptural basis for Purgatory post the Resurrection of Christ. We are told we may enter God’s holy presence by Jesus blood, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most,” (Hebrews 4:16), and “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest place by the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19). More than this we are told we are the righteousness of God, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21), we are cleansed by His blood and made kings and priests, “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Most High over all of earthly kings. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of Kings and Priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6). We are seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:6). Much more we live in God and He in us, “All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.” (1 John 4:15), “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, and “so that, if I am delayed, you will know how each one must conduct himself in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15). Why would we need purgation or purgatory when Christ sacrifice for our sins, His propitiation has protected from the wrath of God, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!,” (Romans 5:9).
Purgatory is to put no emphasis on Christ’s sacrifice, it cheapens His blood which is an insult to Grace, “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29), “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace,” (Galatians 5:4), “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21). Purgatory is fo come under the Law again, which cuts one off fro mgrsce, “” (Galatians 5:4). The One who holds power over death and hades, Jesus Christ, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Had” (Revelation 1:18), and “Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (Hebrews 2:9, 14-15). The One who conquered death lives in you, “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Why would Christ undermine himself and put Himself in us in Purgatory? And why if you have to go to purgatory anyways would Jesus die a horrible death? See how insane purgatory is? Besides Christ harrowed Hell (Eph 4:9)
Jesus’ sacrifice was total. It makes us able fo enter heaven:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ( 1John 1:7-8)
“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones (makes propitation) for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” (1John 2:1-2)
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit/Christ suffered[a] for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.[b]” (1 Peter 3:18)
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:14-18)
“” (John 6:40)
“When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.” (Romans 6:10 NLt)
“Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
“9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)
“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16
“This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”
17 Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”[c]
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
38 And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”[h]
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” (Hebrews 10:1-39)
When we die there is no interim, you are judged immediately (Hebrews 9:27, John 3:18, Revelation 20:11-24) and if you believe in Jesus you go home to Him:
“Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28, Holy Bible)
“Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6,8)
“I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.” (Philippians 1:23)
“19Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. 20And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores 21and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are left to suffer. 26And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’
27‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so they will not also end up in this place of torment.’
29But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’
30‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)
Notice Abraham says rise from the dead (Luke 16:31) which is what Jesus our Lord did (John 20:1-21), what Jesus did to Lazarus Brother of Mary and Martha (John 11:1-44), and etc. Abraham says raise from the dead; as in a person coming back to life and their body via resurrection (Matthew 27:52-53, Revelation 20:11-15) power, not the false imitations of necromancy and divination. Prayers for the dead are then ineffectual according to Jesus in this parable of Lazarus in hell.
So caste aside Limbo (Purgatory) and embrace the truth that you are saved (guarantees heaven and eternal life) by God’s Grace, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9), through faith, “be given a place in him, with the uprightness I have gained not from the Law, but through faith in Christ, an uprightness from God, based on faith” (Philippians 3:9), in Jesus Christ alone, “For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but shall have eternal life” (John 3:16). Amen.
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