On Purgatory
Someone asked me about how Purgatory relates to Christ's sacrifice, and since I really don't have anything about Purgatory listed on here I thought would post my reply:
In short, there are two separate issues that are involved in an understanding of purgatory, especially as it relates to Christ's sacrifice. The issue of forgiveness, and of consequences. I may forgive someone for stealing my car, but they still need to return my car or make some type of amends. Although it may be difficult to separate these two things, it is necessary in order to understand the doctrine of purgatory.
Sin then, has two types of consequences. Eternal consequences, which is eternal death or hell; and temporal consequences, such as lung cancer from smoking or the example I gave above. Christ offers us forgiveness for all of our sins, and His death pays for the eternal consequences, giving us the grace needed to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
Our relationship with him is not merely a one way street though. He wants more from us than just an acknowledgment that He exists, and that we're ok with Him sacrificing His life for us. (Even the demons believe...) He wants us to play an active part, to "work out" our salvation. The bible speaks of salvation being a thing of the past, present, and future.
Christ has given us several ways in which we are able to play an active part in our relationship with him, and in his work of grace. Since we still have temporal consequences for sin, one of these ways is purgatory. It is the way that Christ enables us to enter heaven even though we die with sin consequences that have not been amended for yet. (Of course, Christ provides other avenues which we can make amendments while we are still alive, but I will not go into that now.)
Purgatory then, is God's "refining fire." It is God's way of completing the purification process that was made possible through Christ, so that we may come to see God in complete purity; without spot or blemish. Christ has given us clean clothes so that we can attend the wedding feast... purgatory is like the changing room where we put them on before entering.
When we pray for people in purgatory, it is the same as if we were praying for friend who was going through a rough time in their life: We are asking for God to give them grace and allow their time to pass quickly.
Purgatory then, was never meant for those who have rejected Christ, it is an avenue of grace, a "refining fire" only for those who have accepted Christ and are on their way to heaven.
If you're looking for more depth, then you may find these two links helpful:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.
http://scripturecatholic.com/
posted by She who is by birth... at 9:53 AM
5 Comments:
Here's another person's blog that I think goes into this subject with a little more detail.
http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2005/08/purgatory-101.html
If we accept purgatory are we really saying that Christ's death did not over come sin. The Bible tells us the consequences of sin is death but through our belief in Christ we are no longer under condemnation, thus the price has been paid. The consequences of our sin here on earth can be looked on in this way
1. Seperation from God until we repent but note:This does not mean we can willingly sin then approach the throne of grace for forgiveness and then sin and repeat this process
2. If I kill a person can I give that life back? NO! The consequences of that sin will hurt the family of the person killed but if a person repents then they are free of sin and guilt.
There is only one consequence of sin and that is death for the sinner be that here as in seperation from God or eternal death when they die.
If we accept purgatory we are in fact saying "Okay christ's death was okay but we also need to add this to it".
We accept Christ's death as full payment
>> "If we accept purgatory are we really saying that Christ's death did not over come sin."
Why do you think that purgatory threatens the validity and completeness of Christ's sacrifice?
>> "We accept Christ's death as full payment."
I fully agree that it is Christ's death, and that alone, that pays for the eternal consequences of sin and allows us to enter heaven. However, I'm sure you agree that there are still the present consequences of sin that Christ allows us to bear. (The example you gave earlier works well, if I kill a person then I can't give that life back. They remain dead as a consequence of my actions. While Christ is willing to forgive my sin and welcome me into heaven, He does not restore the life of the man I killed.
These are two separate things, and Catholics believe that while Christ forgives our guilt (allowing us to enter heaven) and forms a covenant with us in order to make us part of His family, he also allows us to bear the temporal consequences of our actions so that we might have an active role in His work of grace.
If you think this is unbiblical, please explain why. Thank you.
One question we need to ask ourselves is "what part do we play in our salvation"
My point would be this: Christ's death fullfilled all that was required, we can add nothing to it. We can stand before God free of sin only because of Christ. If we are saying we play a part in our salvation we are saying "There is something good in us" but that would be wrong. In fact we are boasting.....Salvation is a free gift so that no man can boast but more than that it is a free gift so that we rely not on our own efforts but on what Christ has done.
Purgatory leads us to think there is a second chance after death but that is false and has no biblical basis. If we look at the example of the man who wanted to warn his brother, we see that that this was not possible. (passages escapes me at the moment)
There is no second chances
There is nothing to pay after we die
A good person does not enter into heaven but a person that places all their hope and trust in Christ does
I think you're misunderstanding the doctrine of purgatory.
Purgatory is not seperate from the grace that Christ bestowed on us by his death on the cross, rather, it is part of it. Purgatory is relevant ONLY BECAUSE of Christ's death. Without his death, purgatory would be pointless.
So, in that sense you're right: it's not about getting a second chance.
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