Why Purgatory Is Not In the Bible, The Bliss of Forgiveness, and a Question About Conversations

Greetings from The Think Institute.

Joel Settecase here.

One principle I keep hammering on in my apologetics classes is that every Christian should always be ready to answer any objection to the faith. This is what the Apostle Peter instructs us in 1 Peter 3:15: “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you….” (emphasis added). This kind of preparedness is something I too am striving for in my own apologetics, and that’s why I engage in debates.

Recently I joined forces with Vocab Malone, a fellow Christian apologist, to debate two Roman Catholics over the question “Is Purgatory Real?” Below, you can read part of our opening statement from that debate, and you can watch the whole debate here. 

AN IDEA FROM ME

Purgatory is not in the Bible.

We begin with Matthew 12:31–32, where Jesus describes a sin that will not be forgiven either in this age or in the age to come. Does this raise the possibility of forgiveness in the age to come? No. The parallel to this, Mark 3:28–29, states that such a person “Never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin!” Also, Purgatory is happening in this age.

Next, Roman Catholics cite 1 Corinthians 3:8–15, which states that “Fire will test the quality of each man's work…” But this is talking about ministers who build upon the church’s foundation, not every Christian. Every leader’s work will be tested—not their souls—and revealed (ἀποκαλύπτεται) as to what kind it was. There is nothing here about temporal punishment, satispassion, or purgation. And it happens on the day. This is corroborated by 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Peter 1:6–7; and 2 Peter 3:10–13.

And countless passages militate against Purgatory. In Luke 23:43 Jesus tells the thief on the cross he will be with Him in paradise “today.” John 5:24 says those who believe in Jesus do not come into judgment (accusation). In John 19:30 Jesus declared “Τετέλεσται,” a well-known Greek legal declaration meaning “paid in full.”

Then there is Romans 4:6–8, where Paul connects God’s imputation of righteousness to Abraham by faith with David’s statement about the non-imputation of sin in Psalm 32:2. There we see that, by our faith in Christ God credits us with His righteousness and does not count our sin against us! As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, we become the righteousness of God! The idea of temporal punishments for sin which God does not count against us is anti-biblical.

Finally, Hebrews 10:14 comforts us with the truth that “by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” We are still being sanctified. But we are already perfect in God’s sight. And this is because, as Hebrews 1:3 says, Christ made purification for sins.

What about 2 Maccabees 12:44–46? It mentions prayers for the dead who died as idolators—a mortal sin—and would not have been in Purgatory. There is no mention of redeeming the dead or shortening the time in purgatory. Judas Maccabeeus, who made the prayers, was motivated by the Resurrection, not Purgatory. Purgatory is simply not supported by this passage.

Source: Is Purgatory Real?

 A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE

“‎There is no greater state than to get up from your knees knowing that God has forgiven every sin you’ve ever committed.”

—R. C. Sproul

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

When was the last really good theological discussion you had with someone who held a different view?

Reply to this email in seven days, and I will write you back. 

In Christ, 

Joel Settecase

President, The Think Institute

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