What scriptures do Roman Catholics use to support purgatory and indulgences? Roman Catholics teach that in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, the work that is being burned up is speaking about purgatory. Is this text talking about work or people being burned up? If you can't be forgiven for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in this age or the age to come, does that mean you can be forgiven of some sins in the age to come? When Jesus said “Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up the last cent”, was he speaking about paying for temporal sins in purgatory? Paul said “The Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day.” When he said “on that day”, was he talking about purgatory? When the Bible tells of Job making a sacrifice for his children, was he endorsing indulgences? When Paul spoke of “bearing one another's burdens”, was he talking about indulgences?
What is Purgatory? According to Catholic theology, purgatory is a place where your temporal sins are burned from you. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church “all who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified are indeed assured of their eternal salvation: bur after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” In other words, even if you are saved you must receive the punishment for your sins. Does this sound like the “good news” spoken of in the Bible? According to the Catholic Church there are ways to lesson or avoid purgatory. Some ways to avoid this burning punishment are indulgences, saying prayers, having a mass said on your behalf, doing the sign of the cross, and even good works. |
