43. Is Purgatory Biblical?
Purgatory is a vital component in a spirituality of works-righteousness that rests upon the attaining of merit rather than justification by free grace.
DONALD BLOESCH
Purgatory is a Roman Catholic teaching primarily discovered in the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees 12:43-46. Essentially, purgatory is a place where those who died in “God’s grace” go to be “purged” of their pardonable sins before going to be with God in heaven. As attractive as this idea may be to some, purgatory is not without problems.
First, this teaching is rooted in the Apocrypha. This is important to note as the Apocrypha wasn’t accepted as part of the biblical canon by Jews and Protestants. As Christians our teaching about the afterlife is derived first and foremost from those books that are fully accepted as Scripture.
Second, purgatory fails to recognize the total sufficiency of the cross. It does so by having those who died in grace pay the penalty dished out to them for their venial (forgivable) sins. Instead of the cross being sufficient, the person in purgatory adds a bit to Christ’s finished work in order to make their way to heaven.
Third, Jesus and His disciples never teach about purgatory. This is crucial. If purgatory were indeed part of God’s plan of salvation, you would think there’d be New Testament evidence for it. But there’s not. Purgatory is without a trace in the New Testament. And any argument used to justify it from the New Testament is found wanting.
Fourth, purgatory directly contradicts Scripture. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Where did the thief on the cross go when he died? Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). He didn’t say, “You’ll first be purged.” If anyone could use a little purging, it was the thief on the cross, yet he was ushered directly into Paradise.
Regrettably, purgatory leaves many people believing they’ll spend a period of time being purged for their smaller sins. Thankfully, we are declared righteous by God’s grace, and it’s His mercy that suits us for heaven, not a post-mortem season of purging. Big or small, all sins are cleared at the cross for believers. Jesus said it best, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Thought to Ponder
If purgatory is true, then the atonement didn’t pay for all of our sins.
Memory Verse
It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
Question to Consider
Why is purgatory an attractive doctrine to some people?
One-Minute Apologist Video
Bobby Conway, “Is Purgatory Biblical?”