Originally posted by Living_stone:
It IS in scripture.
Matt. 5:26,18:34; Luke 12:58-59 – Jesus teaches us, “Come to terms with your opponent or you will be handed over to the judge and thrown into prison. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” The word “opponent” (antidiko) is likely a reference to the devil (see the same word for devil in 1 Pet. 5:8) who is an accuser against man, and God is the judge. If we have not adequately dealt with satan and sin in this life, we will be held in a temporary state called a prison, and we won’t get out until we have satisfied our entire debt to God. This “prison” is purgatory where we will not get out until the last penny is paid.
You are reading into Scripture things that are not there--typical for a Catholic.
First, he is not talking of the devil or Satan. He is talking of one's adversary, one whom he has offended. Agree with him. Make things right. When offences come, if things are not made right quickly then they tend to escalate and get even worse.
The whole meaning of this verse is given in the context of the law, expecially the sixth commandment. In other words settle your accounts out of law. It is better that you settle your account with your adversary out of court lest in court you suffer a much greater fate--like spending time in jail (depending on the offence). Agree with thine adversary. Settle with him. This has nothing to do with purgatory. It has to do with earthly matters.
Jesus specifically says "lest thou be cast into prison." It does not speak of purgatory, nor can be construed as such.
Matthew 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
--There is no purgatory here. This is a matter of forgiveness. Jesus is teaching that we should forgive one another. The Lord had forgiven his servant; but his servant had not forgiven his slave. The Lord was therefore angry with his servant's attitude. God does not condone those with an unforgiving spirit. Study the "Lord's Prayer," as you find in Mat.6, and be sure to read the verses immediately following on forgiveness. The Lord puts a premium on forgiving one another. There is nothing here about purgatory.
Luke 12:58-59 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
--Again this has to do with court, and the sixth commandment. Agree with thine adversary out of court. If it goes to court before the judge the outcome will be far worse for you. It has nothing to do with purgatory. Don't read into Scripture things that are not there.
Matt. 5:48 - Jesus says, "be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect." Very few of us are perfect now. We are only made perfect through purification, and in classical Christian teaching, this purification, if not completed on earth, is continued in a transitional state named "purgatory", "the place of purging of sin".
Hogwash! The Old English word "perfect" means complete or mature. In the Greek it is "teleios." It does not mean perfect as in sinless. Jesus would not give his disciples a command that would be impossible to keep. As God was complete in His attributes, so he expected his disciples to be complete: just, fair, holy, loving, merciful, kind, (the fruit of the Spirit). The only attributes that they could not emulate are those that are attributable to God alone: omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience.
There is no purgatory in this verse.
Luke 12:47-48 - when the Master comes (at the end of time), some will receive light or heavy beatings but will live. This state is not heaven or hell, because in heaven there are no beatings, and in hell we will no longer live with the Master.
The context is at the Lord's Coming.
Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
The audience is the disciples. That is who he is speaking to.
The application seems to be to all.
Luke 12:41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
Here is the faithful and wise servant's lot (the believer's):
Luke 12:43-44 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
He seems to be speaking of the Millennial Kingdom though the application could be made to Heaven.
Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
--This seems to be speaking of the unbeliever's lot. If it is speaking of the Millennial Kingdom it is speaking of the punishment that he will receive at that time. If not, it is speaking of Hell. Either way it has no reference to purgatory. You can't read into Scripture things that are not there.
1 Cor. 3:10-15 - works are judged after death and tested by fire. Some works are lost, but the person is still saved. Paul is referring to the state of purgation called purgatory. The venial sins (bad works) that were committed are burned up after death, but the person is still brought to salvation. This state after death cannot be heaven (no one with venial sins is present) or hell (there is no forgiveness and salvation).
You are way off here.
There is no state of purgation. You are making this up.
Thre is no purgatory. You are making this up.
There are no venial sins. You are making this up.
You have made up a man-made doctrine by reading into Scripture things that are not there.
This is speaking of the judgement seat of Christ where, as it says, the works of all the believers, will be judged. This is not the salvation of believers being judged, but their works. It has to do with the giving out of rewards accordingly.
Some people's works will count for nothing and will be burned up just as wood, hay and stubble are burned up. Other's works (done with a pure heart for the Lord) will endure the fire, as gold silver and precious stones endure fire and become even more refined. They are the ones that will receive reward for their works. But no one will be lost. All will be saved, some so as by fire. That is they may have no works to give to the Saviour, all their works may be burned, but they themselves will be saved. There is no purgatory. This simply has to do with the judgement of the works of the believers. Read it again. There is not purgatory. There is no such thing as venial sins. Don't read into Scripture things that are not there.
2 Tim. 1:16-18 - Onesiphorus is dead but Paul asks for mercy on him “on that day.” Paul’s use of “that day” demonstrates its eschatological usage Of course, there is no need for mercy in heaven, and there is no mercy given in hell. Where is Onesiphorus? He is in purgatory.
Nonsense!! Here is a quote from Albert Barnes:
Verse 18. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day. The day of judgment. Cmt. on 2Ti 1:12. This proves that Onesiphorus was then alive, as Paul would not offer prayer for him if he were dead. The Papists, indeed, argue from this in favour of praying for the dead--assuming from 2Ti 4:19, that Onesiphorus was then dead. But there is no evidence of that. The passage in 2Ti 4:19 would prove only that he was then absent from his family.
Do you have any proof that Onesiphorus was dead?
Heb. 12:23 - the spirits of just men who died in godliness are "made" perfect. They do not necessarily arrive perfect. They are made perfect after their death. But those in heaven are already perfect, and those in hell can no longer be made perfect. These spirits are in what catholics would call purgatory.
Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
--The Book of Hebrews is a book of contrasts. Again you fail to read the context. He was contrasting how the Israelites had come to Mount Sinai where they received the Law of Moses and were incorporated as one assembly into one nation under God. The key word in Hebrews is "better."
But we "Christians" have something better.
We, in heaven, will have one large general assembly in heaven composed of all just men who have been made perfect throught the blood of Christ. There is no purgatory here.
Read Heb.9:22
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
There is no purgatory in the Bible. It is a fictious man-made doctrine.
I will not deal with the other two references as they are outside the canon of Scripture.
DHK
