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PURGATORY BY RYAN HICKS © 1996-1999 Ryan Hicks |
The Roman Catholic Catechism, in reference to purgatory, says in paragraph 1030, "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven."
If you believe this you have utterly compromised the entire gospel and simply believe another gospel, a false gospel. The Bible talks about such false gospels and says,
Galatians 1:6-9
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Twice Paul makes the point under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that people preaching any other gospel than that of the apostles (i.e. The twenty seven books of the New Testament, Matthew-Revelation) "let him be accursed." No, they are not blessed. They are not forgiven in advance. They are accursed!
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Do not let the Roman Catholic Church talk you out of the blessings in Christ! You cannot fully accept the above verse if you are a Catholic because you will have to go to purgatory to be perfectly purified! This is saying that God is not great enough to keep His word and CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!
Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Jesus HAS purified unto Himself a peculiar people. The Catholic Church may try to deceive you into believing that you are purified in purgatory and not by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, but God is true! You must accept God's word if you ever desire to come to God. You cannot be saved believing that your salvation from all sin and unrighteousness comes from punishment in purgatory. THE LORD JESUS ALREADY TOOK THE PUNISHMENT FOR ALL THOSE THAT WILL REPENT AND BELIEVE ON HIM!
1 Peter 1:22-23
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
It is clear from the Scriptures that we have purified our souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren! There is absolutely no need for purgatory. All you must do is be born again by the incorruptible seed of the word of God! Then through your obedience to the truth you remain purified by the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:6-7 puts it this way, "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." The Catholic Church rejects that if you are indeed a friend of God and have fellowship with Him and His Son that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. No they say, "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven."
1 John 3:1-10
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
True believers purify themselves and never need to be purified by punishment in purgatory. Reject such foolishness and believe the Bible, God's word! Be a child of God by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ in full repentance and faith! The Lord God will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness if you do this today (1 John 1:9)!
