Catholics and Punishment: We examine Catholic concepts of God’s punishment and purgatory.

There are two points we must emphasize to begin with. (1) Sin causes spiritual and physical harm to the person who sins (and others affected by the sinner). (2) Salvation is to nullify the effects of sin.

Jesus Christ died to save us from sin.

Although this is supposedly understood by Catholicism, they currently lack understanding. Why? The Catholic concept of purgatory is that through the sinner’s suffering, this suffering counterbalances sin. But God has not mandated that every person who desires salvation must suffer an amount according to their sins to enter heaven.

Catholic concepts and the Bible are poles apart. The Catholic idea that suffering in purgatory will purify an already dead person to make them acceptable for entry into heaven is completely wrong. Its error is also seen in its system of salvation by good works, which is also contrary to the Bible. But the two points are the same. Neither is salvation obtained by good works nor is the sinner purified by suffering; it is biblical.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

If salvation does not come from our good works, neither does it come from our sanctification nor cleansing from sins. We have God’s commandments, the perfect example of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to change our lives to be holy and godly. But it’s not us actually doing this, but God working His will within us, and we actively obey God. But even in this, we have nothing to boast about, or as Paul said, “lest anyone should boast.”

Paul said we receive this “grace of God” “free of charge.” In Ephesians 2:8-9, it is very clear that the saved person receives this gift of God’s grace through their faith in Jesus Christ, and we cannot earn this grace through good works or sacraments (nor by suffering in purgatory).

What is the Purpose of Purgatory (according to Catholics)?

They teach that purgatory is to purify the saved from their venial sins (those not so serious that they cannot enter heaven with mortal sins).

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

But the sacrifice of Jesus is to bring us to God. That is, after death, Jesus’ blood fulfills the promise that we will be immediately in God’s presence for all eternity. So, the false doctrine of purgatory contradicts this principle exactly. It proposes that our suffering—not Jesus’ suffering on the cross, through his death and bloodshed—but our suffering will bring us to God.

Purgatory Is Being Excluded From Heaven

Catholics invented the concept of purgatory to support their doctrine that we are saved by our good works. Catholics believe in sacraments, while the Bible teaches ordinances. The difference between the two is that an ordinance is a commandment that God commands the saved to observe, and it is closely tied to the local assembly. Catholic sacraments are good works for them, and their key concept is that “a sacrament communicates grace for salvation.” That is, their basis is not for someone already saved, but rather for good works to attain God’s grace.

It is very important to understand the concept of purgatory. Why does a person end up there, according to Catholic doctrine? First, only all Catholics who die in good standing with the Catholic Church go to purgatory. The rest go directly to hell. According to their doctrine, no “good” person (saved in the Catholic view) goes directly to heaven. Everyone must go to purgatory.

In other words, according to Catholic doctrine, if a Catholic dies doing everything they say they must do to be saved, it is still not enough for them to enter heaven directly at the moment of death.

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Jesus is the one who performs this work of purifying the saved (the saints, which are all the saved). It is not a work of salvation, but after and apart from obtaining salvation. However, being holy is proclaimed to the saved person at the moment of salvation, and the consequence of this salvation is a godly life, which we recognize as the process of sanctification. This process will end at the moment of death, and we immediately enter heaven with Jesus.

The author of Hebrews explained the Old Testament teaching that purification is through the blood alone. Of course, there were lesser things that were purified by other means. But sin, the worst offense of all, is remedied only by the blood. Therefore, purgatory (which comes from the Latin “to purge” or to purify) is a misconception that by suffering in a place imaged as hell, of intense physical suffering, we would be purified. This concept is a contradiction of the Bible in any case.

There is no time between death and heaven for the redeemed.

It is very important to note that Catholics insert a time (for those they consider saved, only Catholics) that is purgatory. But this is not biblical.

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Note that Jesus promised the sinful thief on the cross at his side that this very day he would go to heaven with Jesus. The Bible establishes and teaches the doctrine that for one saved, one redeemed by the work of Jesus Christ the Savior, to die is to go immediately to the presence of Jesus for eternity. Was Jesus deceived on this point? No. Did Jesus lie to the thief? No. The thief was not a pope, as Catholics would pretend, who doesn’t go to purgatory. He was a thief. With venial sins, as they claim, who demand purification through purgatory. This point and verse refute the doctrine of purgatory.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

The Bible makes it very clear that a person’s death is the point of judgment, and from this moment on, there is no change. Everyone (the rich man and Lazarus, for example) leaves their judgment and eternal destiny. The moment after he died, the rich man was immediately in Hades or hell. Lazarus also never had a moment without being in the presence of his Savior after he died.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

The concept of death in the Bible is not merely the cessation of life in the body. It is suffering in hell (Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8). Hell is a place of suffering with God’s punishment for sin. The redeemed are exempt from this punishment by their faith in Jesus Christ. If there were purgatory, a place like the Catholics want to teach, then it would be very similar to or the same as hell, except with a hope of escape after a certain time. But this hope would be very cruel if it isn’t true and people hope for it. But a place of suffering, whether hell or the place Catholics fabricate, purgatory, would be living death. This concept contradicts the promises God has given to those who hope in God’s salvation. It is either that there is a purgatory, as Catholics teach, or that God’s promises are not lies but the truth, and purgatory does not exist.

Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. t God and Jesus promise us are better promises than the Catholic Church pretends to promise. Simply put, Catholics are lying.

2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Paul taught this same doctrine. He understood that at the moment of death, he would be in the next moment in the presence of Jesus Christ his Savior. It was immediate. There was no time of “1,000 or 2,000” years for his entrance into heaven. He saw death as a gateway to eternity (Hebrews 9:27). In Philippians 1:23, he was contemplating death, and he didn’t see any time of suffering in a place like purgatory.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Those saved at the time of the rapture likewise go immediately into the presence of Jesus. This should be very clear from so many verses and passages that teach this. But Catholicism does not want the truth of the Bible because they seize power, control, and money by teaching a doctrine that is not biblical.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

The unsaved, those who have not received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, placing their faith in Him, go to hell. The concept of hell is physical suffering (see the rich man in Luke 16:22-23), but the worst part of this punishment is the separation from the Lord’s presence. Where there is someone in the Lord’s presence, there is no suffering or punishment. So, if purgatory is for every saved person (according to Catholics, only those who are saved), how is it possible that these supposedly redeemed are outside the Lord’s presence, suffering? If the Lord is with them in purgatory, how can they suffer?

The Work of Jesus Christ at Calvary Is Not Enough for Them

When Jesus proclaimed in John 19:30, “It is finished,” for Catholics, it was not finished, because they still require purification in purgatory before entering heaven. But they are very deceptive because they then place Mary in heaven, and just as when a pope dies, they immediately proclaim that this pope is with Mary in heaven with God.

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Catholics want to put sin as an obstacle between God and the redeemed after his death with the false doctrine of purgatory. But the sacrifice does not allow this to be the truth.

Likewise, there is a major biblical problem with the idea that a dead person undergoes their own purification to enter heaven. It is the work of Jesus that purifies us, and they miss this point either. The Bible speaks volumes about the doctrine of the sanctification of the saints here on earth. This is our purification once we are saved. It is the natural and logical consequence after being saved, and it is completely separate from the work of obtaining salvation. One obtains salvation only by faith in Jesus, not by good works.

Here we see another misconception. The concept of a “saint” (used 445 times in the Bible, and 210 times in the New Testament) is a saved person. This person is already a saint because, through the blood of Jesus, they are justified before God by their faith. As Abraham was justified by his faith, so are all. Therefore, God proclaims the person “a saint,” even though they still have actual sins, but they must strive to live godly.

Why does the Catholic Church beatify saints?

Wikipedia.org – Beatification.

This practice is to declare a good Catholic, an exemplary Catholic, as an official “saint” by the Church. Why doesn’t the Catholic Church call all saved people “saints” in its concept, as the Bible says? That’s the trick of Catholicism. They want to control their people and make money off them for their unbiblical customs. They are competing against the Bible; they do not represent God, nor are their doctrines or practices biblical.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The point and cause of our righteousness before God is the work of Jesus Christ, not what we do as good works. Of course, being saved and righteous before God, we must live this as the reality of our lives, out of a desire to honor our Savior.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Hebrews 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God; Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The difference between the Bible and Catholic doctrine is that the Bible places our sanctification solely in the work of Jesus Christ. We live holy lives, but it is a consequence of Jesus living within us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit physically within us. Hebrews 10:14 emphasizes that the key event in both our salvation and sanctification is Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. This was done once and for all, never to be repeated, nor anything added to it.

Priests teach the exact opposite of this every time they hold Mass, believing that through the elements of the cup and bread, they offer Jesus’ sacrifice anew each time. Boastingly, some say they call Jesus from heaven right now, and He must physically appear in the elements. This is what those who control Jesus, God, do.

The Catholic Church uses beatification (and being blessed, which is a degree of “saint” before beatification) so that its people then use this dead “saint” to intercede for them with God to obtain their requests. Catholics don’t understand that we have free access to God through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Ephesians 3:12 In whom (Jesus) we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Our access to heaven and God to the Father is through Jesus Christ, if we have saving faith in His saving work on the cross personally. This access is “with confidence.”

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

But the point here is very important. The focus of our entry into heaven and our well-being with God—that we are saints by God’s proclamation and equally in deed—is the blood of Jesus Christ our High Priest. This special priesthood of Jesus Christ canceled the imperfect priesthood of the Jews (and Catholics try to revive this priesthood with the same imperfections in their Church). Jesus Christ replaced these priesthoods with His own, which is perfect (the High Priest is sinless), and because this High Priest is eternal, or always making intercession for us. The Catholic Church fails greatly in trying to operate a system of human priests with imperfections, not called by God as Jesus is called for this.

Neither Catholic priests nor the Catholic system can remove or rescue a sinner from God’s condemnation.

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Our salvation is through faith in the Savior. Our sanctification is the same. But if Paul declares that we will be saved from the wrath of God, and Catholics teach that purgatory is God’s wrath and condemnation for our sins, aren’t the redeemed saved from purgatory? This will be God’s wrath as well, right? The concept of purgatory simply goes against everything the Bible teaches. It’s false doctrine.

One cannot effect the Redemption of anyone.

Human beings do not understand that it is impossible for a human being to rescue a soul from God’s punishment. It must be someone who is God, incarnated in humanity, and must be without sin, who dies for us.

Psalms 49:6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; Psalms 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

It is noteworthy that the Catholic Church and priests teach that the rescue of the soul from purgatory is through a Mass, and they collect this money. The psalmist explicitly states that it is not through money, although the rich without God believe and practice that it is possible.

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus came to accomplish this ransom. The Bible does not place ransom in membership in a particular church, nor in the Catholic sacraments or good works, but only in faith in Jesus Christ.

Our Purification is Our Sanctification

Perhaps this point will be completely lost on a Catholic indoctrinated with the concepts of salvation through good works that supposedly give them grace to be saved and purgatory. However, as a consequence of faith and the certainty of salvation, the redeemed (already destined for heaven immediately upon death) as a consequence of their salvation by Jesus Christ have their soul purified by the Holy Spirit who dwells within them from the moment of saving faith. This process is not what brings salvation, but it is the result of salvation (after being saved).