Purgatory and the Judgment of our Works

Purgatory and the Judgment of our Works

Laurence Gonzaga

A coworker came to my desk.

She asked where purgatory is taught in the Bible.

I showed her 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

She read it.

"Oh, there it is..."

Exactly. That simple when you don't assume it's not there.

It's pretty clear, once you have been taught by 2000 years of history and tradition. Not by some 2022 sola scripturist that hasn't been taught or sent by the Church to teach.

Here are some ideas and passages to note...

We are salted by fire:

"49 For everyone will be salted with fire.[a] 50 (A)Salt is good, (B)but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? (C)Have salt in yourselves, and (D)be at peace with one another.”

(Mark 9:49, ESV)

We are tested by fire:

"12 Beloved, do not be surprised at (A)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."

(1Peter 4:12, ESV)

Our works will be judged:

"God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life."

(Romans 2:6-7, NIV)

"Those who are vengeful

will suffer the Lord’s vengeance,

    because the Lord keeps strict count

    of their sins."

(Sirach 28:1, NIV)

"I tell you, (A)on the day of judgment (B)people will give account for (C)every careless word they speak, 37 for (D)by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

(Matthew 12:36-37, ESV)

"Since you call on a Father(A) who judges each person’s work(B) impartially,(C) live out your time as foreigners(D) here in reverent fear."

(1 Peter 1:17, NIV)

"The dead were judged(F) according to what they had done(G) as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades(H) gave up the dead(I) that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.(J) 14 Then death(K) and Hades(L) were thrown into the lake of fire.(M) The lake of fire is the second death."

(Revelations 20:12-13, NIV)

Only the pure will be in heaven:

"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life."

(Revelation 21:27, NIV)

"They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness."

(Hebrews 12:10, NIV)

You are justified, that is, made right with God, by works:

"14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith (A)but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 (B)If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 (C)and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[a] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith (D)apart from your works, and I will show you my faith (E)by my works. 19 (F)You believe that God is one; you do well. Even (G)the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 (H)Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that (I)faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed (J)by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, (K)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a (L)friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

(James 2:14-24, ESV)

We make up for what is lacking:

"Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church."

(Colossians 1:24, NIV)

You will be judged based on your works; Notice it's not justification before men, but with God:

"6 (A)He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who (B)by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking[a] and (C)do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."

(Romans 2:6-8, ESV)

Your works will be tested by fire, and if they withstand the fire you'll get a reward, if not, you will suffer, but be saved by and through fire:

"12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 (X)each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed (Y)by fire, and (Z)the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, (AA)he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, (AB)but only as through fire."

(1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

These 2 people in 1 Cor 3:12-15 are dead, both of their works are being tested/judged, it's Judgement Day ("for the Day will disclose it"), both are SAVED (receive a reward/saved), but one suffers loss (works are burned up), and SAVED "only as through FIRE". 

***

Protestant theology has no fire in their salvation process, but Catholic theology does, it's known as Purgatory, where the justified go through a process of purification before entering heaven.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 

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.

***

Protestants have no choice but to interpret the Bible on their own. In fact that's their common argument against Roman Catholicism. "They kept the Bible from the people because they were afraid you would read it for yourselves"

But what does the Bible teach about you interpreting the Bible for yourselves?

"knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation."

(2 Peter 1:20, ESV)

Protestants claim that traditions are bad because of "traditions of men", but what about traditions that come from the Apostles? Not the least of which were the traditions of which books are authentic for the New Testament or the authors of those books. So, keep the Apostles' traditions, both written and spoken.

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter."

(2 Thessalonians 2:15, ESV)

Protestants can't claim to teach with authority because their pastors have no authority to teach. They need to be sent by the apostles through the Church. They claim the Scriptures are so clear that you can understand for yourself and don't need the Church to teach you. But what does the Bible say about interpretating some of the writings of Paul?

"16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. (A)There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, (B)as they do the other Scriptures."

(2 Peter 3:16, ESV)

Some try to understand the Bible on their own, but if they're humble, they'll realize how tough it is without an authorized teacher sent by God.

"29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, (F)“How can I, unless someone (G)guides me?” And (H)he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. "

(Acts 8:29-31, ESV)

This is why Jesus established the Church, upon a solid foundation among the apostles, the Apostle St. Peter, the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

"18 And I tell you, (A)you are Peter, and (B)on this rock[a] I will build my church, and (C)the gates of (D)hell[b] shall not prevail against it."

(Matthew 16:18, ESV)

Conclusion

1. Christ established the Catholic Church with the authority to teach. (Matt 16:18, Matt 18:18)

2. Preachers need to be sent by the authority of the Church and the Apostles. (John 13)

3. The message the authorized preachers teach is true because it preserves the Tradition that was given and handed on by the Apostles. (2 These 2:15, 2 Tim 1:13, 2 Tim 2:2)

4. Purgatory, among other teachings of the Church, have come down to us from the Apostles via oral tradition and written tradition.

5. Purgatory is taught in the written tradition most notably in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

6. Purgatory is real, scriptural, and you should believe it.

For more in-depth study on purgatory, I recommend:

1. The biblical basis for purgatory by John Salza

2. Purgatory is for real by Karlo Broussard

3. Catholic apologetics study Bible: 1 Corinthians by Robert Sungenis