Hebrews 12:14 gives a clear biblical basis as to why final sanctification is necessary. It says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (NIV). Now, is this the “holiness” we receive by “faith alone”? If so, why is the writer of Hebrews telling these believers that they must attain to a degree of holiness in order to see the Lord? Forgiveness of sins is one thing; becoming actually holy is quite another.
Purgatory is the final stage of sanctification, the sanctification without which no one will see God (Heb 12:14). “And nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev 21:27).
This is explicity indicated in
"Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become manifest; for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire" (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
Jesus himself adds to this when he speaks in Matthew 12:32 of a sin which will neither be forgiven in this age nor the age to come, implying that some sins (venial ones of which we have not repented before death) will be forgiven when we repent the first moment of our afterlife.
St. Paul tells us, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life” (Rom 6:22). Sanctification follows the forgiveness of sins. The result of this sanctification (becoming holy) is eternal life. The writer of Hebrews tells us how this sanctification comes about: “For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness” (Heb 12:10).
Hebrews 12:14 gives a clear biblical basis as to why final sanctification is necessary. It says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (NIV). Now, is this the “holiness” we receive by “faith alone”? If so, why is the writer of Hebrews telling these believers that they must attain to a degree of holiness in order to see the Lord? Forgiveness of sins is one thing; becoming actually holy is quite another. Stephen saw Him as did John before their deaths. What purified them? Go back to Moses who on Mt Sinai was with GOD though he could not see Him but only a shadow? Or back to the N.T. what happened to Saul going to Demascus? Did he see anyone? No. He only heard. Why? Saul had to ask who he was talking too. Stephen did not have to be told whom he was seeing before he was stoned too death. Christ purified Stephen just as Christ had purified His disciples who walked and talked with Him after His resurection.
Christ imediately after His resurection He first appeared to a few of His disciples and at that time told them not too touch him yet because He had not been before The Father. He went before the Father in a period imediately after His death and after His disciples saw him tHim the first time. During that time His Father accepted The Lamb of GOD's sacrifice. The purification for you, me, Mary, and all who believe was completed and accepted.