Posted on 10/29/2011 3:31:02 PM PDT by RnMomof7
Catholics who believe a purifying fire will purge away their sins are deluded victims of a fatal fabrication. The invention of a place for purification of sins called Purgatory is one of the most seductive attractions of the Roman Catholic religion. Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church described this deceptive hoax brilliantly. He said: "Purgatory is what makes the whole system work. Take out Purgatory and it's a hard sell to be a Catholic. Purgatory is the safety net, when you die, you don't go to hell. You go [to Purgatory] and get things sorted out and finally get to heaven if you've been a good Catholic. In the Catholic system you can never know you're going to heaven. You just keep trying and trying...in a long journey toward perfection. Well, it's pretty discouraging. People in that system are guilt-ridden, fear-ridden and have no knowledge of whether or not they're going to get into the Kingdom. If there's no Purgatory, there's no safety net to catch me and give me some opportunity to get into heaven. It's a second chance, it's another chance after death" (from "The Pope and the Papacy").
The Origin of Purgatory
There was no mention of Purgatory during the first two centuries of the church. However, when Roman Emperor Theodosius (379-395) decreed that Christianity was to be the official religion of the empire, thousands of pagans flooded into the Church and brought their pagan beliefs and traditions with them. One of those ancient pagan beliefs was a place of purification where souls went to make satisfaction for their sins.
The concept became much more widespread around 600 A.D. due to the fanaticism of Pope Gregory the Great. He developed the doctrine through visions and revelations of a Purgatorial fire. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia (CE), Pope Gregory said Catholics "will expiate their faults by purgatorial flames," and "the pain [is] more intolerable than any one can suffer in this life." Centuries later, at the Council of Florence (1431), it was pronounced an infallible dogma. It was later reaffirmed by the Council of Trent (1564). The dogma is based largely on Catholic tradition from extra- biblical writings and oral history. "So deep was this belief ingrained in our common humanity that it was accepted by the Jews, and in at least a shadowy way by the pagans, long before the coming of Christianity" (CE). It seems incomprehensible that Rome would admit to using a pagan tradition for the defense of one of its most esteemed "Christian" doctrines.
The Deception of Purgatory
Purgatory comes from the Latin word “purgare,” which means to make clean or to purify. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines purgatory as "a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions." They must be purified of these "venial" sins before they can be allowed into heaven. Here we see Catholicism perpetuating the seductive lie of Satan by declaring "you will not surely die" when you commit venial sins (Gen. 3:4). The Council of Trent dares to declare that "God does not always remit the whole punishment due to sin together with the guilt. God requires satisfaction and will punish sin...The sinner, failing to do penance in this life, may be punished in another world, and so not be cast off eternally from God." (Session 15, Can. XI). Those Catholic Bishops had the audacity to declare that the suffering and death of God's perfect man and man's perfect substitute was not sufficient to satisfy divine justice for sin.
The Motivation for Purgatory
Over the centuries billions of dollars have been paid to Roman Catholic priests to obtain relief from imaginary sufferings in Purgatory's fire. The Catholic clergy has always taught that the period of suffering in Purgatory can be shortened by purchasing indulgences and novenas, buying Mass cards and providing gifts of money. When a Catholic dies, money is extracted from mourning loved ones to shorten the deceased's punishment in Purgatory. When my dear old dad passed away as a devout Catholic of 79 years, I was amazed at the hundreds of Mass cards purchased for him by well-meaning friends. We have heard of other Catholics who have willed their entire estates to their religion so that perpetual masses could be offered for them after they die. It is no wonder that the Catholic religion has become the richest institution in the world. The buying and selling of God's grace has been a very lucrative business for the Vatican.
Another motivation for Rome to fabricate the heretical doctrine of Purgatory is its powerful effect on controlling people. Ultimately, the enslavement and subjugation of people is the goal of every false religion, and Purgatory does exactly that. The concept of a terrifying prison with a purging fire, governed by religious leaders, is a most brilliant invention. It holds people captive, not only in this life but also in the next life. Catholic clergy will not say how many years people have to suffer for their sins or how many Masses must be purchased before they can be released from the flames. This dreadful fear and uncertainty is the most ruthless form of religious bondage and deception!
Another motivation for Rome to fabricate the heretical doctrine of Purgatory is its powerful effect on controlling people. Ultimately, the enslavement and subjugation of people is the goal of every false religion, and Purgatory does exactly that. The concept of a terrifying prison with a purging fire, governed by religious leaders, is a most brilliant invention. It holds people captive, not only in this life but also in the next life. Catholic clergy will not say how many years people have to suffer for their sins or how many Masses must be purchased before they can be released from the flames. This dreadful fear and uncertainty is the most ruthless form of religious bondage and deception!
Another motivation for Rome to fabricate the heretical doctrine of Purgatory is its powerful effect on controlling people. Ultimately, the enslavement and subjugation of people is the goal of every false religion, and Purgatory does exactly that. The concept of a terrifying prison with a purging fire, governed by religious leaders, is a most brilliant invention. It holds people captive, not only in this life but also in the next life. Catholic clergy will not say how many years people have to suffer for their sins or how many Masses must be purchased before they can be released from the flames. This dreadful fear and uncertainty is the most ruthless form of religious bondage and deception!
Biblical Support for Purgatory
There is absolutely none! In fact, neither the word nor the concept of sin-purifying fire is found in Scripture. The Vatican was confronted with this in the 16th century when the Reformers protested its practice of buying and selling of God's grace through indulgences. Backed into a corner, the Council of Trent added the apocryphal books to its canon of Scripture. Rome now declares there is scriptural support for purgatory in the apocryphal book of Second Maccabees. The council ignored the fact that the Jewish scribes never recognized the apocryphal books as inspired or part of the Hebrew Scriptures. They were never included because of their many historical, theological and geographical errors. Since God is not the author of error, He obviously did not inspire the writers of the Apocrypha. This is why the Apocrypha was never included in the original canon of 66 books. ..........."
The Biblical Rebuke of Purgatory
God's Word leaves absolutely no possibility for sin to be purged away by anything other than the blood of Jesus Christ. The beloved apostle John penned these words with irrefutable clarity. He wrote, "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" and "all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:7, 9). John did not say "some" sins or "most" sins, but all sin! This soundly rebukes the need for a sin-purging fire. God's Word also declares, "All things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22). When Jesus "made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3). Those who desire to have their sins purged need to trust a person, not a place. The blood of Christ is the only cleansing agent for sin! Those who come to the cross of Christ must come with empty hands of faith, bringing nothing but their sins.
Every blood-bought believer is instantly present with their Redeemer at the moment of death. To be "absent from the body" is to be "at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:6-8). This good news was affirmed by the Lord Jesus with the promise He gave to the repentant thief at Calvary. He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). This habitual sinner did not need a fire to purge his sins.
Catholics who believe in Purgatory need to be asked: "Who is in charge of releasing souls from the purging fire?" It cannot be God because of His promise to believers. "Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more" (Heb. 10:17). After conversion, God no longer counts sins against His children (2 Cor. 5:19).
Purgatory is a travesty on the justice of God and a disgraceful fabrication that robs Christ Jesus of His glory and honor. He alone satisfied divine justice, once and for all, by the perfect and finished sacrifice of Himself. The fatal deception of Purgatory blinds Catholics from the glorious Gospel of grace. It is one of Satan's many lies which keep his captives from knowing and trusting the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. It is Christ alone that will present us "faultless before the presence of his glory" (Jude 24).
I shudder to think of the gnashing and tears when they realize upon death that there is no second chance. I can just imagine the cries of “it’s not my fault, the RCC said…”.
Post 199. See what I mean?
What a day that will be!
Ephesians 6:13 - Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Proof positive that God can use evil people for His purposes.
Or just the simple three letter word: ...”but...”
AMEN!
You seem to have bought into the lie that Catholics reject Scripture. The Church teaches that "Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit." The disconnect is that Catholics include Tradition in the revealed Word and Protestantism excludes the Tradition.
Until the 16th century Scripture, Tradition and the Church were conjoined throughout Christianity. The reformation, in order to destroy the authority of the Church had to destroy the Tradition. It really is your loss.
When you think you’re “saved” after a pathetic walk down an aisle when you’re 12 or 13. Saved for all time? And then you sin without regret, without reflection, you tell me, that your “Jesus” will save you? Never. Your Jesus isn’t the real one.
The Evil One makes it seem very easy! Just a simple walk down an aisle, and one’s reborn! Not true. Salvation is not assured, not in this life.
In all likelihood he didn't teach in Latin. In all likelihood the only Disciple that spoke Latin was the Tax Collector. Peter would have had little use one of the four maybe between John Peter, Andrew, &or James who were fishermen and possibly learned it for trade. Then again the ability for speaking Latin may have been given too them at Pentecost.
Paul the later Apostles likely did know Latin as he had much more advanced education as he was both Roman by his father and Jewish through his mother.
Israel was occupied and Romans were despised by most Jews for very good reason. Why do you think they would adopt the Roman language? The language of the Temple and most Jews was Aramaic.
Add as well that Jesus came first to the Jews and not the Gentiles. His teaching too Gentiles one on one was very limited. His ministry to Gentiles actually did not begin until after the cross meaning in the crowds He addressed. It began at The Great Commission when He ordered the Disciples to go into all nations. The Disciples namely Peter had to be told more than once too accept Gentiles. That was so scripture would be fulfilled. He had to be rejected by His own people and crucified. Yea a Roman Soldier, governors, king, governing Occupied Israel would certainly understand Aramaic as would likely the Scribes & Pharisees in the Jewish sect for obvious reasons.
The Gospel later being given to the Gentile was not by any stretch or sense of the word Christ rejection of Israel or any sort of replacing Israel with Gentiles. Paul covers that matter quite specifically. Salvation was given us so they would be jealous and seek it for themselves.
***..For no man has seen God and lived.***
Really?
Jdg 13:21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he [was] an angel of the LORD.
Jdg 13:22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because WE HAVE SEEN GOD.
Jdg 13:23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these [things], nor would as at this time have told us [such things] as these.
Was Jesus teaching when he conversed with Pilate?
Stephen likely saw him before being stoned and died moments from stoning. That can be assumed because Hhe saw Christ at the right hand of GOD. He would have too seen both or the glory thereof. John saw Him as well. John was shown heaven and the Throne Of GOD. How could either see GOD? They had sinned had they not? Yet they were very much alive and no Purgatory. Because they were made righteous before GOD through Jesus Christ.
"Not until the Third Council of Carthage, in A.D.397, do we have the first conciliar decision on the canon." - Henry Clarence Theissen, Introduction to the New Testament (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1943)p.26.
What in the WORLD did Christians do if they didn't know what books were in the NT, and therefore couldn't use them? Isn't that what the RCC claims? That without Her, no one knew which was what?
Want to know some history that PROVES that the books of the NT were known AND accepted by Christians and were ALSO in wide circulation and use AT LEAST 300 years before Carthage listed them?
"The Gospels and epistles were circulating in Asia, Syria, and Alexandria (less certainly in ROme), and being read and discussed in the Christian synogogues there by about 100 A.D. In Polycarp's short letter there is an astonishing amount of direct and indirect quotation from the New Testament: Matthew, Luke, and John, Acts, the letters to the Galatians, Thessalonians, Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Romans, the Pastorals, 1 Peter particularly, and 1 and 2 John are all used...The Christian Scriptures were quoted so familiarly as to suggest that they had been in regular use a long time."-W.H.C. Frend, noted historian, The Rise of Christianity (Philadelphia, 1984), p.135.
So much for Rome giving us the Bible. I think you are confusing "collecting the Scriptures" with "corrupting the Scriptures", conservativguy99.
Your ONE TRICK PONY is a one trick pony. How many times have you used it now? About 500? Put it out to pasture. It’s so old it’s getting sway-backed.
Like I stated Christ recorded interaction with Gentiles was very brief. John recorded the words Christ spoke to Pilate.
33Then Pilate went back inside and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked him. 34Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” 35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate asked. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you here. Why? What have you done?” 36Then Jesus answered, “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” 37Pilate replied, “You are a king then?” “You say that I am a king, and you are right,” Jesus said. “I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
It can be safely reasoned Christ ministry was in His peoples own language. Another reason too is he read the scrolls in the Temple. Do you suppose someone snuck in and penned them in Latin as well?
His parables as well were aimed at Hebrew customs as such mainly Jews understood the meaning during that time. Yes Jesus had some Gentile converts. The ones mentioned would have most likely understood every word of Aramaic Christ spoke.
You and your 15000 other protestant sects should finally wake up. Why do you always scream against the Church founded by Jesus? Protest-—ant. Your sects come and go, they have for almost 2000 years. Look at the Presbyterians or the methodists..... fill in the blank. There will always be the truth of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church will always be there until Jesus returns.
Except when the “truth” is found to be a “lie”. Then it’s either deny it’s a lie or attack the messenger as a bigot. The truth will out. It always does. God is not mocked.
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