To: metmom
Oh quite the contrary.
We know that our sins are forgiven, yet we still sin.
Are they forgiven before we have committed them?
Are they forgiven before we have confessed them?
Are they forgiven before we have repented of them?
Revelations tells us no unclean thing can enter heaven.
In the Gospel of Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus says that the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this age or the age to come. This in Jesus’ own words tells us that some sins can be forgiven, even after death, since the earthly life is one age, and the eternal life another.
Then in 1 John 1:9-10, we hear, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” So, how are these sins forgiven.?
If we have unforgiven sins at the time of our death, how can we ask forgiveness? And if we haven’t asked forgiveness for those sins, how can Jesus cleanse us? We’re dead, we can’t speak with our mouth or our heart.
Hebrews tells us the righteous in heaven have been perfected. How are the righteous perfected? When?
1 Corinthians tells us that each man’s work will be tested as though by fire, and if that work survives, the builder will receive a reward, if the work is consumed, the builder will suffer its loss and yet be saved, but only as through fire.
The purifying fire, if that is what happens in Purgatory is not the same as the punishing fire of hell.
We also don’t know if the fire is just a metaphor for the burning of love for Jesus in our hearts that convicts us and makes us ready to be with him.
No one perfectly knows their sin or perfectly confesses them. When we are judged, we will see many sins that we didn’t even register when they occurred.
Purgatory is a gift from God so that though we are still imperfect upon our death, uncleansed of sin, we are not denied life with Him.