Yes purgatory exists.
I repeat - the Lord opened the Gates - he went to hell (*Sheol) and released the faithful.
There are no sinners in Heaven.
We are all sinners - we must be purged.
You must have missed the part that tells us that Christ already did that for us.
We Christians have been 'purged' already...
Yes, we are ALL sinners, utterly without hope UNTIL Christ came. By his sacrifice on the cross, all of our sin has been purged, taken away, removed from us, cleansed, sanctified, made righteous, justified, and glorified. The word "purge" means:
v., purged, purg·ing, purg·es.
v.tr. 1.
a.To free from impurities; purify.
b.To remove (impurities and other elements) by or as if by cleansing.
2.To rid of sin, guilt, or defilement.
3.Law. To clear (a person) of a charge or an imputation. Often used with respect to contempt of court.
v.intr.
1.To become pure or clean.
1.The act or process of purging.
2.Something that purges, especially a medicinal purgative. [Middle English purgen, from Old French purgier, from Latin pūrgāre, from pūrus, pure.]
http://www.answers.com/topic/purge
Even in the times before Christ came, those who worshipped the true God, knew that there was no way they could purge themselves of their sins:
Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalm 65:3
Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
Psalm 79:9
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
So that when Jesus came, as the Messiah, the Christ, those who worshipped the true God found out that he was STILL in the purgation business.
Hebrews 1:2-3 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high