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 Gods 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'm likely the worst for that. I rely on spell check which catches some errors. But the way my ability to read and transcribe or think and transcribe can quickly lead too incomplete sentences. The problem is I can't detect them a lot of times. Not intentional or lazy but it's just a neurological issue I was born with.
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You make one good confession then can do whatever you like and still get a free pass. Now THATs a cult.
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Ya, that’s a Jesus cult...You are responding to scripture I posted...Don’t want to believe God, don’t...Believe your religion instead...
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Where do you even get this stuff? Make a good confession and do what you like? Do you really believe that you or anybody else can fool God?
Are you suggesting that God is stupid? Do you think God doesn’t know if you are not sincere? That you are not repentant?
Would that be considered blasphemy on your part?
As I'm sure you very well know, it is also very possible that Jesus spoke to Pilate in Greek.
Not to draw too fine a point, but Timothy 3:16-17 does not say that the Scripture thoroughly equips. It says that Scripture contributes (is profitable) to us becoming equipped (furnished). The Greek word for Profitable (ophelimos) does not mean sufficient or exclusive, it means contributory and beneficial. It in no way even suggests exclusivity or the ironically unscriptural doctrine of Sola Scriptura.
Sorry for the delay in getting my prior comments out, but: any thoughts? I hope I didn’t say something to offend...
No, not at all. I’ve just been a little busy trying to make some money. I’ll take some time and reply, it may have to be a personal reply. But heck no, no offense at all, not in the least.
:) What a concept...! No worries about speed; reply when you have leisure.
IT DOES NOT SAY HE SAW ANYONE.
JOHN SAW THE THRONE IN THE FUTURE AFTER THE RESURECTION.
IT DOES NOT SAY HE SAW ANYONE.
JOHN SAW THE THRONE IN THE FUTURE AFTER THE RESURECTION.
7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 00249 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. PMY MISTAKE HE SAW THE GLORY OF GOD. NO GOD HIMSELF ISIHIA SAW THE TRAIN OF GOD AND WAS FILLED WITH WOO.
John 00018 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Yes indeed it does and very plainly. Stephen states what he saw and witnesses gave account of his words. How would Stephen know who was at the right hand of Jesus he was seeing?
Acts ch 7 54The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephens accusation, and they shook their fists in rage.£ 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at Gods right hand. 56And he told them, Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at Gods right hand!
JOHN SAW THE THRONE IN THE FUTURE AFTER THE RESURECTION.
He would be seeing in The Revelation Chapter 4 a point in time where the Bride of Christ {Believers} are in heaven called forth from earth but before The Tribulations begin. The 24 Elders are in robes of white and seated. None the less John saw what he saw and lived his life. One point needed to be made here is this. How were they able too see what Moses and even Elijah could not? What had not yet been given too man? The Holy Spirit which dwells in us. Both accounts both Stephen and John they saw what they saw through The Holy Spirit. Why could the Apostle Paul going to Damascus not see Christ but only hear Him? Same reason. Paul had not yet accepted Christ and thus did not receive the Holy Spirit yet. What did Simon Peter realize and who told him? Was it Christ who even allowed him to know? Or the Father?
Matt ch 16 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 14Well, they replied, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. 15Then he asked them, Who do you say I am? 16Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17Jesus replied, You are blessed, Simon son of John,£ because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18Now I say to you that you are Peter,£ and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell£ will not conquer it. 19And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven. 20Then he sternly warned them not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus tells him you did not learn this from any human being but my Father in heaven revealed it too you. The next verse too follow describes the church. It is a church of Divine Revelation of GOD to man through The Holy Spirit dwelling in each who believe. Man does not have too tell us the truth GOD through the Holy Spirit reveals too us. The Church is The Holy Spirit within us through our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that makes all who believe The Church. It's minister is The Holy Spirit. The gates of hell can not prevail against the power of The Holy Spirit nor The Trinity. When do we receive it? Or better yet when did Peter and the rest receive the keys?
John Ch 20 22Then he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyones sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven.
The Holy Spirit dwelling in us prays for us even in utterance can not hear nor understand. The Holy Spirit continually ministers too us. The Holy Spirit is the keys. That is the church. Very few churches these days meaning denominational go into just how important a roll The Holy Spirit is in our lives and how it teaches our individual spirits forming the church the truth too GODs will and not man.
***God many in the old testament when seeing an angel counted it as seeing God.***
Like when Abraham saw the three angels and barganed with them?
Read Genesis ch 18 about how many times Abraham talked to them and ....”The LORD SAID...”
v 13 And the LORD said...
v 17 And the Lord said...
v 20 And the LORD said...
V 22 And the men turned their faces from hence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
V 26 And the LORD said...
Abraham addresses the third angel as The LORD several times.
v 33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left off communicating with Abraham.
Three showed up at Abraham’s camp, Two showed up at Sodom. Who was the third?
And it was MOSES who was placed in the cleft of the rock.
I started replying to the prior post and didn’t see the second one yet. The reply took a lot of time for me too put together so I missed the second one. Sorry about that.
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