Purgatory I
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PURGATORY
There are Mortal - Deadly & venial- non-deadly sins.
Letter of James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one;
14 but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.
1 John 5:16 If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.
17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.
If you or I die in the state of Mortal (Deadly) sin we lose our Salvation. Because the real 'Life" that the Bible is concerned with is the Life of our Soul and the real 'Death' that the Bible is concerned with is the Death of our Soul.
If you die in a sin that is not Deadly what happens?
Revelation 21:27 And2532 there shall1525 0 in no wise3364 enter1525 into1519 it846 any thing3956 that defileth2840, neither2532 whatsoever worketh4160 abomination946, or2532 maketh a lie5579: but1508 they which are written1125 in1722 the Lamb's721 book975 of life2222. [KJV]
2840 koinoo koy-no'-o
from 2839; to make (or consider) profane (ceremonially):--call common, defile, pollute, unclean.
Strong's Bible Dictionary
According to Scripture nothing 'profane' or unclean can enter Heaven! In other words we, ourselves have to be 'Holy' in order to enter Heaven.
And we know from Scripture that God calls each of us to 'perfection'.
Deu 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect8549 with the LORD3068 thy God430. (perfect: or, upright, or, sincere)
8549 tamiym taw-meem' [KJV]
from 8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth:--without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright(-ly), whole.
Strong's Bible Dictionary
Mat 5:48 Be2071 ye5210 therefore3767 perfect5046, even5618 as your5216 Father3962 which3588 is in1722 heaven3772 is2076 perfect5046. [KJV]
5046 teleios tel'-i-os
from 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect.
Strong's Bible Dictionary
God wants us to spend eternity with Him.
God knows that we must strive for 'Holiness' without which no one will see the Lord!
Heb 12:14 Follow1377 peace1515 with3326 all3956 men , and2532 holiness38, without5565 which3739 no man3762 shall see3700 the Lord2962: [KJV]
38 hagiasmos hag-ee-as-mos'
from 37; properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier:--holiness, sanctification.
Strong's Bible Dictionary
Without Purgatory or some intermediate state between Heaven and earth most people could not attain Heaven!
III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY
CCC 1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly
purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death
they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to
enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the
elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.
[...] The tradition of the Church, by reference
to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire: [1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.]
1 Corinthians 3:15 "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." [RSV]
The idea that Christ will someday judge the work of the Christian to determine its value, and that some Christians will suffer for their bad works done on earth but still be saved by fire.
Consequently, since "bad works" are sins, as Catholic theology teaches, then indeed Christians will be judged for their sins and recompensed accordingly. Some will be "destroyed," some will "be saved by fire," and others will receive their heavenly reward immediately. (Sungenis)
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says hat "whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come".
From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. [Mt 12:31]
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead,
already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore Judas Maccabeus] made
atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." [2 Macc 12:46]
2 2 Maccabees 12:46 "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." [RSV]
If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead
bring them some consolation? [Job 1:5]
Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.