1/29/19 Matt (see HERE)
Is it
possible to believe in both Jesus and the necessity of “purgatory” to cleanse
us of our sins? That was the question an
engineering major named Matt and I wrestled with in answer to my question about
what happens after we die.
Matt is
a devoted Catholic – devoted to Jesus but also devoted to the Catholic
doctrines he has been taught. He sees
Jesus’ death and resurrection as an essential part of his faith and the way to
salvation, but nonetheless still feels the need to be cleansed of his sins in
purgatory after he dies. He hopes he
will prove to have a faithful heart that chooses to repent of sin and willing
to undergo the painful process of cleansing in purgatory.
As we talked,
I began to realize Matt has a different concept of the purpose of this “cleansing”
process. For him I think it means a sort
of perfecting of our character so that he will finally be acceptable in God’s
presence. This perfecting is only
completed by undergoing suffering, he said, much as Jesus did.
I think
what Matt was describing was the process of sanctification that we as
Protestants understand to take place after salvation. It is a result OF being saved, not something
that results IN being saved. This might
seem like a minor change in words, but it represents a major theological difference.
Salvation
is to be understood as something only God can accomplish. It is “…not of works, so that no one may
boast.” (Eph. 2:9) We need salvation because we are separated from a right relationship with God. This
unrighteousness is not based on the ugliness of our sin and ourselves as
sinners, but our legal indebtedness. God
can work in our lives despite our sin because of His great love and mercy, but
He won’t tolerate our unforgiven sin because of His love for justice. Legally, the debt for our sin must be paid,
and no one other than God Himself can pay it.
Colossians
2 says as much. In verse 13 it reads “When
you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made
you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge
of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has
taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
There is
our sin, there is our guilt, “nailed to the cross” as it were. Jesus paid it all; no further payment is due. We were dead in sin, now we are alive in
Christ.
But life
brings growth and maturity, and through a process of sanctification in this
life and by the power of the Holy Spirit we do change and become more
Christlike, producing the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Matt’s
argument was that this process of sanctification also continues in purgatory,
regardless that Christ brings salvation.
But his uncertainty about salvation betrays a trust in his own works and
worth, rather than faith in Christ’s finished work of redemption on the
cross. In Christ we can be certain of
salvation, for “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with
freedom and confidence.” (Eph. 3:12)
My prayer
for Matt – and his prayer request for himself – is for clarity on this issue
and a better ability to articulate his faith.
My hope is that he will turn to a greater dependence on God’s Word than
the traditions of man, and I trust that there he will find the clarity he is
looking for.
Thanks
Matt, for allowing me to record our conversation! It can be seen HERE
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