Purgatory is a doctrine that can cause divisions among Christians, rather than unite them. The doctrine became prominent and was adopted by the Catholic around 1274. It is not a subject that we have discussed much in our home, because of our focus has been to live the life Christ has intend us to live eliminating a “need” for purgatory, if it does indeed exist. Additionally, as a family we never differentiated between types of sin – our approach has simply been: “Is it right or wrong before God?”

According to Catholic and other Orthodox doctrines, immediately after death, a person undergoes judgment in which the soul’s eternal destiny is determined. Some are eternally united with God in Heaven, envisioned as paradise of eternal joy. Others who die in hatred of God and Christ reach a state called Hell, being eternally separated from God, envisioned as fiery torment. However, some individuals are not free from the effects of sin and cannot enter heaven immediately. Since they are not so sinful and hateful Christ does not condemn them to Hell. They are destined to be united with God in heaven, but must first be cleansed in purgatory to achieve holiness and enter the joy of heaven.

The basis of the person’s destiny, and/or need for purgatory, exists in the minds of those who differentiate between types of sin. To some, mortal sin is grave and committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent and cannot be redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness. On the other hand, venal sin is forgivable because it does not set us in direct opposition to the will and friendship of God. If we die with only venal sins, but are still attached to a sinful life, we need purification, i. e. purgatory. John’s epistle (1 John 5:16) picks up on Jesus’ warning about the unforgiveable sin in Mark 3:28 – 30. So one must accept the concept of varying levels of sin. Packer points out that there are 3 types: (1) Those of transgressors in the public eye, (2 Samuel 12:7 – 10) who know better, (2) those that offend the Godhead by causing others to stumble (Matthew 18:6), and (3) those who deliberately willfully continue to defy God (Romans 1:32) and fall from grace (2 Peter 2:20 – 22).

So, yes we must agree that there are varying levels of sin. However, I think we have to go back to the concept that was discussed earlier this year of continual commitment to living in a state of sin (aorist tense used in 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 10) that appears to comply with Packer’s 3rd category. So, if this is true, the differentiating factor is where we find ourselves at the end of our days on earth. Now, before drawing this to conclusion, one other point that must be considered: Is there opportunity after death?

If you read 1 Peter 3:18 – 20 and 4:4 – 6, you might think that there was a “holding place” where people could receive the gospel after they died and repent at that point. However, I struggle with the fact that a person who has never been regenerated could live their lives without mortal sin. I agree with John Piper’s comment on these verses. “I take these words to mean that Christ, through the voice of Noah, went and preached to that generation, whose spirits are now ‘in prison,’ that is, in hell. In other words, Peter does not say that Christ preached to them while they were in prison. He says he preached to them once, during the days of Noah, and now they are in prison.” Most agree that Christ inspired the Holy Spirit to speak through Noah – not Christ doing the preaching (directly opposing Luke 16:19 – 31).

The answer is found in 1 John 1:7-9. If we repent and trust Christ, are not living in a continuous state of sin so that our prayers are unanswerable (John 9:31) then ALL sins, regardless of their magnitude, are forgiven. Therefore, there would be no need for a Purgatory because we are cleansed.

Love Dad