Tanner
The Catholic Church teaches that there is an initial justification through Jesus Christ in baptism (John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Cor 10:1-2; Col 2:11-12; Titus 3:5; Heb 10:22; 1Peter 3:20-21; Matt 28:19). However, we are not completed in perfection yet.
John 14:21 - this verse indicates that we have to keep the commandments in order to show that we love Him.
Luke 1:6 - again, walking in all the commandments is a requirement.
Matt 24:13 - we must endure in order to be saved.
Matt 7:21 - a careful warning to all Christians.
Philippians 2:12-13 - Paul was certainly not assured of his initial justification being enough to gain entry into heaven. He knew he had to work in the grace of God.
James 2:24-26 - so Rahab was justified by her works not her faith alone.
1 Cor 10:12 - another warning that we should remain humble and call upon the grace of God to keep us from falling.
Rom 8:24-25 - if we are already saved in the protestant sense, then it is not hope but assurance. Paul clearly refutes this false doctrine.
1 Cor 9:27 - Paul is clearly not assured of his salvation and knows he is in desperate daily need of God’s grace in order to gain that final salvation that he hopes for.
1 Cor 13:4-13 - notice that the greatest of these virtues is love NOT faith. It is faith working in love not faith alone on a particular time in history that saves us.
1 Peter 3:20-21
The verses above indicate that salvation is a process. We are initially justified then through the grace of God he perfects us. It is not a case of either/or but it can be all of those things mentioned. Baptism, professing, enduring etc. that finally saves us. So when we look at verses like 1 Cor 3:14-15 purgatory makes perfect sense because as the passage tells us, we, through the work of Christ on the cross, are able to be cleansed of all impurities when we die - although salvation has still been obtained.
I find it interesting that many protestants insist that it is THEIR profession of belief in Christ that saves them. It seems to be a ‘salvation by works’ theology, because believing is a work of sorts. On the other hand, the Catholic Church teaches that is by God’s grace that we are saved. Even our works are a gift of grace given to us.
Perhaps Tanner, you could illuminate us with your interpretation of some of those verses, particularly the ones pertaining to purgatory that have been provided. I would be particularly interested in how you would interpret 1 Cor 3:14-15, because this seems to refute your understanding of us being totally cleansed permanently at the time of our justification. If we are made righteous, as you understand, then why do our works have to undergo a test and why do we have to suffer loss (after death)?
Scripture interprets itself; but most people do not possess the Holy Spirit; but claim to know Christ. Part of the problem is they don’t bother to ask the proper question, which is “does Christ know me?” This takes a real heart examination of what the standard is and how to you measure up to that standard, then what to do about that deadly deficiency on Gods terms.
If you are interested in what God says I have already given you the most important part, which is God cannot dwell in a place of sin; therefore He cannot dwell in a person unless they have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. Justification is separate from sanctification in the sense that justification begins and ends at the moment a person truly believes and God knows the heart and cleanses it, then the sanctification process begins and lasts till the glorification at the death of the flesh.
Here is a definitive verse, right next to to the verse you asked me to address:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 -
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
You do know what Holy means? The demons do.
Mark 1 -
23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!”
Hopefully you get the point and will consider this in your meditations on the Word; do not take what I say or think; do not take any person word, see for yourself via Scripture. If it is found to be true, then embrace it and be thankful; if not then reject it and be thankful.
To your question;
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 -
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is {to be} revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains,
he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Who is he speaking to? God’s children. What is the issue? Rewards based on works during the sanctification of the life of the child of God. If the works were done for God and not another motive, then you will receive a reward in addition to eternal life.
Where do you suspect these “rewards” are being given? Heaven or purgatory?
For more on what God says about Heavenly rewards see the following versus.
Matthew 5:12, 6:4, 6:6, 6:18, 10:40-42, Mark 9:41, Luke 6:23, 6:35, 1 Cor. 3:8, 9:17, 2 John 1:8,
Re 11:18 -
“And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time {came} for the dead to be judged,
and {the time} to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
Re 22:12 -
**"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward {is} with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. **
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