Note: Lazarus was being comforted in Abraham’s bosom. There is no comfort in hell. Both were destined for heaven, but the gates were still closed. They were in Sheol, the abode of the dead and not the hell of the damned.
You are correct in not being released until you have paid every penny. Read
1 Corinthians 3:10-14. Saint Paul describes what happens. At death, we are judged by our works. If our works withstand the purifying fire, we will receive a reward. If our works are burnt up, we will still be saved, but only as if passing through fire. Consider:
- After death.
- At our personal judgment.
- Our works will be tested.
- If they are good, we are good to go, and receive our reward.
- If they were not so good, but done in faith, hope and love, we are still saved.
- But - and this is crucial - only as though passing through the Refiner’s fire.
- That fire is a purging of dross, a cleansing, purification, i.e. purgatory.
As to salvation by faith alone, Dr. David Anders has distilled it nicely. He
was a fervent Presbyterian, happy to lead Catholics away from the Church toward what he believed was the truth. He explains the doctrine of salvation by faith alone (it is
nowhere in the bible!) as being the circular argument: “I am saved by my faith because I believe that faith alone saves me.” See the flaw in this? What if that soul is just flat out wrong? Oooops!
100% of the descriptions of our judgment refer to being judged on what we have done: our
works of charity. Faith is both necessary and assumed as our foundation upon which we perform works of charity. Some bible Christians believe that sin no longer matters, that we somehow apparently bypass judgment by pleading the blood of Christ.
Very sadly, a lot of souls are in for a shock at their particular (personal) judgment. Refer to Saint Paul above: he nowhere and never makes any such reference to faith “alone” as being a get out of hell free card, or salvation having no cost.
