P
Paris_Blues
Guest
I was telling people about Purgatory and how it’s a cleaning state to wash the rest of the “dirtiness” from sin off, right?
They replied to me with:
“I would refer you to the parable of the Wedding Banquet. The groom invited all of his friends but when they made excuses and declined to come he told his servants to go out and bring in people wherever they might be found. He insisted that his wedding banquet would be filled. When the servants brought the people in the groom gave them white wedding garments and brought them in to the places of honor… and his banquet was filled. The Christian understanding of our justification is that Jesus has provided forgiveness and cleansing for our sins. We are justified and made right before God… and our sins are washed away (to use a common metaphor). In another place God says, “I shall remember your sins no more”.
This does not mean that we are perfect. It does not mean that we will not sin again. It does mean that by our confession of faith just like the thief on the cross we are made righteous by the merit of Jesus Christ and are made joint heirs with Christ. Through him we approach the Father. His justification is complete. There is no further need of sacrifices. It is the beginning of a life lived in faith in which we may grow into the likeness of Christ being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. It is a process of faith and trust in Christ who strengthens us as we are faithful and as we seek to live into Christ’s image.
The idea of purgatory, while I affirm that it may be a comforting
doctrine for some, denies the sufficiency of Christ’s oblation ( a
good Catholic term) for us and requires further justification or
purification (almost interchangeable). In other words it is not
consistent with the Apostolic teachings of the Church.
…said that the teaching could not be found in the Bible. That is true. There are many references that speak of being purified…refined… made righteous… etc… but these refer (in the classic teaching of the Catholic Church) to our justification in Christ and our lives lived in the Holy Spirit… not to purgatory or purgare (purging) in a place of torment in the afterlife… this is a
doctrine that developed out of medieval traditions that had nothing to do with the Apostolic teaching of the Catholic Church. In my humble opinion… it is one of the man made doctrines that we are warned to avoid.”
MAN-MADE?!?!? Who said it was ever man-made? How do I respond?
They replied to me with:
“I would refer you to the parable of the Wedding Banquet. The groom invited all of his friends but when they made excuses and declined to come he told his servants to go out and bring in people wherever they might be found. He insisted that his wedding banquet would be filled. When the servants brought the people in the groom gave them white wedding garments and brought them in to the places of honor… and his banquet was filled. The Christian understanding of our justification is that Jesus has provided forgiveness and cleansing for our sins. We are justified and made right before God… and our sins are washed away (to use a common metaphor). In another place God says, “I shall remember your sins no more”.
This does not mean that we are perfect. It does not mean that we will not sin again. It does mean that by our confession of faith just like the thief on the cross we are made righteous by the merit of Jesus Christ and are made joint heirs with Christ. Through him we approach the Father. His justification is complete. There is no further need of sacrifices. It is the beginning of a life lived in faith in which we may grow into the likeness of Christ being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. It is a process of faith and trust in Christ who strengthens us as we are faithful and as we seek to live into Christ’s image.
The idea of purgatory, while I affirm that it may be a comforting
doctrine for some, denies the sufficiency of Christ’s oblation ( a
good Catholic term) for us and requires further justification or
purification (almost interchangeable). In other words it is not
consistent with the Apostolic teachings of the Church.
…said that the teaching could not be found in the Bible. That is true. There are many references that speak of being purified…refined… made righteous… etc… but these refer (in the classic teaching of the Catholic Church) to our justification in Christ and our lives lived in the Holy Spirit… not to purgatory or purgare (purging) in a place of torment in the afterlife… this is a
doctrine that developed out of medieval traditions that had nothing to do with the Apostolic teaching of the Catholic Church. In my humble opinion… it is one of the man made doctrines that we are warned to avoid.”
MAN-MADE?!?!? Who said it was ever man-made? How do I respond?
