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Purgatory
Contrary to Luke 16:19-31; Colossians 2:13-14; and 1 John 1:7 & 9, the Catholic Church teaches that there is a temporary place of suffering (due to a lack of a complete cleansing of sin) for those who die "in Christ."
>All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. (CCC, p. 268,)
>The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. (CCC, p. 268, #1031)
>Purgatory is a state or condition on which the souls of the just, who die with the stains of sins, are cleansed before they are admitted to heaven. (Question and Answer Catholic Catechism, p. 82, Question 316)
>Stains of sin means the temporal punishment still due to venial or forgiven mortal sins. If the punishment has not been satisfied before death, a person must suffer in purgatory to pay this debt which is owed to the divine Majesty. (ibid., Question 317)
Catholics attempt to justify this teaching, which is nowhere taught in the Word of God, with 1 Corinthians 3:15. But, here one's "work" is being burned, not the person. Plus, sin is not in view, but rather attempts in building the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 3:12-17).
The Catholic's fable of purgatory rejects true faith (and trust) in God's forgiveness (Psalm 103:11-18). Hebrews 4:11 says, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest." Catholics do not enter His rest (Hebrews 4:9-10; 1 Peter 1:13), because they render not the blood of Christ sufficient to completely cleanse them from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). A supposed purgatory awaits them for a final cleansing. For those whose faith is in the finished work of Christ (John 19:30), the Lord Jesus "has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)
