HEBREWS CHAPTER 12 VERSES 7-10 PART ONE 

PURGATORY?  

THE CHASTENING OF THE FATHER ON HIS CHILDREN 

“If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” [Hebrews 12:7-10] 

What we noted in lessons past is that the Father is vitally training His children to be first–born sons, co-rulers with His Victorious First–Born Son Jesus Christ in His Millennial Kingdom and beyond as kings and priests (that which He has typed in the first–born inheritance of the Old Testament. (Deuteronomy 21:17, Revelation 3:21) The standard to which a Gospel Covenant first–born son must achieve is holiness. The training only begins when a lost soul is reckoned justified in the imputed righteousness of Christ and becomes a child of God. No merely justified/born again in spirit is automatically whole or holy. For a born-again Christian is a new–born, with a propensity to the World and is in need of training by God. Holiness in a man is equal to the ongoing crucifixion of the fallen nature while in koinonia with God through the imparted divine nature when his spirit is born–again. This answers to His being the Father of spirits (the Holy Spirit’s Divine nature birthed in our spirits). This then is Scripture’s answer to  work out of your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) a work that is to be done after having been saved.   

One thought to keep in mind: At this point our Father is not now as focused upon the sins of His children as much as it is upon their victory over the sin nature. These verses (Hebrews 12:7-10) instruct us on the reality of God’s chastisement of Believers. It is therefore imperative for Christians to see the full picture in the Word and ask the question… What does God expect of a child of His to accomplish in Christ after being “saved”?  And what does Holy Spirit–directed author mean when he says that He chastises His children that they might be partakers of His holiness? Does this mean as many have said, that the Loving Father only chastens by His Word? (Even as parents, we know that we do not get very effective results with our words alone.) So then does this mean, as many have said, that the Father only chastens His children while they are alive, because (they say) when we Christians die, we go directly to Heaven? On the other hand, many more *Catholic Christians (those in Catholicism; the largest Christian denomination on the earth) are taught that when you, as a Christian, die (in ‘friendship’ with Christ) you immediately go to one of two places: Heaven where God and Christ now are, or *Purgatory. (There is a third place; Hell, but that is where only the Lost are supposed to immediately go.) 

*PURGATORY (in definition of a Roman Catholic doctrine) a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven. 

*Catholic means universal….Romanism is really what we are talking about when we say “Catholic”. 

The Catholic Church further defines Purgatory in their Catechism ‘As a purification (not here further defined as a real place or locale, giving them room for the teaching option that there may not be such a real place but nevertheless a work that is done entirely within the soul) so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of Heaven. Which is experienced by those who die in God’s grace and friendship, but are still imperfectly purified” 

According to Romanism/Catholicism then, when one who has received Christ dies, they are judged as to where they will go…either to purgatory or Heaven. 

The Catechism clearly teaches, “Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of Heaven — through purification or immediately, — or immediate and everlasting damnation” (No. 1022). Catholics dissect this teaching as such: “When we die, our soul stands in judgment immediately. We will have to account for our lives, for the good that we have done and for the sins we have committed. We (Catholics) call this the particular judgment because it is particular to each person. If we are free of all sin and the hurt caused by sin, we immediately will be welcomed into Heaven, where we will enjoy the beatific vision, seeing God face to face. If we have died with *venial sins or the hurt caused by sin, our Lord in His love and mercy will first purge and heal the soul in the place called Purgatory; after this purgation and healing, our soul will then be welcomed into Heaven. However, if we have died rejecting God, with *mortal sins and with no remorse for those mortal sins, then we will have damned ourselves to Hell; the firm rejection of God that we made in this life, will continue on in the next.”  

*venial sin “denoting a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. (of a fault or offense) slight and pardonable.” 

*“Mortal sin is sin whose object is a grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 

Now Catholics teach that all mortal sins (that is to say sins that would send you to Hell) are taken care of in the Blood of Christ when born again, but then if a Christian commits a “mortal” sin and dies without forgiveness, he is condemned to Hell. They contend that Mortal sins are called mortal because they result in the “spiritual” death of the soul (separation from God). Those who die without repenting of that mortal sin are separated from God for eternity. Those who turn back to Christ and receive the Sacrament of Penance (absolution from a Catholic priest) are restored to a state of grace as sure and certain as the state of grace that they had before they had committed the mortal sin. But venial sins un-atoned for that deprive the soul of grace, and keep one from entering immediately upon death into Heaven, need to be taken care of by Mass. This of course perpetuates the necessity of Mass in the partaking of the sacraments, the appropriating of the continually fresh death of Christ, in order to receive atonement forgiveness of venial sins. Otherwise those sins must be dealt with in fiery Purgatory, that place where these sins are purged from the soul. Then afterwards, one is then able to obtain holiness and enter into Heaven.  

The Catholic Church also teaches that the prayers of the living for the dead, and/or *indulgences may be given and can help these in and through purgatory. So what is declared by the Catholic Church is a differentiating between sins, mortal or venial, mortal sins purged by Blood while alive, with threat of loss of eternal life for mortal sins un-repented of here on earth, and venial sins purged after death in the “place” of Purgatory. 

What is Scripturally wrong with these doctrines?  

You might consider this lesson as the CliffsNotes on the subject, as to address it thoroughly would require a review of numerous lessons beyond the time and scope of this lesson. First note that prayers for the dead in “Purgatory” and/or indulgences paid to help them to be released or to lessen their sentence or yours in the future is unknown to Scripture. (2nd Timothy 1:16-18 is referred to by Catholics as an example of praying for the dead, although it is highly questionable that this was Paul’s intent or a proof text for the doctrine. 2nd Maccabees is also referred to but for non–Catholics, but the Book is not in our canon, so it gives us pause).  

WHAT ABOUT PURGATORY? 

The Biblical idea of “purgatory” did not originate with the Roman Catholic Church. And Although the word “purgatory” is not found in the Bible, this in itself does not preclude it from being a Scripturally based idea. For example, the word “Trinity” is not found in the Scriptures, although the idea is fundamentally clear. Hades in the Greek New Testament and Sheol in the Hebrew Old Testament defines for us the intermediate place of the dead is in the center of the earth. This is clear in Scripture and no place in Scripture gives us clearer understanding of this real locale than in Luke 16:19-31. “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” 

There it is exampled by Christ, that when one dies, he is judged initially according to his works and circumstances while he was alive, and therefore it equates to where he shall be detained: according to the scriptures, he either will be accompanied by Angels into that real locale of Paradise or the very real place of Torment. (Much light can be shed about how when we die we go to Heaven if the promise to the thief hung beside Christ is understood as being in the temporal Paradise of Hades where they would unite that same day they died. Luke 23:43) 

It is there in Luke 16 that we discover our deeds/works reflect the condition of our soul and therefore corresponds to the punishment of the place of Torment or the comfort of Paradise in the intermediate state of Hades (Paradise is not Heaven nor is the place of torment the same place as Hell/the Lake of Fire). What happens to the Soul after death, only as it relates to the doctrine of the purpose for a place they call “purgatory” that Scripture refers to as Place of Torment? (Luke 16)  

Historically, what is not Biblically correct is the overall Catholic view of God’s Salvation Plan, starting with a faulty foundation pervading up through the superstructure. From the exclusiveness of the intermediacy of the Pope, up through the continuation of their concepts in the subject at hand; that of Heaven and Hell and Purgatory, which the following is hoped to secondarily shed light on… (Secondarily; as it is not the primary purpose of this lesson to speak directly to the error of the Catholic Church or to anyone who has a tendency to believe in the same system, for our primary focus is to shed light on the Scriptural understanding of the chastising of God on His children.) 

Chastisement on the earth by God for believers is quickly discovered to the one who would look a little closer to Scripture for truth on the subject. (Numbers 12:10, 1st Corinthians 11:30) But most Christians assume that all chastisement ceases when they pass from this life. But Scripture says otherwise (1st Timothy 5:24 among other places later to be referenced). It is in the unseen realm we discover the clear reality of the judicial system. Death, the separation of spirit, soul and body; in itself has no purifying effect. We are tainted with death when we are living, we are tainted with death when we die. Death in itself has no effect on our character.  

If even the worst of Christians was automatically, instantly and miraculously purged and perfected at death, what would be the purpose of the process of sanctification through suffering obedience in this lifetime? It would be an exercise in redundancy and a great injustice to all those countless who achieved God’s Word of approval in faithfulness unto a declared worthiness in the sharing in His holiness, and that through the means of much selfless sorrow. This being said; one being dead cannot then improve his character on the basis of loving obedient works of faith, as character is ordained to be developed by faith, not by sight. Hades removes the unseen dynamic.  

What Scripture warns (5 times in the Book of Hebrews alone) is that a Christian is faced with certain judgment at his death. That being where he will be confined until Christ descends from Heaven to the heavens of this realm again. When his gain or loss of glory will be realized, he will either be raised up out of Hades at the first resurrection out from among the remaining dead unto crown and glory (Luke 20:35. 1st Corinthians 15, 1st Thessalonians 4:14-17, Revelation 3:21, 20:4-6, Revelation 19:7-9, 14:14-16) or he will remain in Hades for 1000 years, when he will be resurrected unto eternal life only (with Revelation 20:11-15) as opposed to eternal life with eternal glory.  

A clear lack of basic Scriptural understanding pervades all Christendom (and Judaism); that being in regards to where the spirit, soul and body go at death, and why. Scripture declares that the spirit goes back to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7), the body goes to the grave, and the soul (our-self) goes to Hades. (Luke 23:46, Acts 2:27) This was the accepted understanding of the world-wide Christian community for hundreds of years after Christ’s Ascent. No credence was given to any idea of Hades having been emptied at Christ’s ascension of any Believers, much less ALL Believers, as this was understood by ancient Christians to be reserved until the 2nd Coming of Christ when the First Resurrection is to then occur.     

But some, maybe most, Christians would argue that all Christians at death now go to Heaven. As it is taught by modern day teachers that Christ, when risen, took all the saints from among the dead from Hades with Him to Heaven. (Ephesians 4:8) But the Biblical example in the Old Testament of “leading captivity captive” is a victorious battle statement where the conqueror leads the stripped and chained captive in a victor’s procession through the victor’s streets to the cheers of the citizens. (Psalm 68:18 and Judges 5:12 – These are Scriptures that should be understood in the light of Colossians 2:15)  

Their proof Scriptures that Christians go to Heaven mainly are two:  

  1. “..to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2nd Corinthians 5:8) This is no proof text of a Christian going (without body mind you) to Heaven, but an assertion that where one does go has a greater presence of Christ than here in this restricted–to–faith realm, that of the unseen environment. 
  1. “For to me (Paul; not intended to mean every Christian) to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 not all, like Paul, can make the declaration that dying will bring gain.) 

If non-Roman Catholics are determined to believe that these Scriptures teach we go to “Heaven” when we die, then of course the doctrine of the place of Torment to them immediately fades away (as also does the essence and necessity of the doctrine of the out–Resurrection from among the dead that Paul so earnestly strived for. (Philippians 3:11) 

But if we, like Paul before us, look forward to the out–resurrection from among the dead at Christ’s Return, we like him, by any means, in all earnestness, considering not that we have already attained, either already are declared perfect but by obedient and loving faith press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, unto the attaining of the prize of the first resurrection out from Hades; the temporary abode of the dead.  

The First Resurrection answers to the receipt of the Father’s purging; that of the justification Blood and that of sanctifying chastening, in that in the First Resurrection, each worthy soul then passes through the purifying Fire of God. “Everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean…” with “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day (of resurrection judgment) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the (purifying) fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”  With “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.” (Numbers 31:23a, 1st Corinthians 3:13, Revelation 15:2) Every soul in the First Resurrection is completely cleansed and capacitated in glory according to the sanctifying work that has been wrought upon the soul. “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead….” (1st Corinthians 15:41–42a)  

(note that the gap between drawing nigh unto God and thereby He will draw nigh unto you {James 4:8} cannot be measured in equal distance. If God did not make Just provision in Christ’s Atonement to close the gap of the space between our need of purging and His Holiness, we would never be united, although this does not lessen our responsibility. This personal righteousness has to do with Christ’s ability at the Judgment Seat to judge the reins of the heart of each individual… “and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. Revelation 2:23b)