William Webster at Christian Resources wrote of the Council of Trent:
Decree Concerning Purgatory:
Since the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Ghost, has, following the sacred writings and the ancient tradition of the Fathers, taught in sacred councils and very recently in this ecumenical council that there is a purgatory, and that the souls there detained are aided by the suffrages of the faithful and chiefly by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar, the holy council commands the bishops that they strive diligently to the end that the sound doctrine of purgatory, transmitted by the Fathers and sacred councils, be believed and maintained by the faithful of Christ, and to be everywhere taught and preached.
Canons Concerning Justification: Canon 30:
If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification the guilt is so remitted and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out to every repentant sinner, that no debt of temporal punishment remains to be discharged either in this world or in purgatory before the gates of heaven can be opened, let him be anathema (The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1919 ed.), pp. 214, 46).The evangelical Christian who believes in grace alone through faith alone in Christ based on Scripture alone for the glory of God alone is accursed from the Decrees of the Council of Trent. I would say also that the Greek Christians are also cursed because they deny the "fires of purgatory" and embrace the power of His bitter agony at His blessed Cross. What shall we say to Rome in response? I would like to point out that the Bible does not teach purgatory. I suggest to you that the Bible teaches the all-sufficiency of the Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Let look on how astonishingly "muddled" Rome's salvational theology is.
It firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart "into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels" [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church. (Denzinger 714).We also read,
VATICAN CITY, SEP 9, 1998 (VIS) - At today's Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke on the theme of The Spirit of God and the 'Seeds of Truth' in non-Christian Religions. The 'seeds of truth', said John Paul II, are 'the effect of the Spirit of truth operating outside the visible confines of the Mystical Body', the wind 'which blows where it wills'. The Holy Father explained that in all authentic religious experiences, the most characteristic manifestation is prayer. ... Every true prayer is inspired by the Holy Spirit, Who is mysteriously present in the heart of every person. Through the practice of what is good in their own religious traditions, and following the dictates of their consciences, members of other religions positively respond to God's invitation and receive salvation in Jesus Christ, even though they may not recognize Him as their Savior. The attitude of the Church and of individual Christians with regard to other religions is characterized by sincere respect, deep kindness, and also, where it is possible and appropriate, cordial collaboration. This does not mean forgetting that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator and Savior of the human race. Nor does it imply lessening the missionary effort to which we have an obligation, in obedience to the command of the Risen Lord: 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'. This attitude of respect and dialogue, concluded John Paul II, represents a due recognition of the 'seeds of the Word' and of the 'groans of the Spirit'. It also prepares the proclamation of the Gospel in awaiting the time when the Lord shows his mercy.
Those who do not believe Jesus Christ exclusively will not inherit the kingdom of God. We ought to also understand that the Lord Jesus is not guilty of sin! but He took the sin of His people upon Himself alone but as the sin was applied to Him He remained sinless:
John 8:46 NASB
Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?
Hebrews 9:14 NASB
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
John 19:30 NASB
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Jesus lived a sinless life in behalf of His people. He earned salvation for us. He took sin upon Himself to pay for the sin of God's people alone. Although the Valley of Vision says he became a 'transgressor' I do not think it means He became a sinner but that sin was implied to Him alone. I think it is also true that it is a divine mystery.
The Valley of Vision puts it this way,
"Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips, supply words that proclaim 'Love lustres at Calvary.' There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on thy Son, made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me; There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow; There thy infinite attributes were magnified, and infinite atonement was made; There infinite punishment was due, and infinite punishment endured. Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy, cast off that I might be brought in, trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend, surrendered to hell's worst that I might attain heaven's best, stripped that I might be clothed, wounded that I might be healed, athirst that I might drink, tormented that I might be comforted, made a shame that I might inherit glory, entered darkness that I might have eternal light. My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes, groaned that I might have endless song, endured all pain that I might have unfading health, bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem, bowed his head that I might uplift mine, experienced reproach that I might receive welcome, closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness, expired that I might for ever live. O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me, all this transfer thy love designed and accomplished; Help me to adore thee by lips and life. O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise, my every step buoyant with delight, as I see my enemies crushed, Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed, sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood, hell's gates closed, heaven's portal open. Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save." (The Valley of Vision, pp. 76-77).
The Bible does not teach purgatory because the apostle Paul writes the following things concerning the Cross of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because the Cross is the all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ to take away sin and Jesus endured the FULL and TOTAL and COMPLETE punishment for the sins of God's elect.
Jesus lived a sinless life in behalf of His people. He earned salvation for us. He took sin upon Himself to pay for the sin of God's people alone. Although the Valley of Vision says he became a 'transgressor' I do not think it means He became a sinner but that sin was implied to Him alone. I think it is also true that it is a divine mystery.
The Valley of Vision puts it this way,
"Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips, supply words that proclaim 'Love lustres at Calvary.' There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on thy Son, made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me; There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow; There thy infinite attributes were magnified, and infinite atonement was made; There infinite punishment was due, and infinite punishment endured. Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy, cast off that I might be brought in, trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend, surrendered to hell's worst that I might attain heaven's best, stripped that I might be clothed, wounded that I might be healed, athirst that I might drink, tormented that I might be comforted, made a shame that I might inherit glory, entered darkness that I might have eternal light. My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes, groaned that I might have endless song, endured all pain that I might have unfading health, bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem, bowed his head that I might uplift mine, experienced reproach that I might receive welcome, closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness, expired that I might for ever live. O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me, all this transfer thy love designed and accomplished; Help me to adore thee by lips and life. O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise, my every step buoyant with delight, as I see my enemies crushed, Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed, sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood, hell's gates closed, heaven's portal open. Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save." (The Valley of Vision, pp. 76-77).
The Bible does not teach purgatory because the apostle Paul writes the following things concerning the Cross of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because the Cross is the all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ to take away sin and Jesus endured the FULL and TOTAL and COMPLETE punishment for the sins of God's elect.
1 Corinthians 1:17 NASB
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB
[ The Wisdom of God ] For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Galatians 6:12 NASB
Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you
to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Galatians 6:14 NASB
But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
Philippians 2:8 NASB
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 3:18 NASB
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
Colossians 1:20 NASB
and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Colossians 2:14 NASB
having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees
against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way,
having nailed it to the cross.
The author of the book of Hebrews teaches us about the Cross of Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 12:2 NASB
1 Peter 2:24 NASB
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The apostle Peter writes on the Cross of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 2:24 NASB
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
I suggest to you that the Cross of Jesus disproves the Catholic doctrine of purgatory. I would like to point out that if people understood that awesome power of the Cross they would not want a "theological system" that invited the "fires of purgatory." Suppose the early fathers taught it, I think the absolute supremacy of the Cross is far greater than the tradition of men!
Grace and peace,
Michael A. Petillo
