The following is a
rewritten chapter from Bittersweet Refinements.
If you would like to read the entire book, from start to finish and in
the proper order, please go [here].
Chapter XXVI
Somewhere In Between
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
No, not everyone in the Christian community [Matthew 7:21] humbly accepts [2 Corinthians 5:7] that there are only two places that we can go after our own time as a part of this world comes to an end [Revelation 20:11-15]. For they have been led to believe [2 Timothy 2:24-26] that there is also Purgatory, which is supposed to be where those who have not knowingly [1 Timothy 1:13] committed a mortal sin [Proverbs 6:16-19] can go to do whatever they need to do so that they can eventually enter into our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Heaven [1 Timothy 4:1-5].
Yes, there would be good reason for us all to pay close attention to what has been taught about Purgatory if it really was expected of us to prove ourselves as being worthy of our Heavenly Father’s favor [Ecclesiastes 3:18]. For it is written: The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. [Psalms 14:2-3 NIV]
However, since our Heavenly Father has known since the beginning what would be in the end [Isaiah 46:10], it should be rather obvious [John 8:12] that there has never been a need for such a place as Purgatory is supposed to be like to exist [Matthew 6:7-8]. After all, how can anything be proven to the One [1 John 5:8] who already knows everything about everything [Matthew 6:5-8]?
Yes, it could be argued that any stopover in Purgatory would not be so much about proving oneself as it would be more about completing all of the necessary requirements [Romans 10:1-4], but to make such an assertion is (in effect) the same as to accuse our Heavenly Father of being a liar [1 John 5:9-12]—be assured [John 14:15-27]! For He promises that: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. [Romans 8:1-4 NAS]
Alas, there are some who would still point to the verses in our Heavenly Father’s Holy Bible that appear to be referring to souls not being left in Hell [Psalms 16:10] as being sufficient proof in and of itself that Purgatory does indeed exist—albeit only as another part of the place [Deuteronomy 32:22]. Be assured that these verses are actually referring to the grave—not Hell. For in what way would a change in location really change anything? After all, either the Lord Jesus Christ paid the price in full that was required to redeem all of us from having to pay for all of our own many, many transgressions of His Law ourselves or He did not [Hebrews 10:1-18], and if He did, then the truth about us being accepted into our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom of Heaven as heirs to all that is His in glory [Romans 8:17] would have to be that: It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. [Romans 9:16 NIV] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [Ephesians 2:8-10 NAS]
Yes, many would argue that grace can only go so far [Isaiah 55:8-9]. For it is the way of this world that nothing comes for free.
On the other hand: But if it is by grace—His unmerited favor and graciousness—it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace—it would be meaningless. [Romans 11:6 AMP]
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