The Lamb and the Lie
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
I grew up part of the Catholic Church and it was impressed upon me since I was little that, "Jesus died for our sins." Now, I'm glad I was raised to learn about Jesus, but there's a difference between learning about Him and actually following Him. I was never taught how to follow Jesus. I was taught how to go to church, be quiet, recite the appropriate responses when the priests would speak, and that hopefully if I did everything to God's liking, I might make it into Heaven immediately, but not to worry too much about it because most people go to purgatory anyway. Well, how do I say this nicely...
Purgatory is a lie.
Nowhere in the scripture is there evidence to support that when people die they may enter into a state of temporary punishment until they are fully cleansed of their sins. This is flat out wrong and contradicts the Word of God. This demonic lie does several things...
1. It gives people who say they believe in God an excuse to sin (or an excuse to not repent)
2. It falsely represents what people perceive as 'good' and 'bad'
3. It gives people a dangerously false sense of comfort
3. It ignores the actual punishment for sin - eternity in hell with no escape
4. It conveys a message that Jesus' death and resurrection isn't enough to take away sins
6. It encourages a passive attitude towards God
7. It creates confusion about salvation
Here's what the Bible actually says about salvation...
Salvation isn't dependent on good works
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. (Romans 8:1)
Salvation comes from Jesus' work on the Cross
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
Salvation is guaranteed for any real follower of Christ
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Salvation means a wrathless reunion with God
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Romans 5:9)
Salvation means an immediate reunion with God
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... (Hosea 4:6a)
How does this happen? How does God's Word become so distorted? In this particular case, the Catholic Church references a passage that isn't found in Bible canon. It references 2 Maccabees 12:46 which says, "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." Books like this one, found in the Apocrypha, are omitted from the Word of God for a reason - they are not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Rather, these omitted books contain passages that directly contradict the rest of scripture. There's an emphasis in these books about salvation being something we can earn. It also represents the belief that we can pray for the dead to have their sins forgiven.
Ultimately, what these books do is diminish the work that Jesus did on the Cross. They teach that there are other ways to enter into Heaven aside from Christ's death and resurrection. But anyone that tries to get into Heaven any other way will be considered a thief and robber.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)
Jesus made it clear that He is the only way to enter into Heaven. This is foreshadowed by the Passover and this is where He gets the name, the Lamb of God.
Long before the Messiah was born, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God worked through a man named Moses to free Israel from captivity. Many plagues came upon Egypt, until finally, Pharaoh let them leave. The final plague that came upon Egypt is the LORD's Passover (Exodus 12). God told Moses that on one particular night He would strike down the firstborn of every living person and animal. The only protection He offered Moses and the Israelites was a set of instructions, which centered around an animal - a lamb. Each home was to sacrifice a lamb without blemish. They were to eat it in a very particular fashion and they were to cover the doorposts of their home with its blood. If these instructions were not followed carefully and perfectly, God did not acknowledge them and they perished. But for those that heard, obeyed, and sought no other means of salvation, they were spared.
This is why Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God. He became our sacrifice, for all sin. For anyone that has the Blood of Jesus covering the "doorposts" of their life, they have no need to fear death and hell. There is no purgatory that awaits any follower of Christ. His followers are washed completely of any guilt and any sin. The Bible teaches that when we repent and make Jesus our Savior, God sees beyond our sin and only sees His Son. Where does that leave any room for a purgatory?
If you are Catholic and reading this, I want you to know that this isn't a Protestant vs. Catholic thing. This is not about who is right. This is about what is right. And I wouldn't even call myself a Protestant. I am just someone that believes we need to keep our doctrine and understanding of God's Word very, very tight. If anyone leaves this world with any impression that Jesus isn't enough, that could have serious eternal consequences. But if we leave this world having lived a life zealous for Jesus because we believe that He took away our sins, then we will forever be home with our Father.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23)
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