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Do Baptists believe in Purgatory?
The Bible simply doesn’t mention a place like Purgatory—a place where, after a believer dies, they finish paying for any sins by suffering in torment, and finally they get to go to heaven. In fact, in Scripture we see just the opposite—a believer goes immediately to heaven to be with Jesus. When Jesus was crucified, two criminals were crucified next to Him. One of the criminals, as he was dying, believed that Jesus was the Son of God and Savior. He cried out to Jesus,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!”
This man had lived a horrible life. He even admitted that he deserved to die for his crimes. He certainly had no chance to go right any wrongs, or be baptized, or do penance. But Jesus told him,
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
Notice the time and place: he would be with Jesus today, and in paradise, not Purgatory. If there were ever a candidate for Purgatory, it would have been this man. If Purgatory existed, Jesus would have said something like, “A hundred years from now, after being purified by the fires of torment, you’ll be ready for heaven.”
The reason there is no Purgatory is because Christ’s death paid the full price for my sins. When Jesus died, one of His last words was, “It is finished.” In the Greek language that the New Testament was originally written in, it was actually just one word: tetelestai [te-tel-EST-eye]. That was a word a merchant would write on a bill when someone paid their last payment, when it was paid in full. On the Cross Jesus declared, “It’s paid in full!” I don’t know about you, but when I get a statement in the mail that says “paid in full”—zero balance due—I don’t make any more payments! In fact, I’m relieved knowing they’ll never come after me for more. It’s the same with God and the entire debt of my sin for my whole life. Jesus paid it all.
But what about a passage like 1 Corinthians 3, where it says believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ? First of all, only believers will be at this judgment. And it is not a judgment of themselves, but of the quality of “their works” or ministry for the Lord. Paul had been writing about some church leaders who loved to be seen in the lime light, and did things for recognition, while others were sincere. He said that Christ himself is the foundation, and we all as believers get to build our ministry on that solid foundation. And we can build with either non-flammable materials like gold and precious stones, or with flammable stuff like wood, hay, and stubble. Obviously those who serve and do ministry to be seen by men are building with the wood, hay, and stubble. God will light a match to it and it will all be burned up. He also says this particular judgment is to determine our “reward” not our destiny or some sort of punishment. The worse case scenario is given in verses 14-15:
“If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
This is the picture of someone waking up in the middle of the night to a house fire. You’re glad to escape, but wish you had built a non-flammable house! |
