“What’s your take on 1 Cor 3:13 which states that on the day of judgment our works will be tested by fire? And those who’s works perish will escape, but only as one escaping through the flames?”
It doesn’t say a thing about having to go to “purgatory” to have the testing done. How about, Hebrews 9:27,28:
“ 27And just as(D) it is appointed for man to die once, and(E) after that comes judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once(F) to bear the sins of(G) many, will appear(H) a second time,(I) not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly(J) waiting for him.”
Hoss
So when we die, we do what? Roast a little in “Purgatory” or... for those called and saved, maybe 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 will clarify things:
“1For we know that if(A) the tent that is(B) our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God,(C) a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent(D) we groan, longing to(E) put on our heavenly dwelling, 3if indeed by putting it on[a] we may not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal(F) may be swallowed up by life. 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God,(G) who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6So we are always of good courage. We know that(H) while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for(I) we walk by faith, not(J) by sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we(K) would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to(L) please him. 10For(M) we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,(N) so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
Away from the body, present (at home) with the Lord. Seems pretty binary to me.
You said:
“Christ says to Peter in Matthew 16:19
“Whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound on heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed to heaven.”
Christ clearly gives the Apostles the power to forgive sins. This is why priests, as the successors of the Apostles can do the same.”
Actually, it says nothing of the sort. Binding on earth/binding in heaven is FAR different from giving earthly priests, (sinful, fallen me just as the rest of us) the ability to forgive sins — which, by the way, is the SOLE purview of God Almighty.
“Actually, it says nothing of the sort. Binding on earth/binding in heaven is FAR different from giving earthly priests, (sinful, fallen me just as the rest of us) the ability to forgive sins — which, by the way, is the SOLE purview of God Almighty.”
A gift which Christ granted to the Apostles, the power to forgive sins. This is what binding and loosing means.
“It doesn’t say a thing about having to go to “purgatory” to have the testing done.”
What do you think purgatory means? To cleanse by fire.