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The most convincing Scriptural passage I know of is 1Cor 3. I think it is v. 11 through 15 (but I am on my mobile so don’t have ready access to a Bible), where St.Paul talks about passing through a purifying fire which will burn away all the corruptible works of the Christian.He will be saved, but only as through fire.

1Cor. 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

A couple of things to note about the above scripture vs. what Catholicism teaches about what "purgatory" is.

Catholicism teaches: ◦our prayers help the souls in purgatory.

The Bible mentions no such thing. It just tells us that our works will be judged.

The Catholic Church: Council of Lyons II (1274) We believe ... that the souls, by the purifying compensation are purged after death.

The Bible doesn't say this judgment "purifies" us. You either receive a reward or you don't. We are "purified" or cleansed through the blood of Jesus when we accept him as our savior and when we confess our sins. 1 Corinthians says nothing about confessing of sins.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Catholic Church teaches that "purgatory" is a state of limbo. It is often associated, in a religious context, with some state of being in neither heaven nor hell, therefore on the fringe of either.

1 Corinthians doesn't say where this judgment of works goes on, but it doesn't say that it isn't in Heaven in the presence of God. Again, 1 Cor. is talking about the judgment of our works not the judgment of our sin. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross. When we accepted Jesus, we accepted his payment for our sin, and our sin penalty was paid IN FULL!

Catholicism teaches:The poor souls in purgatory still have the stains of sin within them. This means two things. First, it means that the souls have not yet paid the temporal penalty due...

The Bible says that the penalty for sin is DEATH. Jesus paid that penalty, once for all. We who are believers in Jesus will not pay the penalty for sin.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Catholicism teaches:The important thing to understand is that it (purgatory) is a state or condition in which souls undergo purification.

The Bible says:

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The word translated to "purged" is the same Greek word for "purify". Note that the verse also says that Christ did this "by himself". There is NO one else that can or needs to do anything else to purify us from sin.

One last little thing, the idea in Catholicism is that Purgatory is or can be a long drawn out process. 1 Corinthians says "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it." It makes no differentiation for different Christians. It says "Every man's work".

So in other words, no matter whether you acted and preached like the Pope or Billy Graham, or you acted and talked like most common Christians, your judgment of your works will be done in a day.