“But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as THROUGH FIRE.” (I Corinthians 3:15)
“Nothing unclean shall enter heaven”
(So much for getting in as a snow covered a pile of dung)
Funny how The Jews prayed for the dead....
“Funny how The Jews prayed for the dead....”
The Jews are not Christians, so this is irrelevant.
I was not sure what your argument is, but apart from justifying faith, we are all as an unclean thing, for
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)
But even the believing Corinthians, who yet had carnal traits, were told,
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:5-6)
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:18-22)
Yet even though saving faith is that which effects characteristic obedience to God by the Spirit, (Rm. 8:14), resulting in"things that accompany salvation," (Hebrews 6:9) yet they were not perfect in character, and possesses their unclean carnal nature.
Thus, if “nothing unclean shall enter heaven” excludes such as being unclean then these would not even presently be declared washed, sanctified, and justified, nor have access into the holy of holies in Heaven, nor go there at death or the Lord's return. Yet as yet imperfect believers (as Paul confessed he was) are promised they will be with the Lord at death, or at His return, whatever comes first.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)
And with the only postmortem suffering that being that loss of rewards (and the grievous displeasure of the Lord) at His return (see post 50)
Moreover, the only transformative experience for after this life that is clearly taught is that of the resurrection of believers, which does what Purgatory can only hope to do:
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)