NO FORGIVENESS OF SINS AFTER DEATH.
TMOTCS.
There is an erroneous belief by some believers that sinners will be purged of their sins after death and be made righteous for heaven. The procedure is called purgatory period. Purgatory is defined as a state after death in which the souls of people who die are made pure through suffering before they are fit for heaven. In other words, it is a waiting place or state where sinners are purged of their sins by punishment so as to be made righteous; a sort of second chance or an opportunity for life with God after death. This belief is erroneous and contrary to what the scripture says: “It is appointed unto men once to die after which there’s judgment. (Heb. 9:27). This simply means there is no forgiveness after death. The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Ezek 18:20. So, there is no forgiveness of sins in the grave. The sins of the unrepentant sinner will follow him to the grave and by his iniquities shall he be judged after death.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus succinctly confirmed there is no intermediary place and time for purgatory after death. The book of Luke 16:19-26 tells us of a rich man who, while on earth, lived luxuriously. It also tells us of a poor beggar named Lazarus; and both of them died. The rich man lifted up his eyes in hell and was able to see Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom in heaven. While Lazarus was in exquisite comfort in heaven, the rich man was aguishly tormented in flame. He begged Abraham to send Lazarus to him with just a few drops of water to quench his thirst but his request was turned down because heaven of God doesn’t have anything to do with hell of Satan. The separation is an everlasting one with all opportunities foreclosed! This is why the Scripture says that sinners should seek God while He may be found. He is not the God of the dead but the God of the living (Mk 12:27). Those who will seek Him must do so while they are still alive and not in death. So, any carelessness by the sinner failing to forsake his sins and reunite with the Lord without delay will lead to eternal separation and everlasting doom.
Finally the scripture says the rich man was fully conscious not only of his horrible state but also of Lazarus’ bliss in the bosom of Abraham. He was conscious of his deplorable fate and had concern for his family, wanting Abraham to send angels back to the earth to warn his family and save them from hell fire. There is no need for that because the gospel of salvation is still preached daily for those who have ears to hear and be converted. Unfortunately, there is a great gulf fixed between heaven and hell which made it impossible for anyone to cross over from one side of the divide to the other. This means the rich man went straight to hell and will remain there for ever serving the punishment for his sins. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count it as slackness. He is long suffering towards us, not willing that anyone should perish, but that all people should come to repentance and be saved (2Pet 3:9). So the Lord is patient with us, calling all sinners to salvation before the period of grace comes to a sudden end at the coming of Christ. Let he who has an ear let him hear and respond to the call of the Lord now before it is too late. There’s no reason while a sinner should die in his sins and end up in everlasting perdition when Salvation through Jesus Christ is a simple way out. May God help us!
