What is purgatory, and why have thoughtful Christians like C.S. Lewis believed in it? Does this belief in afterlife cleansing find support in Scripture? Purgatory is the topic today. We briefly touched on purgatory in three past APJs — episodes 1150, 1162, and 1290 — but nothing at length. That changes today with a question from Sydney, who lives in the beautiful state of Arizona. “Hi, Pastor John! I know that some older Christians believed in a secondary refinement or purgatory, a purging of the soul after death and before heaven. C.S. Lewis once rhetorically wrote: ‘Our souls demand Purgatory, don’t they?’ He explained that Christians should want purgatory as a sort of self-cleaning before we are ready to enter into the eternal presence of God. He said this in his book ‘Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer.’ Coming from Lewis, purgatory seems like a humble, preparatory step before we enter eternity. Biblically speaking, 1 Corinthians 3:10 10 According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon. –15 is the most common biblical proof for it. There we read that ‘each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done’ (verse 13). And ‘if anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire’ (verse 15). But does the Bible confirm purgatory?” Read or listen to this interview at our website: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-does-the-bible-say-about-purgatory Find other recent and popular Ask Pastor John episodes: https://www.desiringgod.org/ask-pastor-john