You need to read the first post in the series before you read this one.

Here is the next response from the other party in the discussion:

There are several Bible references to our going to heaven when we die. Here is one. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that he was willing to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Paul was looking forward to going to be present with the Lord in heaven when he died. Our blessed, living hope is to soon be present with our Lord and Savior and to see him face to face. Because of his great sacrificial love for us we will praise him for all eternity in our heavenly home. See also Philippians 1:23, John 14:6, John 17:24 and 1 John 3:2.

In the 1 Corinthians 3 passage the inspired writer is addressing saved people who are believers in the finished work of Christ. The subject is the works we do for Christ in this present life and not our sins. You may wish to begin reading at verse 5. I print 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

1 Cor 3:10-15
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
NKJV

There is coming a time of judgment of our works where they will be tested by a fire judgment to determine of what sort they are. Some works will endure this judgment and be rewarded while other works will be lost. But the believing person is still saved even though his works are lost in the fire judgment and will not be rewarded.

It is important to understand that the saved person is not being judged for sin. All our sins; past, present and future were all washed clean by the blood of Christ and our eternal life is secure in Christ. This passage should not be confused with the forgiveness of our sins.

The Matthew 12 passage deals with what is called “the unpardonable sin”. Much has been written on this topic. Every person is born a sinner and thus unfit to enter heaven. Romans 1:18-21 indicates that God has given a revelation of himself to every person so that those who reject his saving grace are without excuse as they go the way of eternal destruction. Those who reject his saving grace must reject Bible truth concerning our great salvation. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to give universal revelation of God to mankind. To reject that revelation is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit leading to the conclusion that only Christ rejecting people commit the unpardonable sin.

You will note that in Matthew 12 Jesus is addressing the Pharisees who have already rejected Jesus and the revelation of God by the Holy Spirit. In this passage they accuse the Son of God of being a worker of Satan. Jesus call them a brood of snakes and indicates that their words are evil. Verse 37 indicates they are condemn by their evil words. The Lord’s loving forgiving grace was rejected by these Pharisees.

Now – the first 3 paragraphs I didn’t address because they are rather peripheral in comparison to the other stuff. Myself, I don’t see how the passage he cites indicates that one must be EITHER present in the flesh OR present with Christ. It doesn’t say that there’s not a place “in between.” On to my response.

First, to the idea of suffering as through fire yet being saved:

You said,

There is coming a time of judgment of our works where they will be tested by a fire judgment to determine of what sort they are. Some works will endure this judgment and be rewarded while other works will be lost. But the believing person is still saved even though his works are lost in the fire judgment and will not be rewarded.

I find this really interesting. You state, if I may paraphrase, that our works go with our souls when we die, to a place/time/state of being in which our works are judged – tested through fire.

Would you agree that when we refer to works, we are either referring to good works or sins? That’s all works are – sins or not sins, right?

Therefore, I understand you to say that our sins and our “not sins,” our good works, will be tested through a fire judgement. And some of our works – our good works, will survive this judgement and they will be rewarded. And our works that are not good works, our sins, will be burned up and separated from us. Naturally, they won’t be rewarded.

Based upon my understanding of what you are saying, you have succinctly described the Catholic teaching of Purgatory. The bad stuff is burned up and doesn’t survive and the good stuff does. I’m beginning to believe that you and the Catholic Church have no disagreement with each other on this subject.

Again, let me thank you for the reasoned and civil discussion we have been having.

And now to my response about the idea that there is a sin which won’t be forgiven in this age or in the age to come:

Okay, I do agree with the explanation of the context of the Matthew 12 passage. But what I am asking for is an explanation of
“it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (KJV)
or
“will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (NIV)
or
“it shall not be forgiven him, either in ^{( AJ)}this age or in the age to come.” (NASB)

Now we’re talking about 2 ages here. I take the meaning of “this age” to refer to the current human state of existence on Earth (and the coinciding era of time in which humans have existed on Earth.) Therefore, the question is, what is the age or world to come in this verse? Does it make sense for the age/world to come in this verse to be either heaven or hell?

Now, logically, if Jesus tells us that a sin will not be forgiven, not in this age or world, or the age or world to come, then that means some other sin can be forgiven both in this age/world and the age/world to come.

So let’s take heaven first: can something be forgiven in heaven? No, there is no sin in heaven; so people who have received the gift of heaven no longer have sin on their souls…no forgiveness necessary.

How about hell? Is there any forgiveness in hell? No, there is no exit from hell, therefore the souls in hell cannot receive forgiveness, and even if they did it would give them no benefit.

So, therefore, where/what is the age/world to come where one can receive forgiveness?

More in my next post!