Indulgences: Understanding the Catholic Church's Teaching on Spiritual Remission

An indulgence is a belief within the Catholic Church, rooted in centuries of tradition. It represents the Church's authority to dispense God's mercy through the merits of Christ and the saints, offering the faithful a pathway to spiritual purification and growth in holiness.

The Nature and Purpose of Indulgences

The teaching is indulgences address temporal punishment, helping to purify the soul and prepare it for full communion with God. They do not forgive sins (that's the role of the sacraments) nor do they provide license to sin. Rather, they are a means of spiritual growth and purification for those already in a state of grace.

Going to confession, receiving Holy Communion, doing good deeds, abstinence, Bible reading, self-punishment (penance), and praying all done with a contrite heart besides signing themselves with the sign of the cross while saying 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen' are some of the ways an indulgence can be granted. Over the centuries a vast amount of finance has been raised by the Roman Catholic church though indulgences, in the mistaken belief that this will make amends for sin. However, the Bible's teaching this is only achieved by the blood of Christ (1 Jn 1:7,9), not by works of righteousness we have done (Tit 3:5), for they are only filthy rags (Isa 64:6).

Tradition vs the blood of Christ

According to Roman Catholic teaching undertaking indulgences is a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins in purgatory – a place of purification before reaching heaven. An indulgence is considered partial if it removes part of the temporal (earthly) punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all punishment.

Is the Concept of Catholic Indulgences Biblical?

Roman Catholic doctrines are often derived from tradition rather than Scripture. While the Catholic Church views tradition as equal to Scripture in authority, most other Christian groups hold the Bible alone as the source of authority (Acts 20:32; 2 Tim 3:15-17). A consistent interpretation of Scripture will neither support indulgences nor the doctrines they're built upon.

The Catholic Church cites passages like Matthew 5:26, 12:32 and 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, to support Purgatory. However, these verses address forgiveness and blasphemy, not what happens after death. The Bible clearly teaches only two destinations after death: heaven (2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:21-23) or hell (Lk 16:23-24; Rev 20:10-15). Scripture states, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb 9:28).

Catholic penance involves making payment toward temporal punishment to satisfy God's justice. While the Bible speaks of repentance—a change of mind that results in changed behavior (Lk 3:3-18; Jas 2:18)—it never teaches that we must pay or atone for our sins through good deeds or abstinence.

Scripture, not tradition is to be the source of our beliefs

The "Treasury of the Church" doctrine claims that the merits of Mary and the saints contribute to remitting temporal punishment. The Bible never mentions any such treasury or the idea that atonement can be made by one believer for another's sin. Scripture teaches that Christ alone is our atonement (Isa 53:6; Rom 5:10-11; 1 Jn 2:2). There is no hint of one sinner taking the place of another, either alive or dead.

Catholic teaching presents temporal punishment as a spiritual debt requiring atonement. Scripture acknowledges that sin has real consequences (Rom 6:23; Gal 6:7; Jas 1:15), affects how others view God (2 Sam 12:13-14), serves as a warning to others (1 Cor 10:1-12), and involves God's discipline of His children (Heb 12:3-11). However, nowhere does Scripture teach these consequences are imposed to satisfy temporal justice.

Scripture provides no example of an apostle or church leader granting an indulgence to a fellow believer. From beginning to end, the doctrine of indulgences lacks biblical foundation. We urge all who follow Christ to embrace the simplicity of trusting in Him alone and living for Him with grateful hearts (Rom 3-12).

Reflection and Application:

Recognize that Scripture provides no example of apostles granting indulgences to believers.
Understand that our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isa 64:6) and only Christ can atone for sin.
Reject the idea that good works can reduce temporal punishment or make amends for sin.
Trust in Christ alone for salvation, not in traditions or practices lacking biblical foundation.