The concept of a Purgatory is mythical, not biblical. The concept suggests that people who are not bad enough to go to Hell and are not good enough to go to Heaven when they die are instead sent to a place called “Purgatory” to be “purged” (or purified) of their sins. They receive punishment for a period of time and then they enter heaven. There are 4 problems with this concept:

First, the concept of a Purgatory implies that people fall short of heaven because of their sin. But, the Bible teaches that it is not the sin per se that disqualifies a person from entering Heaven, but rather the person’s failure to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. God has made provision for our sin, but it is up to us to embrace his provision (Christ the Lord).

John 12:48 “He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

Matt 10:32-33 “Therefore everyone who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.”

Luke 9:23-26 And he was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

Second, the Bible teaches only two departments, Heaven and Hell. Jesus explained that a person in one department may not transfer to the other. This argues against a Purgatory.

Lu 16:26 ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’

Third, the Bible teaches that there is no repentance in Hell. Repentance and salvation is a gift and requires the active operation of the Holy Spirit in regeneration.

Ac 5:31 “He is the one whom God exalted to his right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

2Ti 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 2Ti 2:26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

John 16:8 “And he [the Spirit of Truth], when he comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

Tit 3:5 he saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Yet, Hell is “away from the presence of the Lord.”

2Th 1:9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power,

God’s presence is unknown in Hell, His Spirit is not active there. He does not redeem there. Let’s examine the story of Lazarus and the rich man again more thoroughly, with an eye to the notion of repentance and conversion in Hell. Is there repentance in the heart of the rich man, or is it regret? Does he ask for forgiveness?  Does he ask to be saved?  Is he mainly concerned with the harm done to God because of his sin against God or is he mainly concerned with the harm done to himself because of his sin?  There is no repentance, no forgiveness and no salvation.

Luke 16:20  “and a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21  and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22  “now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23  “in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24  “and he cried out and said, ‘father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25  “but Abraham said, ‘child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26  ‘and besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ 27  “and he said, ‘then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— 28  for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29  “but Abraham *said, ‘they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30  “but he said, ‘no, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31  “but he said to him, ‘if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:20-31

Fourth, if Hell could convert sinners, then we could be saved apart from faith in Christ. If this were true, then the crucifixion would have been meaningless. But, Jesus’ death on the cross was fully sufficient for our salvation.  His work is complete in every sense of the word.

John 19:30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me