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Reincarnation
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Is reincarnation taught in the Bible? Should Christians
believe in reincarnation? Why do Christians reject
reincarnation? Why are an increasing number of Americans
accepting reincarnation?
WHAT IS REINCARNATION?
A dictionary definition of ‘reincarnation’
is: “The rebirth in new bodies or forms
of life; esp.: a rebirth of a soul in a new body.”
Reincarnation
is not a new belief. It has been around for centuries.
Its roots are in Hinduism.
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Hinduism
is an eastern religion from India that is influencing
the western world.
As
Christianity is increasingly being watered-down and biblical
teachings are compromised the door is opening wider to
error and false beliefs. The caste system of Hindu India
would crumple without its belief in reincarnation. Reincarnation
is believed by the occult, spiritism, witchcraft, goddess
religion, some nominal Christians and nearly all New Agers.
A significant number of Protestant theologians advocate
and promote this false eastern teaching. Hollywood is
enamored with reincarnation.
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A
future resurrection awaits all who have died. Believers
will receive a resurrected body. See - 1 Cor. 15.
When Christ was crucified, he died. Three days later
he rose in the body from the grave. The four gospels
record his bodily resurrection. That he rose in the
body, not simply as a spirit, is vital to basic Christian
teaching. In fact, it is the bodily resurrection of
Christ that sets authentic Christian faith apart from
all of the religions of the world. See - John 20:24-29.
Note what the apostle recorded in Revelation 14:13.
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Unbelievers
face an eternal separation from God’s presence.
See - Rev. 20:11-15; 1 Pet. 3:18-20. Upon death the
spirit of the believer enters into the presence of
God. See - 2 Cor. 6:6-9.
We
decide where we will spend eternity; whether in heaven
or separated from God. There is no second chance,
no coming back in another form, another life or another
body; no reincarnation.
IS
DEATH REAL?
Mind-Science and New Age philosophy teach that death
is unreal. According to the popular writer Elizabeth
Kubler-Ross, there is no death. It should be noted
that Dr. Kubler-Ross, whose writings are widely read
and used by many Christians, was a spiritist. Satan
was the first one to promote this idea. See Gen. 3:1-4.
Death is a real enemy.
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However,
death will be finally defeated because Christ overcame
the power and penalty of sin, death and hell with His
death, burial and resurrection. See - 1 Cor. 15:54-58.
THE CLINICALLY DEAD
You may be wondering, “What about people who have
been declared clinically dead and have returned to this
life?” Satan is the master of deceit. Those who
have been declared clinically dead have not crossed over
into eternity. Satan is deceiving humans to believe that
some have died, only to return to their body and to this
life. Remember, Satan appears “as an angel of light.”
A person in a deep, deep coma or as Dave Hunt writes in
his book, The Cult Explosion, “demonic manipulation
of the brain cells as any other altered state of consciousness,”
may explain the clinically dead.
So-called “out-of-body” experiences, visits
to other plains, etc. are contrary to biblical teaching.
Some charismatics are deceived in this area. There is
a segment of the Charismatic Movement that borders on
occult practices. Satan is far more cunning than we imagine
him to be. He is out to deceive and take the power and
authority that belongs to God alone. Satan is powerful
but not all powerful. God alone is all powerful! Never
forget, Satan is the master deceiver. He is the father
of lies.
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Psychics
teach that the spirits of the dead surround the living.
They believe that contact with the dead is possible.
Jesus Christ, on the other hand, taught that the spirits
of the dead are either in heaven [dead believers]
or in Hades [present abode of the departed unbelieving
dead]. See - Luke 16:19-31; John 8:21. There is no
middle plane, no purgatory, no floating about in the
air of the souls/spirits of those who have died. The
Bible teaches the existence of demons [fallen angels
whose allegiance is to Satan]. Demons are able to
masquerade as the spirits of people who have died.
Demons, as spirit beings, are knowledgeable about
the past life of everyone who has ever lived. Demons
are able to present facts as well as to imitate the
voices of those who have once lived and are now dead.
In Scripture demons are called “familiar spirits”.
God’s people are exhorted in Scripture to have
nothing to do with familiar spirits.
See - Lev. 19:31; 20:6,17; Dt. 18:9-13; 1 Sam. 28:3,7-9;
2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; 1 Chron. 10:13; 2 Chron. 33:6;
Isa. 8:18-20; 19:3. |
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Reincarnation
cannot be Christianized. The Old Testament Book
of Job records, “For I know that my Redeemer
lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the
earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed,
then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see
on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”
(Job 19:25-27). This promise is for all believers
who will one day be resurrected and given a new
body.
Reincarnation
offers a false and misguided hope. Where does it
end? If reincarnation is true, then the atoning
sacrificial death of Christ was pointless and His
death would have been in vain. The biblical teaching
of salvation would be false and Christians would
be duped into believing a lie if reincarnation were
true. However, reincarnation is a lie.
We need to prepare for eternity now! Faith, rather
than fate, karma or luck is the principle by which
we are to live life. It is while living this life
that we are reconciled unto God and choose life.
After death is too late.
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WHAT
IS NIRVANA?
According to Webster Nirvana is, “the
final beatitude that transcends suffering, karma,
and sam-sara and is sought esp. in Buddhism through
the extinction of desire and individual consciousness
. . .a place or a state of oblivion to care, pain,
or eternal reality.”
What
a contrast the pagan Nirvana is to the hope of the
authentic Christian in a literal heaven (John 14:1-6).
Nirvana offers the hopelessness of reincarnation
whereas Christ offers hope and assurance of eternal
life with God. Revelation chapters 21 and 22 present
a glimpse into the glory that awaits believers.
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Christians
have an assurance that no religion can offer. The
believer’s hope, assurance and faith is rooted
in Christ. The essence of this hope is based upon
the bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead.
Jesus was not reincarnated but is alive and in the
same body that went to the grave. We are saved because
of our Lord’s death and body resurrection.
Heaven is the promised destination for all who have
personally received Christ as Savior and Lord. Being
an bona fide believer is not necessarily synonymous
with church membership. Believers are assured of
heaven and eternal life without a reincarnation
of body, soul or spirit. See - 1 Peter 2:9-11; Hebrews
11:6; 1 John 3:2-3.
Everyone
faces physical death. When believing Christians
die they enter into the presence of God. When non-believers
die they are
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separated
from God’s presence. Believers are promised a new
body. This resurrected body will be a perfect one without
any and all defects. See - 1 Corinthians 15.
Do not be deceived by religion and false beliefs. Religion
is Satan’s deception. “There is a way that
seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death”
(Proverbs 14:12). Religion leads to spiritual death (Matt.
7:21-23). God’s way leads to eternal life. See - John
14:6; 3:36; 5:24; Acts 4:12; 16:31. You can have the assurance
of eternal life by allowing Jesus Christ into your life
as your Savior and Lord. You can be spiritually reborn as
a child of God. See John chapter 3.
Reincarnation is false, deceptive and offers no hope. Those
who accept this false teaching are being deceived and misled.
God’s plan of salvation is offered to all people regardless
of race, culture, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation,
economic or educational status. Won’t you consider
the claims of Christ upon your life? Don’t accept
false belief and miss out on eternal life because of the
inconsistency of some professed Christians. Biblical salvation
is yours by personally receiving Christ into your heart
and life. Why not open your life to Him right now? This
is what being “born again” means. Not a reincarnation,
but a spiritual rebirth.
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