Reincarnation

1. Reincarnation – 2nd July 2016
“
Just as peopleare destinedto die once, andafter that to face judge” (Hebrews 9:27).
The concept of Reincarnationcomesfromthe Hindu-Buddhistphilosophyof soul transmigration.Thisis
the "religious"conceptof the eternal birth-death-birthcycle,whereasoul movesfrombodyto body.
The status of each successive body,whetherhumanoranimal,isthe directresultof the qualityof the
life the soul ledinthe previousbody. Thisconceptof reincarnationstates,a"good"life resultsinrebirth
to a higherqualityform,anda "bad"life resultsinrebirthtoa lowerqualityform.
Thisforwardand backwardprogressionisbasedonthe Law of Karma,a central foundationof Hinduism
and otherEastern-basedphilosophies.Asmostof us know,Karmateachesthatgood deedsare
rewardedandbad deedsare punished.The ultimate goal inthisKarmacycle isforthe soul toprogress
to the highestlevelof existence andbecome one withthe universe.Reincarnationistaughtside-by-side
withpantheism,the belief thateverythingisGodandGod is ineverything.Reincarnationandpantheism
are the central doctrinesof Hinduismandoccultism, variationsof whichhave grownpopularinthe
Westernworldinrecentdecades.
ReincarnationappealstoWestern"religious"thinking,suchasthe New Age philosophies,becausethe
life cycle conceptprovidespeople withunlimitedchancestogetlife right.Withreincarnation,we have
no imminentorcompellingreasontofigure outthe meaningof lifewithrespecttoGod andfellowman.
We can feel ourwaythroughexistence,and,if needbe,"getitrightinthe nextlife."Remarkably,recent
surveysreveal thatnearly60%of Americansbelievereincarnationispossible.Notonlyhasreincarnation
enteredWesternthoughtthroughvariousNewAge teachings,reincarnationhassurfacedinthe
Christianchurchand certain"Christian"variants.
The remainderof this study will addressfourbiblical citationsusedby peoplewho supportthis
misguideddoctrine. Asforthe firstinstance,we canreadthat the Reincarnationistscite Jesus'
statementthatreferstoJohnthe Baptist in Matthew 11:14 -15, “Andif you are willingtoaccept it, he
is the Elijahwho wasto come. 15
Whoeverhasears, let them hear”.Thisis not the complete contextof
the scripture. Thisdoesnotreferto ElijahbeingreincarnatedasJohnthe Baptist.Because we can geta
betterunderstandingwhenwe read Luke1:17, “Andhe will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and
power of Elijah,to turn the hearts of the parents to their childrenand the disobedientto the wisdom
of the righteous—tomakeready a peopleprepared for the Lord.” The apostle Luke isstatingthat John
the Baptistwouldprecede Christ"withthe spiritandpowerof Elijah..."NOTthathe was reincarnated!
In addition,Johnthe Baptisthimself deniedthathe wasElijahin John1:21, “Theyasked him,“Then who
are you? Are youElijah?”Hesaid,“Iam not.” “Are you the Prophet?”He answered,“No.”.We must
alsorememberthatOldTestamentscripture teachesthatElijahneverexperiencedphysical death aswe
can learnfrom2 Kings2:11, “Asthey were walkingalongand talkingtogether,suddenlya chariot of
fire andhorses of fire appearedand separated the two of them, andElijahwent upto heavenin a
whirlwind..Thisfactis againstressedinthe New TestamentwhenElijahappearswithMosesatthe
Mount of Transfiguration aswe read fromMatthew 17:3, “Justthen there appeared before them
Moses andElijah,talkingwithJesus.

2. The secondinstance on Reincarnationis found inJohn 3:3: JesustellsNicodemusthattosee the
Kingdomof God one mustbe "born again." Jesus replied, “Very trulyI tell you, no one can see the
kingdomofGod unlessthey are born again”.Inreference to this manyReincarnationists declare that
Jesusissupportingthe ideathata seriesof rebirthsisnecessarytoachieve life cycle "perfection." Thisis
certainlyNOTso.One must readthe entire passage tounderstandthe complete context.When
Nicodemusexpresseshisbewildermentaboutasecondphysical birth, Jesusimmediatelysets
Nicodemusstraight.In John3:4-5, “How can someonebe born when they are old?” Nicodemusasked.
“Surelythey cannot enter a secondtime into their mother’swomb to be born!” 5
Jesus answered,
“Very trulyI tell you, no one can enter the kingdomofGodunlessthey are born of water and the
Spirit”.Jesusspecificallyrefutesthe conceptof physical rebirth,andisveryclearinstatingthat this
"rebirth"isa spiritual one.
The secondinstance onReincarnationisfoundin John9:1-3, “Ashe went along,he sawa manblind
from birth.2
His disciplesaskedhim, “Rabbi,whosinned,thisman or his parents,that he was born
blind?”3
“Neitherthismannor hisparents sinned,” saidJesus, “butthis happenedso that the works of
Godmightbe displayedinhim”. Thisscripture tellsof aman born blindanddealswiththe questionof
whose sinwasthe cause of hisblindness.Reincarnationistssaythisbiblical questionisinlinewiththe
Law of Karma.However,the scripture doesnotendwiththisquestion.Rather,itendswith the replyof
Jesus-- that the man'sblindnesswas in no way relatedto sin. Therefore,we see noconnection
whatsoeverwith reincarnationandoranyKarma-like doctrine.
The third instance onReincarnationisfound inHebrews 7:2-3, “…andAbrahamgave hima tenth of
everything. First,the name Melchizedek means“kingof righteousness”;thenalso,“kingofSalem”
means “kingofpeace.” 3
Withoutfatheror mother, withoutgenealogy,withoutbeginningofdays or
end of life,resemblingthe Son ofGod,he remainsa priest forever”. Reincarnationistsmaintainthat
thisscripture portraysJesusasMelchizedekinapreviousincarnation.However,averysimple reviewof
the scripture will showthatMelchizedekwas"made like untothe Sonof God,"not thathe wasthe Son
of God,JesusChrist.The scripture merelysaysthatthere isnorecord of Melchizedek'sbirthordeath,
and that hisunique priest-hoodwasnottransferable toanother.Melchizedekisonlybeingcomparedto
Jesus, NOTbeingdeclaredapreviousincarnationof Him.
The fourthinstance on Reincarnationisfound inHebrews9:27, “
Just as peopleare destinedto die once,
and after that to face judge”. Thispassage clearlyrefutesthe doctrineof reincarnation -- "itis
appointedfor men to die once, and afterthiscomesjudgment."
Simplystated,reincarnationisnotcompatible with Christiandoctrine.Infact,the Bible clearlyteaches
that the wagesof sin isdeath as we read from Romans6:23, “Forthe wagesof sinis death, but the gift
of Godis eternal lifein[a]
ChristJesus our Lord”.Reincarnationisthe same deceptionusedbySatanin
the Garden of Edenwhenhe toldEve,"You surelyshall notdie."The Bible teachesthateternal salvation
fromsin isa giftfrom God throughJesusChrist.Reincarnationisamyth,whichteachesthat"salvation"
will ultimatelycome tothose whohave perfectedthemselvesatthe endof theirKarma-basedlife cycle.