What does the Bible say about reincarnation?
Q: "Does the Bible talk about reincarnation anywhere?
How can we know this is our only life?"
our A: Great question. Beyond the answer given below, we
also have an article that discusses this subject:
Reincarnation, Karma & Life after Death.
To answer your question, the Bible never mentions reincarnation and in fact
states the contrary...
It is appointed for men to die once and after
this comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)
If the Bible is correct, then why doesn't God allow
for reincarnation? Consider that the idea of
reincarnation may be flawed at its core.
Reincarnation is the theory that with enough lives,
a person can somehow finally get it right and
then be allowed into paradise/nirvana.
Many people think they are good
enough -- already -- for heaven. (They haven't robbed
banks or killed anyone.) With reincarnation, the idea
is very similar. The only difference is that it suggests that you'll
be good enough...eventually.
Why is such a scheme flawed? Because it doesn't
take into account the sinfulness of man. The
Bible says that the human heart is the most
deceitful thing in existence (Jeremiah 17:9).
That's pretty bad. It gets worse. The Bible also says that
all people have sinned and fall short of God's
glory (Romans 3:23), that all have turned from
God and gone their own way (Isaiah 53:6), that there is
not even one person who does good (Psalm 53:3), and that
there is no one who doesn't sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
Therefore, what good what it do to come back to
earth in a different body? The degree of change would
not be enough to make a difference. You live
your first life as a sinner who has turned from
God, then you come back as a different person
who nonetheless is a sinner who turns from God.
This endless cycle would give no benefit to
anyone.
Since we are sinners, we need forgiveness.
Since we all turn away from God, we need to turn
back to Him (repentance). This is the consistent
message of the Bible.
God tells us to turn to
Him for forgiveness and seek Him in order to know
Him. If we do that, then heaven begins in this
life and can merely carry on into the next life.
For He Himself -- not a different place to live --
is what it's really all about.
Even though the Bible refutes reincarnation, it
does speak of a resurrection
of all people...
"An hour is coming, in which all who are in the
tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth;
those who did the good to a resurrection of life,
those who committed the evil to a resurrection of
judgment." (John 5:28-29)
Here is more Scripture regarding that judgment...
And I saw a great white throne and
Him who sat upon it....
And I saw the dead, the great and the
small, standing before the throne, and books were
opened....and they were judged, every
one of them according to their deeds....And if anyone's name was not found
written in the book of life, he was thrown into
the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
Want to know how to have your name written in the book of
life? Sincerely ask God now for His forgiveness.
Jesus died for your sins so that you could be forgiven.
But to receive God's forgiveness means turning to
Him in sincerity and with a commitment of your life.
See Connect.
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