The concept of reincarnation is taught in Eastern religions such as Hinduism and has even gained popularity in the West. It is not uncommon to hear people in the Western world talking about good and bad karma. But what does the Bible teach about reincarnation?
(Hebrews 9:27) "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment," (ESV)
This verse clearly refutes the idea of reincarnation. A person lives one life and after that comes judgment. The idea of karma is also refuted by this verse. Karma is a sort of law of cause and effect where a person reaps in this life what he has sown in a previous life. In Hinduism the problem is ignorance of one's own divinity. The solution is to break free from the cycle of karma and reincarnation and to merge into the great oneness (Brahman).
The real problem we have is that we are all sinners who stand guilty before a holy God. Because of our sin we are under God's wrath and on the road to hell. But God sent his only, unique Son to save his people from their sins. Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of his people and was resurrected victorious over sin and death. Christ takes our sin on himself and his righteousness is credited to us. Jesus is the only way to heaven. We must respond with repentance and faith in Christ alone for salvation.
Hebrews 9:27 and the entire Bible refute the idea of reincarnation. So concepts such as reincarnation and karma must be rejected as false teaching from a false religion, Hinduism. We must hold to the teaching of the Bible which is the Word of God.
