Resurrection/Reincarnation
After Life Series Part 2 -Resurrection/Reincarnation
What is resurrection or reincarnation? The latter is not supported by Christian belief even though there was an occurrence in the New Testament but was not taught to believers to embrace that notion. Christians believe that Jesus is the incarnate God, but not believing in reincarnation is not our stand to disagree. For purposes of study, let me cite some Scriptures about reincarnation.
After many years of revision, the Bible available today, reincarnation is never given a great detail for us to understand why reincarnation was left off instead of resurrection. We need to get out of the fundamentals for a while to continue seeking the truth of what our forefathers embraced and passed on to us.
For the sake of our free will, which was given to us by the Almighty Father, and using that Free Will, it will not be charged against us— Genesis 11. I, therefore, decided to go through to gain more knowledge.
Knowledge is a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:8). The Bible says people perished due to a lack of knowledge, and knowledge is the force of wisdom that gives the ability to teach and digest the truth in the form of revelation. Knowledge, understanding, and wisdom are the truth of the Spirit.
There are many scriptural references to reincarnation, and yet, like the doctrine of the Trinity, many Christians, especially those rooted in Christianity, do not embrace it. I heard a quote from a Pastor when asked by a member, “Why do they not believe in some of the passages in the Bible when it is a written Word of God?” Why are Christians so divided on doctrinal views? Why so many denominations in the Christian religion?
The pastor did not avoid answering the legitimate question, and it is hard to digest from what I heard, which the answer was: “I know (it is written in the Bible), but we do not practice (believe it) it.” Christians’ are so divided that the United States alone has 200 denominations. Some reason for the division is to have their group, disagreement on the tenet of the church, exclusivity, and some personal reasons.
We can already see how many lost souls will generate these divisions. I could not just budge into their conversation because I was only a guess, and if I did, it may have looked like an insult to the Pastor, and putting him on the defensive would have caused trouble!!!
Listening to the Word of God is acquiring knowledge. Still, false knowledge will either give you a weaker relationship within the Godhead family and vulnerable to spiritual attack due to powerless foundational doctrine.
Occurrences in reincarnation passages like John 9:1-2; Malachi 4:5; Luke 1:13; 17; Mark 9:13; Matt 11:13-14; Matt 17:12-13 and Revelation 3:12; were written for our instructions and our learning, and if we do not listen to it, and would not embrace it, we may as well leave our conscience to decide and ask the help of the Holy Spirit. There is a saying from the old folks on reincarnation, “The soul with an incomplete task or mission here on earth will come back again and again until it finishes its purpose.”
On reincarnation, the soul will not remember its past life. Yet, there would be a time when the reincarnated person senses something related to a previous life that would push to remind something very familiar. This is like having a “ déjà vu,” a feeling that we may have been in that place before or already know this person in the past but had just met that person in the present time. Do you think that person also would feel the same?
The Bible also has references about the resurrection, and it is not hidden; it is well expressed, and if we are going to make our assessment, the Bible promotes resurrection. Some discussions are raised that without the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, Christianity would have been erased and may have belonged to one of the prominent religions as a sect. We all know that Jesus is the center of Christianity.
The references are not limited only to what is listed here. If you did the research, there would be more. I am quoting these Scriptures to show my point.
Acts 24:15 –”Having hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.”
John 5:29 –”And come out those who have done well to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Daniel 12:2 –”And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
John 6:40 –”For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.”
Luke 14:14 –You will be blessed because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Matthew 27:53 “and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
Acts 24:15—”there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”
1 Corinthians 15: 43-44— Paul defended that there will be the resurrection of the dead against the Corinthians, that said there is no more resurrection. What will the body look like? The same body as Christ when resurrected; the body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; “it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;” it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
With all the discussion of whether there will still be a resurrection or whether it is already a fulfilled prophecy? Indeed, life is involved, and we need the gift of salvation. We must acknowledge God and His existence, and everything will be added to our reward. We must continue to work on our salvation; eventually, we may find our way to being closer to God and gain a glorious body.
When Jesus died, great power was released, and people who were dead were raised and made alive, and they all walked! Does this mean that those who were resurrected during that time are not part of the coming great judgment day?
Wherever the righteous of the Old Testament faith heroes are now, that is where we are going! Where are they? Are they in another dimension waiting for the judgment day? Or were they with Christ when his resurrection happened? Or did Christ bring them with him where he is now? The Bible is prominent that no man can enter heaven because our inheritance is here on earth, and therefore, we stay here on earth.
If we listen to our hearts and the Spirit within, we will know our position in this doctrinal view. We cannot change what was and is written, except for those who owned the revised version of the Bible and the publishing house or customers of that publication that has the power to mandate any changes. Anyone can have their version by little maneuvering of the word, but is that what we want to do? Are we losing respect for the Word of God, as many others do?
To God be the glory, God bless everyone.
Part 1 Life After This Life Series
Part 2 Resurrection Afterlife Series
Part 3 Heaven Afterlife Series
