All posts by Larry

Reincarnation

Hebrews 9:27 English Standard Version (ESV) And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Is it possible to believe in reincarnation and not believe in resurrection?

There are those who want a second chance. The do over is a chance to make things right that we did wrong. The ideas that come along with this notion are a form of avoidance of final judgement. The belief that being reincarnated gives us the ability to make things right. It is never seen as the possibility of making things worse. If we did get a do over, what makes any of us secure in our ability to set things right? We are just as likely to make things worse. This is the failure of that thinking.

Resurrection on the other hand is the making of an incorruptible body that will never die. This happens to each and every soul regardless of their belief system. Before you get too excited, we must also accept that final judgement is imposed and there are those who get to stay with God and those who get to stay with Satan. Eternal bliss or eternal punishment will happen no matter what we believe. Eternal as in never ending.

While we hope for eternal bliss why does eternal punishment have to be the alternative? At the time of man’s fall, God cast Satan out from His presence and condemned Satan to the dust of the earth, the realm of death, eternal separation from God. God so loved man that He punished Satan forever for leading mankind astray. Satan hates mankind because God chose man over him. God bestowed upon man blessing, mercy, grace and the righteousness of Christ by sacrificing His son for the forgiveness of sin. This forgiveness was never offered to Satan.

For this Satan hates all mankind and he will make life with him an eternal hell.

Where

John 17:24 English Standard Version (ESV) Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

At the time Jesus prayed this to the Father He was living an earthly life. So often we see His earthly ministry in terms we can grasp in the eyes and ears of those who lived in those times. His ministry touched so many lives that it is hard to accept that He had another life that we did not see.

John 10:30 English Standard Version (ESV) “I and the Father are one.”

John 1:17-18 English Standard Version (ESV)

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,[a] who is at the Father’s side,[b] he has made him known.

Footnotes:

a.Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son

b. Greek in the bosom of the Father

That life was hidden from human eyes and understanding during those days. The concept of the indwelling God had not been experienced by any except Jesus Himself. The concept is still hidden from those who have not accepted Jesus into their hearts. The world denies the possibility of Christ in us as much if not more than the existence of God.

John 10:10b English Standard Version (ESV) I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 17:22 English Standard Version (ESV) The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,

Where Jesus was in John 17:24 was in the Father and His prayer was that we would join Him there in His glory. This was not a future state, an end of the world location, but rather a place to live now.

John 15:9 English Standard Version (ESV) As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.