Would I receive rewards in the
next life by doing good works now?
What does the Bible say about
karma?"
puricarefiles
The
idea of karma is based on the theological belief in reincarnation taught in the
Buddhist and Hindu religions.
Karma
teaches that how you live your life now will determine the quality of the next
life you will have after you die and reincarnates.
If
you are good, kind, and generous during this lifetime, you will be rewarded by
being reborn into a new earthly body to live again and enjoy an abundant and a
pleasant life.
However, if you are selfish and evil in your present life,
you will be reincarnated into a life of penury, sufferings, hardships and
physical abnormalities.
There is a worse
belief that goes along with this idea which is called the “transmigration of souls.”
This teaches that a
man living an evil life will be reincarnated into the most base of animals like
snakes, monkeys, pigs, rats, even insects.
A good life could be rewarded with a
new life in the form of horses, cows
or dogs. One reaps in the
next life what one sows in this one.
The Bible clearly
rejects the idea of reincarnation and karma
“And just as it is appointed for
man to die once, and after that comes judgment,” Hebrews 9:27 English
Standard Version (ESV)
Above
verse meets head-on the teachings of
reincarnation and karma.
- First, it states that we are “appointed to die once.” All men are only born once and only
die once. There is no endless cycle of life, death and rebirth.
- Second, after death we inevitably face "judgment." There are no means
for appeal or review of judgment after death.
There are no second chances for another earthly life, no
matter how good or influential one is. One gets one shot at life, living it
according to God’s plan or his own schemes and suffers the consequences for all
eternity.
The Bible talks much about sowing and reaping.
“As I have observed, those who plow
evil and those who sow trouble reap it.”
“Those who sow in tears will reap with
songs of joy.”
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow
or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how
much more valuable you are than birds!”
In Biblical sowing and reaping, the act of receiving the
rewards of one’s actions takes place in this life and not in some future life.
The fruit one reaps will be commensurate with the actions one has exerted.
Further, the sowing one performs in this life will
determine the reward or punishment in the afterlife. This afterlife is not a
rebirth or a reincarnation into another physical body here on earth.
“And
these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal
life.” Matthew 25:46 English Standard
Version (ESV)
The next life would either be eternal
suffering in hell or eternal life in heaven with Jesus.
The concept of reincarnation and karma is incompatible with
what the Bible teaches about life, death, and the sowing and reaping of eternal
life.
Eternity in heaven should be the focus of our life on earth.
The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:8-9, “The one who sows to please his sinful
nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the
Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in
doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give
up.” English Standard Version (ESV)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one
can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 English Standard
Version (ESV)
All we have to do is believe that Jesus died in our place
and rose from the dead (Romans 10:9-10).
We can be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in
Jesus Christ alone.
We are declaring to God that we are relying on Jesus Christ
as our Savior.
If you acknowledge to God that you are a sinner and in need
of salvation through Jesus Christ say this prayer.
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my
sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful
life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected
from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my
heart from this day forward.
Thank You that according to Your Word, I am now born again.
Please
send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of
my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me
for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.”
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Does The Bible
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Do Good Works Earn Heavenly Rewards?
“No
Condemnation”
Don Moen
Don Moen
lyrics
There is therefore now no condemnation
For those who are in Christ Jesus
There is therefore now no condemnation
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
There is therefore now no condemnation
For those who are in Christ Jesus
Verse:
For the law of the Spirit
Of life, in Christ Jesus,
Will set us free
From the law of sin and death
There is therefore now no condemnation
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
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