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The passages simply say that men and women die only once. At death our spirit returns to God and our body waits until the end of time. There is no reincarnation. There is no return to this world; otherwise we would be entering "into rest" until the "end of the age." If we did reincarnate, we would have a problem - which body would return to life?
God Incarnate. Jesus is not an avatar. In Isaiah 46:9 and 48:12-16 God is speaking and says,
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Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me. (NASB) Isaiah 46:9
Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. (NASB) Isaiah 48:12
Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit. (NASB) Isaiah 48:12, 16 |
The Tanakh agrees with this wording. God declares there is no other God. There is no one like God - that includes an avatar. He is the first and last. There is no other - including a soul incarnation. Then in Isaiah 48:16 we hear the same being declare "the Lord GOD sent Me." If there is no other? If there is no one like Him, and He is the first and last; there is only one explanation. They are the same being. How? That is a mystery of God.
Conclusion: Christians believe that God or Jesus Christ became incarnate in human flesh in order to be the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sins. As a result, there is no need for more sacrifices. Jesus ended it all. He has forgiven our sins, and now all that God calls us to do is to stop trying to earn His forgiveness - to stop attempting to gain God's favor and simply depend on Jesus to forgive our sins. |
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