Introduction

Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I greet you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a joy to gather with you, in this sacred space, where we come together to learn, to grow, and to be transformed by the Word of God. We are here today, not by accident, but by divine appointment. God has something to say to us, something to teach us, something to reveal to us. And we are here, with open hearts and open minds, ready to receive.

Today, we will be turning our attention to the book of Galatians, specifically Galatians 6:7. The Apostle Paul writes, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." This verse, this truth, is a profound reminder of the spiritual law of cause and effect, a principle that is often referred to in our culture as Karma.

Now, Karma is a term that is heard often, but understood less. It's a principle that seems to have been borrowed from Eastern religions and philosophies and has somehow found its way into our Western, Christian vocabulary. But how does this principle of Karma compare with the Biblical principle of accountability? That's what we're going to be looking at today.

We'll also be discussing Kingdom Principles for Decision Making, because our choices, our decisions, they matter. They have consequences. And understanding this can help us make wise, godly decisions.

But before we begin, I want to share a quote with you from the great Christian author, J.I. Packer. He once said, "The life of true holiness is rooted in the soil of awed adoration." This quote reminds us that our actions, our decisions, our very lives, should be rooted in our reverence for God. And this reverence, this awe of God, should guide us in everything we do.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with humble hearts and open minds. We ask that you would guide us in our understanding of your Word. Help us to see the truth, to understand it, to apply it to our lives. We ask that you would speak to us today, that you would reveal yourself to us in a new and fresh way. We ask all this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, let's turn our attention to the first main point: Karma's Origins and Understanding.

Karma's Origins and Understanding

The idea of Karma, as it is understood in popular culture, is often associated with a kind of cosmic justice. It's the idea that what goes around comes around, that you get what you give, that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This is a principle that seems to resonate with many people, perhaps because it appeals to our innate sense of fairness and justice.

However, the original understanding of Karma, as it is taught in Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, is somewhat different. In these traditions, Karma is not so much about justice as it is about cause and effect. It's the idea that every action we take, every decision we make, has consequences that can affect us in this life and in future lives.

This understanding of Karma is closely tied to the concept of reincarnation, the belief that after we die, we are reborn into a new life, and that the circumstances of our new life are determined by the actions we took in our previous lives. In this way, Karma is seen as a kind of moral law of the universe, a law that governs the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. But how does this idea of Karma compare with the teachings of the Bible? Is there a place for Karma in Christian theology? These are questions that many Christians wrestle with, and they are questions that we will be addressing in this sermon.

The Bible teaches that we are accountable for our actions, that our choices have consequences. This is a principle that is clearly articulated in Galatians 6:7, where the Apostle Paul writes, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." This verse reminds us that we cannot escape the consequences of our actions, that we will reap what we sow.

This principle of accountability is a central theme in the Bible. It is a theme that is echoed in the teachings of Jesus, in the writings of the Apostles, and in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. It is a theme that underscores the importance of making wise, godly decisions, and of living a life that is pleasing to God. However, the Biblical principle of accountability is not the same as the principle of Karma. While both principles acknowledge the reality of cause and effect, there are important differences between them.

Transition. While the principle of Karma and the Biblical principle of accountability both acknowledge the reality of cause and effect, they are fundamentally different. The Biblical principle of accountability is rooted in the character of God, it is not tied to the concept of reincarnation, it is tempered by the grace of God, and it is not about earning our salvation. It is a principle that underscores the importance of making wise, godly decisions, and of living a life that is pleasing to God.

Karma versus Biblical Accountability

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