Should Christians believe in karma? Here's what the Bible says on this topic.

Karma may seem enchanting, and even logical, but when you look at what the Bible really says about karma, grace, and works, you can see that there’s something much greater than karma, and that’s the gospel.

Galatians 2:16-21 KJV - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law, shall no flesh be justified.

Karma is NOT a term used in the Bible. It comes from an idea from Hinduism and Buddhism, that holds similarities to, but is not biblically based. Karma is defined as the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.

Followers of Christ, do not believe in the teachings of karma. Karma is appealing to all who believe evil is punished by being low born and goodness is rewarded by being high born. It teaches that people in this life who suffer, are suffering justly for evil deeds they did in a previous incarnation, and this is a burden, but nowhere in the Bible, does it teach reincarnation.

Now, there are biblical spiritual laws in God's Word, that state we "reap what we sow." Meaning that the consequences of our actions, will come back to us. In other words, whatever we plant, we will harvest. The principle of "sowing and reaping" is mentioned throughout the Bible, including in Galatians 6:7-8, which says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked."

Becoming a Christian doesn’t automatically make someone perfect, as none on this earth shall ever be perfect nor reach perfection! When those in Christ mess up and sin again, God says that His grace covers them, not our karma:

But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9

Only God is perfect: Psalm 86:8 - "There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, Oh lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God."

The Pharisees pretended to be righteous and pure. However, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we cannot be like the world, or even pretend to be righteous, as the Pharisees falsely claimed. Just look what the Bible says about our "goodness":

Isaiah 64:6: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our "righteousness" is as a filthy rag..."

Now, Isaiah is not calling us filthy. What he's conveying to us here, is that God says our "good works" cannot MEASURE UP, compare, nor meet, the righteous standards of God. Therefore, as human beings, we can never reach, nor boast, that we are "good" enough to enter heaven, unless our sins are forgiven by Jesus.

Christians should not believe in karma, because the sum of people’s works, does not decide whether they are saved or not. Only faith in Jesus Christ saves people from condemnation. Through God’s grace, Christiansare gifted a relationship with Jesus.