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 The differences between Hinduism and Christianity are
vast. Having read numerous stories of people who have
left Hinduism for a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ, I’ve identified that a common theme runs through
their stories. These people left a life of hopelessness,
where they were dependent on their own works to escape
from samsara, to a life of hope and assurance of their
salvation. They left their millions-in-one impersonal
gods, and found the one true God of the universe, who
cares intimately for each one of them. For this reason,
it is important to identify the most basic differences
between Hinduism and Christianity.
|
 |
HINDUISM |
CHRISTIANITY |
| GOD |
A
vast plurality of gods and goddesses exist as part of
the impersonal Brahman. |
There is one God, who cares deeply for each one of
us.
-
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is
one.” Deuteronomy 6:4
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“And call upon me in the day of
trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Psalm 50:15
|
| MAN |
Humans, as with all living things, are just
manifestations of Brahman. We have no individual
self, or self-worth. |
God
created mankind, and gave us free will. He cares
deeply for us, and places a great deal of worth on His
creation.
-
“So God created man in his own image, in the
image of God he created him; male and female he
created them.” Genesis 1:27
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“For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
|
| THE
WORLD |
The
world and everything on it are manifestations of
Brahman. |
God
created the universe, the world, and everything on
it. (Genesis 1). As God did not create Himself, the
world exists separately from God. |
| SIN |
Sin
is committed against oneself, not against God.
|
God
gave us rules because He cares about us. He also gave
us free will – we can choose to disobey. Disobedience
(sin) is an offense against God.
-
“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done
what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved
right when you speak and justified when you judge.”
Psalm 51:4
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“For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God.”
Romans 3:23
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| SIN'S
PENALTY |
Since “sin” is committed only against oneself, the
penalties are accrued only against the self. The
penalty is the repeated cycle of rebirths, until you
can escape to Nirvana. |
Sin
cannot exist in the presence of God. Therefore, the
penalty of sin is spiritual death, or separation from
God.
“For the wages of sin is death…”
Romans 6:23a |
| SALVATION |
Salvation is the release from the wheel of life, the
cycle of rebirths, through which we must work to
better ourselves, and realize our oneness with
Brahman. It must be worked out by each individual
through successive lives. |
Salvation is a free gift to us from God. We must only
accept it. We cannot earn it. Jesus bought our
salvation by taking all our sin upon Himself on the
cross, dying as a sacrifice for us, and then rising
from the dead three days later. Salvation means
spending eternity in heaven with our Almighty God!
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“…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b
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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
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“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
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If you are a Hindu man or woman reading this, please know
that a greater hope exists. Indeed, it is more than a
hope – it is an assurance. You are not
relegated to rebirth after rebirth in an attempt to “get
it right.” There is a personal God, who cares deeply for
you. He knows how many hairs you have on your head, yet
he controls ever facet of the universe. He loves you, and
desires to redeem you unto Himself. All you have to do is
accept! Indescribable joy awaits you! To learn more
about how to accept the gift of eternal life, click here
to read about the
Roman Road to salvation.
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