What is Hinduism?

Like Christians, Hindus believe everything was created by God. Brahma is the Creator God. In Hinduism there are many gods. Outsiders may view Hindus as superstitious villagers worshiping idols, but their understanding of who God is goes much deeper than that. Through love and sacrifice one can earn salvation (Moksha). Religion (Dharma) is deeds  (Karma ). Hinduism preaches transmigration of the soul (Reincarnation). The soul is reborn according to the deeds of a person in a life. So a person who has sinned much may be reborn as a lower animal in the next life.; perhaps a dog or cow. Through good deeds in a life, animals may be reborn as a human. Through Karma, one can escape the endless cycle of birth and death., to a permanent place  of heaven (Svarga) or hell (Naraka). 

The Christian Bible teaches that it is appointed for a man to die once, and after that comes the judgment. The Veda is the holy book of Hinduism. Ancient rituals sometimes involved blood sacrifices to express gratitude to God. A sacrifice may be given for a particular need. Goats were a common sacrifice. 

Can karma save you?

Not according to Jesus. 

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This may sound similar to the Hindu belief of reincarnation, however this is a spiritual rebirth that happens while one is alive. Regarding karma, the Apostle John writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of karma, so that no one may boast.” Because God is righteous, He will judge all humans after death according to his holy standard of perfection. In the sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5),  Jesus expounded on the 10 commandments just in case people thought they could earn salvation through karma.  What is the verdict? We all stand guilty before God and we can't pay off the charge against us.  Christ paid it all,  to those who believe. All religions say, “DO” But Jesus says, “DONE”, setting Christianity apart from all other world religions. 

Think of that soldier who goes off to war and dies so that you can be free. Rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrates His love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Now think of God, becoming man and taking the punishment for your sin on a cross so that you can be free from hell for all eternity. Jesus is the only man who lived a perfect life and therefore is the perfect sacrifice. He suffered and died on the cross taking the punishment for ours sins, rose from the dead, defeating death. The great exchange takes place when you receive the gift of salvation. The righteousness of Christ is applied to your account and your sins are nailed to the cross. How can your sins be nailed to the cross if that was an event in the past? The Bible explains, God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before God. 

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. If you confess that you are a sinner, thank Jesus for dying on the cross for you and receive Him as the Lord and Savior of your life and repent of you sins, you will be born again. You are not born over and over again. 

Matthew 5:17-30

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;  but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.