Bible Discussion Thread

We see Jesus talking to a religious Pharisee who I believe is an interested seeker of Christ and so Jesus shares with him the truth of Salvation, it is a new birth, a Spiritual one. Much like the physical birth there is a struggle, the birth pangs. Every one that comes to Christ will experience this. A person must see themselves lost if they would be saved. Paul gives a good example when he says, I 'm the chief of sinners. It is a hard place to come to, emptying yourself of any effort, any goodness and to count it as dung. Man is prideful and wants to contribute something to salvation but God gives it as a gift and it must be received as just that. Every other religion states a list of works to be done but not Christianity, it is done already and the Christian does good works as a result of the genuine conversion. I heard a man make this statement that I thought was most helpful. He said one of the ways you know your salvation is true is that the search is over. No one can come to with another religion and sway you to abandon your faith.