Post on 28-Mar-2016
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©20
12 Good N
ews Tracts. Prin
ted in U
.S.A. C
over image: iStockPh
oto. Written
by Ch
uck Sw
indoll. U
sed by permission
.
made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that
in him we might become the righteousness of
God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). His death satisfied
God’s righteous demands. His resurrection
three days later confirmed that his Father had
accepted the payment in full.
For me, becoming a parent meant giving up
perfectly polished shoes. For Christ, leaving
heaven meant the One who used the earth as his
footstool stooped to wash dirty feet. I endured
wrinkled clothes; he endured soldiers gambling
for his cloak. I gave up milk in the glass; he
welcomed the bitter cup of shame and death
on the cross. God’s ways are not our ways—the
humility required for the Word to become flesh
is unfathomable!
To receive the benefit of Christ’s death, you must
respond in total faith and confidence in him
to save you: "Whoever believes in him is not
condemned….for by grace you have been saved
through faith. And this is not your own doing, it
is the gift of God" (John 3:18, Ephesians 2:8).
You can accept God’s gift of salvation simply
by placing your faith in Christ alone for the
forgiveness of your sins. If you would like to enter
that relationship with your Creator by trusting
in Christ as your Savior, you can express your
decision in a prayer like this:
"Dear God, I know that my sin has put a barrier
between you and me. Thank you for sending your
Son, Jesus, to die in my place. I trust in Jesus alone
to forgive my sins, and I accept your gift of eternal
life. I ask Jesus to be my personal Savior. Thank you.
Amen."
– Chuck Swindoll
Good News Tracts1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, IL 60187
For helpful Christian literature, please write to the address above or visit our web site at www.goodnewstracts.org. Bible references: ESV.
MajesticMEEKNESS
Few experiences reveal our own selfishness more than parenting. I found that to be true as the father of four children. To be perfectly frank, when our kids were little, there was a side of me that liked to have my shoes shined rather than stepped on and scuffed up. I preferred having my clothes hanging in the closet in an orderly manner rather than drooled on and wrinkled. And milk is best in a glass, on the table, not on the floor!
So what did the Lord do to assist me in realizing my
selfishness? Very simple: he gave me four wonderful,
busy kids who stepped on shoes, wrinkled clothes,
and spilled milk along with other things!
But Jesus presents a different model. It was our Lord’s
unselfishness that launched him from the splendor
of heaven to a humble manger in Bethlehem. Don’t miss
the steps downward, according to Philippians 2:5–8 in
the Bible:
He emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant.
"Who, though he was in the form of God, did not
count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but
emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…"
He was made in the likeness of humanity.
"…being born in the likeness of men. And being
found in human form…"
He humbled himself by becoming obedient
unto death.
"…he humbled himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death,"
He accepted the most painful and
humiliating way to die—crucifixion.
"…even death on a cross."
Everything involved in Jesus’ becoming human began
with an attitude of meekness, a willingness to cooperate
with the plan for salvation. Rather than lobbying for
his right to remain in heaven and continuing to enjoy
the exalted position as the second member of the
Godhead, he willingly said yes to being "God with
us." For the Word to become flesh and dwell among
us meant his cooperating with a plan that would
require his releasing majesty and accepting agony.
In a state of absolute perfection and undiminished
deity, he willingly came to earth. Leaving the angelic
host who flooded his presence with adoration,
Jesus accepted a role that would require him to
be misunderstood, abused, cursed, tortured, and
ultimately crucified.
Why would the Son of God willingly submit to die
in such a way? Because something has gone terribly
wrong in our society and in ourselves. Sin colors
all our thoughts, motives, words, and actions.
And the Bible says, "the wages of sin is death"
(Romans 6:23)—our physical death through sin’s
destructiveness, and our spiritual death from God’s
righteous judgment of our sin.
We can’t live a good enough life to make up for
our sins, because God’s standard isn’t "good
enough"—it’s perfection. So God in mercy rescued
us by sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for
our sins. He took death for you! "For our sake [God]
Majestic MeeknessWhen Christ humbled himself to take
the form of a man and come to earth, he revealed the majesty of God’s love.
Bible references: ESV. Package contains 25 tracts.
CHRISTMAS
Good News Tracts
forgiveness of your sins. If you would like to enter
that relationship with your Creator by trusting
in Christ as your Savior, you can express your
decision in a prayer like this:
"Dear God, I know that my sin has put a barrier
between you and me. Thank you for sending your
Son, Jesus, to die in my place. I trust in Jesus alone
to forgive my sins, and I accept your gift of eternal
life. I ask Jesus to be my personal Savior. Thank you.
Amen."
– Chuck Swindoll