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25-Pack of Gospel Tracts, 10-Point Type
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In World War II, I was one of several airmen posted to an Air Force Bombing and Gunnery School. It was winter. Our duties took us on routine flights in four-engine training bombers—mostly dropping smoke bombs—occasionally practice firing at towed targets. Just before one such flight I was strapped in the co-pilot's seat, casually watching the mechanics removing the chocks from the wheels so we could take off. Suddenly an airman jumped onto the starboard mainplane and knocked on the cockpit. Over the noise of the engines he yelled "You've had too much flying time—how about giving me a break?" This man had been very good to me on the station, so without more than an “OK” we switched places and the aircraft took off.
I walked over to the hangar. As I checked in my parachute I heard a crash. This was soon followed by an immense column of smoke. Later we learned that a carburetor had iced up, causing the plane to stall. The pilot died of injuries the next day, others of the crew suffered shock, but the man who took my place was hurled under an engine and killed almost instantly.
If he had known he was going to his death would he have taken my place so calmly? Not according to the Bible, which says “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.” Romans 5:7. But God is different. He sent His Son to die for us, not by accident, but on purpose—because God so greatly loved us: “God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. Yes, “Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6. This means you and me, since the Bible also tells us “There is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10.
God really sent His Son to die for sinners. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. In exchange for God's love man showed hatred. Lost, sinful, fallen man crucified the Lord of Glory. But God made this very act of wickedness to be the way of salvation for all who will believe. How, you ask? Well, God laid the believer's sins on Christ—the sinless Man—at the cross: “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6. Then He judged the Lord Jesus Christ Himself for those sins—just as though they were His own: “Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin.” Isaiah 53:10. But since “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), He suffered that judgment too.
After He was dead on the cross a soldier pierced His side with a spear, “And forthwith came there out blood and water.” John 19:34. Now in the Old Testament God had said “The life of the flesh is in the blood … it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:11. In the New Testament, that same God says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Where are your sins, then, if you believe on Him? They are gone! And where are you in relation to God? You are no longer a condemned sinner before Him, but a justified new man
instead. If Christ has taken your place in death and judgment at the Cross, then you have taken His place before God. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1. As a believer in Christ, you have passed out of death into life. That is because Christ was raised from among the dead by the glory of the Father and every believer has His life (eternal life) now.
Christ’s resurrection from the dead was the seal of God's approval on the work which Christ accomplished at the cross—the work of glorifying God and eternally putting away the sins of every one who will come to Him. Even His enemies admitted that “this man receiveth sinners." Luke 15:2.
Blessed as these truths are, they are worthless unless you make them yours by a decision to accept Christ as your own personal Savior. It is not enough that Christ died for others (although true). You must believe “Christ died for me. He died for my sins.” This message is not for others; it is for you—“But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:24-25. Individually, each of us must be born again (see John 3:7) or face the judgment of God for our sins and an eternity in hell fire (see Mark 9: 43-48).
What good will the world be to you if you die in your sins—without Christ: for then where He has gone you cannot come (see John 8:21-24). What good was the world He left behind to the airman who died in that crash? True, he was buried with full military honors in a flag draped coffin, with a final tribute volley fired over his grave. But suppose you got every honor this world could give and went to your grave without Christ —what then? "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36, 37.
God did everything He possibly could when He sent His Son to die for you. Listen to the words of the Son of God: “And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40. Have you accepted this glorious message as coming from God Himself? “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” John 3:33. Take advantage of the free gift of God now (eternal life) by believing on His Son.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23