A Christmas Gift – Gospel Tract (100pk)

This gospel tract is printed in the same fold-out format as our very popular “Are you a good person – Comic”.

 

TEXT ON TRACT:

What is the greatest gift ever given?
Everyone loves a gift! Over 2000 years ago, a glorious gift was given to the world, but this gift has been forgotten by many. Do you know what it is?
Consider this popular passage which is often quoted at Christmas time:

‘And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ – Matthew 1:21

What does it mean that “He will save His people from their sins”? It’s essential to know this if we want to understand what the greatest gift ever given was.

What is sin?
Sin is disobeying God by breaking His laws. God, who is the creator of heaven and earth, is holy, righteous, and completely just. His law reveals the true condition of our hearts, and how far short we fall from His perfection. Only when we understand we’ve broken His law, can we truly appreciate His amazing gift.

Consider the following commandments.

TEN COMMANDMENTS

You shall have no other gods before Me.
(Have you always loved God above all else?)

You shall not make for yourself an idol.
(Carved in wood, stone or your own mind.)

You shall not take God’s name in vain.
(Misusing God’s name, e.g., OMG, Jesus Christ.)

Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Honour your father and mother. You shall not murder.
(God considers hatred to be as murder.)

You shall not commit adultery.
(This includes lust and fornication.)

You shall not steal.
(The value is irrelevant.)

You shall not lie.
(The severity is irrelevant.)

You shall not covet.
(Have you desired other people’s stuff?)

These commandments reflect God’s perfect moral standard. Unfortunately, we’ve all fallen short of them, and this is very serious. Because God is perfectly good and just, He must punish evil wherever it is found—including within us.

The wages of sin is death, not just physical death but eternal death, which is called Hell. Yet God is also rich in mercy and full of loving-kindness, so let’s find out if there is a way we can be forgiven.

Many people think doing good deeds will make up for their sin, but once we’ve committed a crime, good works can’t undo it. No good judge would release a criminal just for doing a few nice things. The payment required for our sin is death, not good deeds. Our human effort can’t save us.

Some think if they stop sinning or repent, God will overlook their past sins. Again, no good judge would release a criminal just because they’re sorry and promise not to do it again. Of course they should be sorry and not do it again, but justice must still be served. We too should be sorry for our sin. We should confess it to God and turn away from it, but repentance can’t pay for our sin. We need a way to have our sin paid for in full.

Good news: How God’s gift can save you.

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ – John 3:16

This is why the Christmas story is so powerful. Despite our helpless and lost state before God, He has made a way for us to be saved from judgement.

Jesus was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He then willingly died on a cross as a payment for sin. He was buried and three days later God raised Him from the dead. His resurrection was witnessed by over five hundred people.

‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ – Romans 5:8

Jesus died on behalf of sinners like us. God’s justice is fully satisfied by Jesus’ death.

‘For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’ – 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus was truly God and truly Man, therefore He was able to taste death for everyone. The death and resurrection of Jesus means God can legally forgive all your sin and grant you everlasting life.

Now that’s good news. There is no better gift than having forgiveness of sin and peace with God.

How to receive God’s free gift
God calls us to repent and believe the good news. We must place our faith in Jesus, who fully satisfied God’s justice when He died on the cross. We can’t add anything to it. It is a free gift to all who believe.

‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ – Romans 6:23

‘Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ – Acts 4:12

‘And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.’ – 1 John 5:11

‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ – Isaiah 9:6

‘Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.’ – Luke 2:10-11