Jesus Frees You from Judgment
By Rick Warren

“Those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged.” John 5:24 (GNT)

Have you ever imagined something like this? It’s the day of judgment. You’re standing outside the gates of heaven in a really long line. You slowly move forward, one step at a time. 

As you get closer, you start to sweat and wonder, “Am I going to get in? Am I going to make it? Is God going to use a giant TV screen to show every stupid or evil thing I’ve ever done? Will my every sin be exposed?”

I have good news for you. The Bible says that those who believe in Jesus—his death and Resurrection—will not be judged (John 3:18). Jesus has promised you that.

In other words, when you get to heaven, Jesus will greet you with open arms. He’ll welcome you home because, as a believer, you belong to the family of God. 

Jesus’ death and Resurrection release you from judgment. Is that good news? Oh, yeah!

When my friend Buddy was a child, his Sunday school teacher taught him God was sitting in heaven, writing down every bad thing that he ever did. 

She made the class sing a song every week that went, “My Lord is writing all the time. Writing, writing, writing all the time.” 

Buddy said, “It scared me. I just thought, ‘I’m never going to make it to heaven. My list is getting longer and longer.’”

Is that the way God treats you when put your faith in Christ? No! In fact, God is erasing, erasing, erasing all the time. Forgiving, forgiving, forgiving all the time. He’s sitting in heaven, hitting the “delete” button.  

How do I know this? The Bible says: “God is love” (1 John 4:8 GNT), and love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV). 

If you put your trust in Jesus Christ and his love, your sins are wiped away. God’s judgment is no longer something you need to fear. Because of Jesus’ death and Resurrection, you’re free from judgment.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!

Encourage a Graduate in Your Life

Graduation time is here, and chances are there’s a young person in your life who could use some encouragement, along with a little guidance.

Set them up for success with Pastor Rick’s The Purpose Driven Life: Selected Thoughts and Scriptures for the Graduate.

Filled with inspirational Scripture, biblical wisdom from Pastor Rick, and beautiful imagery, this unique, hardcover gift book provides a priceless reminder of the bountiful life God has planned for your graduate—and it will empower them to seek his unique plan and purpose for their life.

We’d love to send you a copy of this special resource as thanks for your gift today to help Daily Hope take the transforming power of Jesus into more lives around the world.

So request your copy below—and set a young graduate on the path to all God has for their life!

*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.

This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.