Can I Be Sure I’ll Get Into Heaven?

by Rick Warren — October 2, 2022
From Eternal Realities

“Those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged.”

John 5:24 (GNT)

Jesus’ death and resurrection release you from judgment.

Maybe you’ve imagined a day of judgment that goes something like this:

You’re standing outside the gates of heaven in a really long line. You’re slowly moving 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 foolish or wrong thing I’ve ever done? Will my every sin be exposed?”

I have Good News for you, promised by Jesus Christ himself: “Those who believe in the Son are not judged” (John 3:18 GNT).

Or, as he says it later in the book of John: “Those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged” (John 5:24 GNT).

Is that good news? Oh, yeah! 

I have a friend named Buddy who said that, when he was a little kid, his Sunday school teacher taught him that God was sitting in heaven, writing down every bad thing that Buddy ever did. She actually 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 you come to him and 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.

Why? Because the Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8 NIV) and love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV). If you put your trust in the love of Jesus Christ, your sins are wiped out.

You can count on God to keep his promise: “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT).

Talk It Over

  • What do you think of when you hear people talk about a “day of judgment”?
  • How does confidence of a future in heaven shape your daily actions and choices?
  • If God doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, why is it still important to try to do the right thing?

Yes, you can be certain you’re going to heaven!

Many people fear death and judgment—but Jesus’ death and resurrection can free you from that fear.

The Bible says that every one of us sins and that the penalty of sin is death. But God loves you so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty of your sins, to bring you into the family of God, and to save you from judgment.

If you’re ready to enter God’s family, here’s a prayer you can start with: “Dear God, I know that when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you directly. I confess I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all I’ve done wrong so that I can have eternal life with you instead of judgment. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I ask you to save me from my sins and from judgment. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe that you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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