From Guilty Sinner To Forgiven Saint

There were no fingerprints. No weapon was ever discovered. No one saw the murderer enter the office of psychologist Michael Phillips. No one even heard the shots ring out. But Dr. Phillips was found sprawled behind his desk. Five bullets had pierced his vested suit.

It seemed the perfect crime. Detectives at first could find no clues. But then they noticed a tiny wire attached to a pencil holder on Dr. Phillips’ desk. The wire led to a tape recorder in a desk drawer. The pencil holder, they realized, actually concealed a microphone.

The investigators quickly rewound the tape and, to their amazement, began to listen to a replay of the actual crime. A man named Anthony Inciarrano had entered the office and began a heated argument with Dr. Phillips. Shots rang out. The tape ended with the terrible moans of the psychologist, dying on the carpet.

Every awful detail had been recorded. The murderer thought his crime would forever remain a secret. He’d been so careful in leaving no clues. But there was an unseen witness who told the whole story.

In this guide we’re going to learn about God’s final judgment when human beings are “judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books” (Revelation 20:12). (Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptural texts in the DISCOVER guides are from the New International Version of the Bible [NIV].)

It’s a sobering topic. Those who’ve imagined that their misdeeds have been completely concealed will be in for a big surprise. Individuals, for example, who’ve made long, pious prayers in church each week, while secretly abusing their spouses at home, will have to confront a shocking record.

But you’re also going to learn why the judgment is wonderfully good news for those who’ve found security in Christ.