John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
What a day that will be! A time, that is what is meant by “an hour.” A time is coming when everyone who has ever lived on the earth will be resurrected. They will hear Jesus’ voice, like Lazarus heard His voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” Their bodies will be reconstituted, rejoined with their souls, and they will come forth like Lazarus came forth. That will happen when Jesus returns in glory to execute judgment on God’s behalf.
We notice that Jesus said the judgment will be for deeds already committed. In other words, there will be nothing else to consider, once we die. What occurs in this life determines whether our resurrection will come forth into life or into judgment.
We also notice that those who rise to eternal life, do not come into judgment. For them, the judgment already took place. God judged their evil deeds in Jesus at the cross. Their evil deeds were those deeds that were done without Jesus, and therefore were unrighteous, and fell short of the glory of God. Hopefully you remember what Jesus said in John 15:5 that apart from Him, we can do nothing to produce fruit for God’s glory. That helps us understand what the “good deeds” were that were done by those who are resurrected to life. Everything done with Jesus as we abided in Him is a good deed. Or we can think of it this way. Whatever the Holy Spirit did in those who are His is a good deed. The apostle John described the good deeds, the sinless deeds in his first epistle when he wrote in 1 John 3:5-6, “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins.” So when we aren’t abiding in Jesus, we sin, and those deeds are evil. When we do abide in Jesus, and He loves through us, they are good deeds. Jesus said in this verse that those who did the good deeds will come forth to resurrection of life.
Do you get how this verse encourages us to live to love with Jesus? Loving with Jesus, abiding in Him, so His life is revealed in us, are the good deeds! That’s incredibly significant. It reveals the hope of living with Jesus’ purpose and from His worldview. That’s how we abide in Him. When we think and apply what we know of Jesus’ purpose and worldview, He lives His life in and through us. Living to love with Jesus is a life of hope—the hope of eternal life. If you would like to learn more about Jesus’ purpose and worldview, please check out my book, Live to Love: Experience Freedom and Joy in Relationships. It is available for free as an e-book, audiobook, or print book at www.livetolovewithjesus.com
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
