John 5: 26-29
” For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out —those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
Jesus continues his defense before the Jewish leaders. Here he sums up his arguments so far. Leaving aside the issue of working on the Sabbath, Jesus restates that the Son has life in himself just like the Father has life in himself. He also reminds us that he has the authority to judge. In case anyone might be confused about what that means, he explains that when people are called up from their graves, the good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
Q: When Jesus says that “those who have done what is good will rise to live…” what does he mean by “those who have done what is good?” Is he talking about people being saved by their good works, or is something else in play?
Jesus is speaking to the squeaky clean pillars of society who people bow down to and hold high as examples of Godly men who are pleasing to God as they dedicate their lives serving Him.
Jesus calls them out as whitened sepulchers. Cleaned and polished on the outside, filled with decaying flesh and bones.
Contrary to these, we see Jacob and David along with others who walked as genuine men and women, filled with faults, obviously falling short of living within the Law, yet trying to live according to the two great commandments given by Jesus.
God knows the hearts of these men and in Davids case, called him His friend. Our immutable God will not change, and knowing this, I believe we will be very surprised as we witness those rising to live and those to be condemned, according to their hearts desires.
Something else is at play : )
There are two paths,
A path of life, of light, and of righteousness – there is only one way to this path and the gate is narrow.
The second path is broad for all other gates lead to this path – a path of evil, of darkness, and of death,
There are two paths.
Absolutely Anon, there are two paths, I choose to travel the 1st path, the narrow path traveled by David in faith.
The 1st, narrow path raised to life, is declared by God when He calls David a ” a man according to My heart.” David the adulterer, murderer, liar and thief who, served God as he fought his own flesh and failed so often. He had no righteousness of his own but he did always confess and turn from his sins when he became aware of them.
Acts 13:22 And when He had deposed him, He raised up David for them as king, to whom also He testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will.
I believe the 2nd, broad path is, as Jesus says, raised to be condemned, squeaky clean by their standard, in their minds, by their own works. Their hearts are for themselves, not for the Lord, and they are seen as evil. Any condemnation they receive will be what they have created in themselves.
Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
I find comfort and great peace knowing our God has provided THE WAY for the unforgivable to be forgiven. We know we are imperfect beings serving a perfect God, not the perfect beings claiming they are equal to God.
Okay,..well this one is easy,..something else is in play,..Jesus has a radical way of using words,..it’s no wonder why I spend soo much time reading what He has said,..over and over and over,…it takes work to read the scriptures and it is good to work this way,..because I get to rise and live with Jesus everyday,..so I am sticking with my answer,..the one Jeff provided,..thank you very much,..something else is in play,..
John,
Nice turn of phrase: “Jesus has a radical way of using words…”
That is so true, and it is one of the things that makes the Bible so fascinating; trying to wrap our minds around the mind of God whose perspective is so radically different than our own.