As a pastor, I’m involved with many funerals. While attending a recent funeral service, I was reminded of the judgment that takes place at the end of time when Jesus returns (cf. Rev. 20:11-15).
John 5:28-29 says,
“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.“
We notice here that some have “done good” and therefore receive a resurrection unto eternal life (5:28). Others have “done evil” and therefore receive a resurrection unto damnation (5:29).
Why does Jesus say that some have “done good” and others “done evil”? Haven’t we all “done evil”? Has anyone really “done good”?
Of course, the answer to that question is NO! Outside of Christ no one is good, not even one (Rom. 3:9-10). No one on their own seeks after God. Not one of us by ourselves is capable of honoring God’s holy name (Rom. 3:11-18).
But when we are made new in Christ, we do actually begin to do good. By the Spirit of God living within us, we do actually pursue God and desire the things of God.
That’s why Paul can also say,
“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-
doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality“ (Rom. 2:6-11).
So both Jesus in John’s Gospel (Jn. 5:28-29) and Paul in his letter to the Romans (Rom. 2:6-11) say the same thing. Those who do good and seek for glory and honor and immortality are those who have been created anew in Christ through faith. They behave in a righteous manner because their hearts have been transformed by the Spirit of God within them.
Yet it’s not just John’s Gospel and Paul’s letters that highlight this truth. The Gospel of Matthew also gives further insight. In Matthew 25:31-40, for example, the ones who have “done good,” and therefore receive a resurrection unto eternal life, are the ones who demonstrated their faith in Jesus by caring for those in need.
Conversely, in 25:41-46, the ones who have “done evil,” and therefore receive a resurrection unto damnation, are the ones who gave no evidence of faith in Jesus by caring for those in need.
Both Jesus and Paul, along with all the NT writers, emphasize the fact that faith in Christ results in genuine change of behavior. Those who are in Christ love God and love their neighbor as themselves.
Again, our works don’t provide the basis of our salvation on the day of judgment (Matt. 25:31-46; Jn. 5:28-29; Rom. 2:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 20:11-15). Rather, they demonstrate that our hearts have been transformed by faith in Jesus Christ.
Only the atoning work of Christ saves us from our sins. Our works simply demonstrate that Christ has saved us, remade us, and transformed us by His Spirit.
Praise God for the transforming power of the gospel that takes hold of us so that we can love God who loved us first!