“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29 KJV)
What is the ‘done good’ and ‘done evil’ in these two verses? Some use these two verses, ignore context, and make a doctrine of false works for salvation and that is simply not the truth of John 5.
No person is good enough for Heaven by our own self righteous efforts and good works.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately WICKED: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9 KJV)
No one has done anything good enough in God’s eyes to save ourselves. All our perceived self righteousness is as filthy rags to our perfect Holy God (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus said that ‘our many wonderful works’ will not save us (Matthew 7:15-23). Apostle Paul taught our works do not save us and thinking so is boasting in the sin of pride (Eph. 2:8-9).
The truth is that those who reject the Lord’s sacrifice as full payment of their sins (1 John 2:2), can only do evil in God’s view, regardless of how many good works they do.
The ‘those who do good’ are believers. They have been born again in the Spirit, all sins paid in full. In Spiritual union with Christ (Eph. 2:10, Eph. 1:13-14), with the Holy Spirit indwelling, it is Christ abiding in us that enables a believer to BEAR good fruit as a branch, not a vine (John 15). These are the only good works acceptable to God. This is the ‘good’.
Those that ‘do evil’ are those rejecting Christ for salvation. Their good works do not pay the wages of sin (Romans 6:23).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 KJV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV )John 3 is just before John 5. They do not and cannot contradict. Context matters.
