Scripture: John 5:29 (ESV) – “…and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Jesus now completes His declaration about the final resurrection. Not only will all who are in the tombs hear His voice, but they will also rise with distinct and eternal destinies: some to the resurrection of life, others to the resurrection of judgment. There is no neutrality—every man will rise and enter eternity either in joy or in judgment.
William Gouge, in his meditations on eternal judgment, emphasizes that this resurrection is not merely a return to life but a divine summons to accountability. All men—righteous and wicked, rich and poor, believer and unbeliever—will be raised and brought before Christ’s judgment seat. Gouge writes, “The grave cannot shield, nor time erase, the deeds of men; they shall rise in the very bodies which once served either for sin or for righteousness.”
It’s vital to understand that when Jesus speaks of those “who have done good” and “those who have done evil,” He is not advocating salvation by works. Rather, He describes the visible fruit of inward faith or unbelief. As Gouge explains, “Good works are not the cause of resurrection unto life, but the evidence of it.” Faith that is genuine bears fruit, and those fruits bear witness at the final judgment.
This verse confronts us with eternal seriousness. There will be a resurrection—but it will not be the same for all. Christ will divide the risen into two groups: those who are His, and those who are not. The resurrection of life means glorified existence with God forever. The resurrection of judgment means eternal separation, punishment, and wrath.
Let this truth produce in us both holy fear and holy longing—fear, that we not presume upon Christ without true repentance and faith; longing, that we may live each day in obedience to the One whose voice will one day call us from the grave.
Reflection Questions:
- How does this verse challenge the modern tendency to assume everyone ends up in the same eternal place?
- What does it mean to “do good” in light of the gospel? How do good works relate to saving faith?
- Does the reality of a final resurrection to life or judgment stir you to live more intentionally today?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we will all hear Your voice one day. Prepare us for that day now. Give us hearts that are truly Yours—full of faith, bearing the fruit of righteousness, and longing for the resurrection of life. Keep us from complacency, and teach us to fear You rightly, that we may walk in joyful obedience until the grave gives way to glory. Amen.
This devotional is based on John 5:29, enriched by William Gouge’s Puritan teaching on the final judgment and the visible fruit of saving faith.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 