The Resurrection of Judgment

“. . . those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (5:29b)The final resurrection will usher believers into the glories and joys of eternal life, and bring unbelievers to the endless suffering of eternal judgment. By characterizing believers as those who did the good deeds and unbelievers as those who committed the evil deeds Jesus was not teaching that salvation is by works. Throughout His ministry, Jesus clearly taught that salvation “is the work of God, that [people] believe in Him whom He has sent” (6:29; cf. Isa. 64:6; Rom. 4:2–4; 9:11; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8–9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5). Good works are simply the evidence of salvation; Jesus called them “fruit” in Luke 6:43–45. Those who believe in the Son will as a result do good deeds (3:21; Eph. 2:10; James 2:14–20), while those who reject the Son will be characterized by evil deeds (3:18–19). . . .