John 5:28-29

[elementcs13]

"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." - John 5:28-29

I was doing some reading through John, and this really stood out to me and kinda puzzled me. I believe, as the bible says, that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works.

But... the passage says "those who have DONE GOOD". I've always believed that we could never be "good" enough to be saved. Jesus told the rich young ruler, that nobody was good, but God.

So, I'm a bit confused... Shouldn't it have said: "those who have believed"... to the resurrection...etc...

Could someone help to explain this? Thanks!

 

[football5680]

Your are saved by faith but the way you express that faith is through your works. People who truly accept Jesus will accept his message and live by it. When you do that good works naturally come. Works alone cannot get you into Heaven, and Faith without effort won't either. Simply saying you accept Jesus is not enough, he recognizes his true followers by their actions.

 

[elementcs13]

I get where you're coming from, but that doesn't quite answer my question...

From what you said: How much would be "good" enough? And if you have to be "good enough", then where's the grace in that? And why did Jesus say that nobody was good, but God?

I know myself. I love God very very much, but I also know that I mess up all the time. I rely on grace because I know that I'm not "good enough".

Thanks!

 

[EGordo]

Done good means believing in Christ. Grace through faith. Like the poster before said, faith without works is dead. Your works show your faith but works alone are not good enough. Read James 2:17, actually the whole chapter to get a better understanding.
No one is good but God because of this:
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Jesus never sinned because He is God. He is the only being in the flesh to fulfill the Law.

Another thing, though we have already fallen short Jesus wants us to strive to be holy.
He wants you to be holy because He is holy. He said it in the Old Testament AND New Testament
Read
Leviticus 11:44
1 Peter 1:16
Matthew 5:48

Also once you believe in Christ as the Son of God you take on His righteousness. His blood covers you. So when you do fall you can confess your sin. The point is we couldn't have done it on our own.

 

[shturt678]

I get where you're coming from, but that doesn't quite answer my question...

From what you said: How much would be "good" enough? And if you have to be "good enough", then where's the grace in that? And why did Jesus say that nobody was good, but God?

I know myself. I love God very very much, but I also know that I mess up all the time. I rely on grace because I know that I'm not "good enough".

Thanks!

Top of the list 'good enough' is "faith" effected through "repentance" (contrition), ie the rest is gravy, works of obedience.

 

[ebedmelech]

"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." - John 5:28-29

I was doing some reading through John, and this really stood out to me and kinda puzzled me. I believe, as the bible says, that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works.

But... the passage says "those who have DONE GOOD". I've always believed that we could never be "good" enough to be saved. Jesus told the rich young ruler, that nobody was good, but God.

So, I'm a bit confused... Shouldn't it have said: "those who have believed"... to the resurrection...etc...

Could someone help to explain this? Thanks!

What greater good can one do but to be saved????

It is God's power in us that enables us to do His good pleasure...

 

[elementcs13]

Thanks Everyone!

Also once you believe in Christ as the Son of God you take on His righteousness. His blood covers you. So when you do fall you can confess your sin. The point is we couldn't have done it on our own.

I think this ^ answers my question. So basically, when we put our trust in God and believe, we become righteous (aka "good") because our sin is covered by the blood of Jesus.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

[shturt678]

.....one's water baptism (all Gospel, no ordinance,etc.) hence your journey has just begun, however you have a good kick-start. Ie what is it to be truly 'born anew' God's way or is it ways? eg, other threads. Just ol' old Jack

 

[IndyEllis]

"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." - John 5:28-29

I was doing some reading through John, and this really stood out to me and kinda puzzled me. I believe, as the bible says, that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works.

But... the passage says "those who have DONE GOOD". I've always believed that we could never be "good" enough to be saved. Jesus told the rich young ruler, that nobody was good, but God.

So, I'm a bit confused... Shouldn't it have said: "those who have believed"... to the resurrection...etc...

Could someone help to explain this? Thanks!

We tend to like to emphasize that being saved by grace is exclusively grace to us.

Yet...

If we receive that grace, then as such we have grace in us.

If we have grace in us--the very nature of Christ living within, we will have grace flow through us.

The core of the "works and grace" dichotomy is a lingering reaction to the abuses of the Medieval church and does not fully have a balanced understanding originated from a neutral understanding of Scripture.

You're spot on right, you could never do good enough. God's not to be bought or bargained with as such. When "works" gets debased, it should be more emphasized that it is "works done for reason of reward" that is rather self-centered in its motivations.

In deep contrast to such tit-for-tat is selflessness. If Christ lives in you, the grace will flow through you. This flowing of grace could be considered "works" as well but the motivation is vastly different. This kind of doing good (as you've seen) is good, perhaps even being the heart of God moving through your voice and hands.

When we say we're saved by "grace," we need to remember that this grace is not static. It is placed in us so that we can, with Christ, participate in the making of all things new.

At first, when we hear creation groan in anticipation, we probably just hear the creation within.

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

The hope is that the Christ in us moves us by the power of the Holy Spirit to reach out in grace, graciousness, and gracefulness to the neighbor, stranger, and enemy.

Sure, it's work. But it's not a have-to obligation, it's a get-to opportunity fueled by grace.

As Christians, we (or maybe some of us) believe this is how the world will be saved.