John 5:25-27 Truly, truly, I say to you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God… I. WHO IS THE JUDGE? Christ. He must be Divine to work out so great a judgment; but His humanity is expressly given as a reason for His judgeship. 1. We know His character, and can rely on His fairness and goodness. 2. He knows us, can sympathize with our weakness, and can understand our temptations. 3. Having in His human life conquered the same temptations, He has a right to condemn us if we fail. 4. As Messianic King He has the office of judging those who submit to Him and those who reject Him. II. WHO ARE TO BE TRIED? 1. The dead. Death is no escape. Those who would not hear the voice of mercy must hear that of judgment. Spiritual death might prevent their hearing the first, but with physical death added they will hear the second. 2. All men. III. WHAT IS THE GROUND OF TRIAL? 1. Not opinions, feelings, professions, resolutions, but deeds. 2. Not what men expected of us, what the world did, what was fashionable, convenient, suitable or aesthetic in our conduct, but its moral character solely. The simplest but deepest lines of cleavage will separate men — the question of good or evil. 3. But this will be judged by One who reads the heart, weighs all circumstances, and characterizes an act according to its motive. Thus many deeds which the world accounts good will be condemned, and others that are condemned will be justified. IV. What will the sentences be? 1. A resurrection of life. The reward of obedience is for further obedience — not luxurious indolence. 2. A resurrection of judgment. To the impenitent death does not end all, nor any judgment-day. Their future is dark, but just and fair. V. WHEN WILL THIS JUDGMENT BE? No one can know. God has fixed it. Every day brings it nearer. To each man it comes virtually at death. (W. F. Adeney, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. |
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