John 5:28-29 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.

There is a class of people that believe that all you have to do is good and you will receive eternal life. Here in this verse, ignoring every other scripture, it does sound that way. It sounds that way because at the time in which Jesus Christ spoke these words, it was about to be seen in Jerusalem. It is a thing that has happened in that hour, not in one to come.

Matthew 27:51-53 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

This is nothing more than a demonstration of His power of resurrection from the dead as He had prophesied. It is not a promise to lost souls to do good and earn eternal life. Sadly man always seems to want take the easier path. Man does what seems right in his own mind and will ignore what is asked of him.

Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 There is a way which/that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Surrendering to Christ’s Lordship is too much for some to accept. They insist on identifying right rather than finding their righteousness in Christ.

Psalm 143:11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Have you ever wondered why Paul writes so many examples of how we are to love one another? Do we not know how to love one another? If that sounds silly then I would ask you to look into your own lives and compare 1 Corinthians 13 verses on how love acts with those who were in your life that said they loved you.

What we first know about love is exampled to us and even in that we do not always understand what that means to us in personal growth and behavior. No matter how well we were loved and no matter how well we tried to use those examples as models of our own behavior, it is not Agape love. Parental love is close but flawed because they are human. Romantic love is close but is by natural selfish because it demands a reciprocal effort or it dies out. The love of friends is good but comes in a distant third here.

Allow me to point out the most important words of the opening verse. “as God for Christ’s sake hath” Love as God loves, Agape. God loves us for His Son’s sake. We are unlovable without the Son. In this manner I can love you with the six Greek words for love on my own, to no end, to no gain. But to love you with the seventh, Agape, I need the Son. I cannot do it on my own.

The example set before us is Christ, perfect love. If we act as Christ acted, it is but an act, a pale comparison of true Agape love.

Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

That I cannot do without Him.