Albert Barnes Commentary John 5:29

"and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." — John 5:29 (ASV)

Shall come forth. They shall come out of their graves. This was the language that he used when he raised up Lazarus (John 11:43–44).

They that have done good. That is, those who are righteous, or those who have by their good works shown that they were the friends of Christ. See Matthew 25:34-36.

Resurrection of life. Religion is often called life, and everlasting life. (See the notes on John 5:24).

In the resurrection the righteous will be raised up to the full enjoyment and perpetual security of that life. It is also called the resurrection of life, because there will be no more death (Revelation 21:4). The enjoyment of God himself and of his works; of the society of the angels and of the redeemed; freedom from sickness, sin, and dying, will constitute the life of the just in the resurrection. The resurrection is also called the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14), and the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5–6).

The resurrection of damnation. The word damnation means the sentence passed on someone by a judge—judgment or condemnation. The word, as we use it, applies only to the judgment pronounced by God on the wicked; but this is not its meaning always in the Bible. Here, however, it has that meaning. Those who have done evil will be raised up to be condemned or damned. This will be the object in raising them up—this the sole design. It is elsewhere said that they will then be condemned to everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46), and that they will be punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:8–9); and it is said of the unjust that they are reserved for the day of judgment to be punished (2 Peter 2:9).

That this refers to the future judgment—to the resurrection then, and not to anything that takes place in this life—is clear from the following considerations:

1. Jesus had just spoken of what would be done in this life—of the power of the gospel (John 5:25). He adds here that something still more wonderful—something beyond this—would take place: All that are in the graves shall hear his voice.
2. He speaks of those who are in their graves, evidently referring to the dead. Sinners are sometimes said to be dead in sin. This phrase, "in their graves," is applied in the Scriptures in this context only to those who are deceased.
3. The language used here concerning the righteous cannot be applied to anything in this life. When God converts people, it is not because they have been good.
4. Nor is the language employed concerning the evil applicable to anything in this life. In what condition among people can it be said, with any appearance of sense, that they are brought forth from their graves to the resurrection of damnation?

The doctrine of those Universalists who hold that all people will be saved immediately at death, therefore, cannot be true. This passage proves that at the day of judgment the wicked will be condemned.

Let it be added that if then condemned, they will be lost forever. Thus, in Matthew 25:46 it is said to be everlasting punishment; and in 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9, it is called everlasting destruction. There is no account of redemption in hell—no Saviour, no Holy Spirit, no offer of mercy there.