John 5:28-29

Jesus urged His hearers not to marvel that it would be His voice that would summon the dead eventually (cf. John 11:43). All the dead will hear the Son of Man’s voice in the future calling them forth to judgment. Believers are those who do good, which involves believing on the Son (John 6:29; cf. John 3:21). Theirs will be a resurrection resulting in eternal life. Those who do evil by not believing on the Son (John 3:36; cf. John 3:19) will experience eternal condemnation following their resurrection. As always, judgment is on the basis of works.

Another view is that only unbelievers are in view in both descriptions. [Note: Barrett, p. 263.] However believers and unbelievers have both been prominent throughout the foregoing discussion. [Note: See also Zane C. Hodges, "Those Who Have Done Good-John 5:28-29," Bibliotheca Sacra 136:542 (April-June 1979):158-66.]

Jesus spoke of three different resurrections in this passage: the dead in sin who rise to new life spiritually (John 5:24-25), the physical resurrection of believers (John 5:25; John 5:28-29), and the physical resurrection of unbelievers (John 5:28-29).