What does this passage mean to you?
John 5:29
...those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
2006-10-19 03:34:08 · 7 answers · asked by Light 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
John 5 talks about Jesus being the equal of God. According to John 5:17 the Pharisees were wanting to kill Jesus become He claimed to be God. Jesus confirms that claim in the rest of the chapter as he shows that HE is the one who will raise the dead and preform the judgment that allows people either to "rise to live" or "to be condemned".
Jesus says that this judgment will be based on whether a person is good or evil. Note that it does NOT say whether a person has performed good works, or whether a person has performed evil works. This judgment is NOT based on their works. It is based on their CHARACTER. A person is either "good" or "evil".
Look back to verse 24 and you will find Jesus' explanation of what is a "good" person and what is a "bad" person. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
According to Jesus, what separates a "good" person from a "bad" person is their belief in God. The Bible teaches that everyone is born with a "fallen nature" or a drive for sin within them. (Ever seen a baby who had to be taught to hit, grab, lie, be selfish, etc. No, it just comes natural). What Jesus did with His death and resurrection was to provide a forgiveness for sin with his death and a provide a new nature that is free of the stain of sin for those who accept it. (See 2Corinthians 5:17and 21)
It is having this new, reborn heart within a person that makes them "good". Those who have such a heart are the ones "raised to live". Those who still have the old, sinful heart within them are the ones "raised to condemnation".
Romans 10:9 is one of the best verses for understanding all of these. It explains how to get this "new life" in very simple terms. "If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Oh, as someone who reads the original Greek language in which the Bible is written, and has compared different versions to the original language, it would recommend NOT using the New World Translation. It is NOT very well translated. It often adds extra words, changes word, rearranges sentences, etc. in ways that greatly alter the meaning of verses. My rule has always been to not trust ANY translation. I use a Bible that has 26 different translations listed. By comparing them, I can be sure that I am getting a good translation of each verse. 99% of the time they all agree.
I would recommend that you purchase a paralel Bible (that is one that has four to six versions side by side) so that you can compare and be sure that you are not reading a mistranslated version. Also you should try http://biblegateway.com It is a free website that lets you look up an scriptures in about 20-25 different modern (and a few older) translations. A good place to go and compare verses for free.
2006-10-19 05:20:14 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a JW, but the NWT reads:
28 Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.
To me, this passage means that some people's bodies will be resurrected at the Rapture, reunited with their spirits that are already in Heaven, and judged for their "works" (1 Cor. 3:12-15). The bodies of those who are unsaved will be resurrected, reunited with their spirits which have been suffering in Hell, and face the White Throne Judgement (Rev. 20:11-15) just after Jesus Christ's Second Coming.
Peace.
P.S.: the NKJV or NIV are better translations. There are far too many mistranslations in the NWT for it to be considered a reliable source for Bible study.
2006-10-19 03:42:47 · answer #2 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
not to be anti-religious or anything, but there are tons of criticism sorrounding the New World Translation, i honestly believe that anyone who is a religious person should look up the history of the NWT and you will find some surprising facts about the people who translated it as opposed to the king james version and other versions as well
2006-10-19 03:37:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
good works and grace are two sides of the same coin
the good works are the result of salvation and evidence of it.
the fruit of salvation
not the root of salvation
people are saved by grace, and God takes you as you are, but loves you too much to leave you as you are... he saves you in mercy and those he saves will have necessary fruit of the kingdome of heaven, his Holy Spirit, his love, his patience, the power that raised Jesus from the dead, all things will work together for the good of those who are raised to love God thoguh th epower of the gospel... and God will not fail and making them into trophies of glory for Himself
although saved by mecry alone, they are changed, God sprit works in them as Jeremiah promised changing their desires
rennovating their heart AND AS A RESULT they change
and JWs are way off in this regard, they try an make it like you pull yourself up by your bootstraps but it is only grace
also ...you reallly need to have a healthy suspicion of anonymously transalate Bibles... the translators of the new world are not named because they are unqualified and would be an embarrassement.. other transaltors are names... ditch the new world trans and get a real one
I recommend ESV or NKJV
2006-10-19 03:40:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Points to the need for a savior if you ask me, nobody is good in God's eyes!
2006-10-19 03:35:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that it says that we have to answer for our actions. If we don't ask for forgiveness for our sins then we are judged by the law. However, none of us can follow the law perfectly, and we have to answer for that.
2006-10-19 03:39:31 · answer #6 · answered by Mud 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Basically its saying you reap what you sow!!!
2006-10-19 03:36:34 · answer #7 · answered by candi k 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋