We Believe In Jesus: The RedeemerSample

General Resurrection: John 5:28-29

At Christ’s return, everyone that has ever died will be resurrected. Both the wicked and the righteous will be given new bodies that will endure forever. This is clearly taught in John 5:28 and 29, where Jesus spoke these words:

A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear the Son’s voice and come out — those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

We find similar ideas in places like Revelation 20:13, where we are told that the resurrection will even include those whose bodies have been lost. No one will be left out; all humanity will be resurrected in order to be judged.

Regarding the resurrected bodies of believers, Scripture teaches that they will be free from the corruption and presence of sin. Sin will no longer indwell our bodies, and we will have perfect health forever. As Paul taught in Philippians 3:20 and 21: 

The Lord Jesus Christ … will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

In our final state, our bodies will be glorious, just like the glorious body Jesus possesses right now, the one he received when he rose from the dead.

The bodies of unbelievers will also last forever, but they won’t be redeemed from sin. Instead, their bodies will continue to be plagued by the effects of God’s curse against sin. And in fact, the curse will actually increase when they are judged. Scripture speaks of the bodily resurrection of unbelievers in places like John 5:28 and 29, and Acts 24:15; and it mentions their bodily condemnation in Matthew 5:29 and 30, and 10:28.