The Spiritual Resurrection

Adapted from a Sermon by

George Burder

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

(John 5:25 ESV)

Our subject this morning is The Spiritual Resurrection, and our text is John 5:25: Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

What is true religion? This is a question, in the decision of which every person is deeply concerned. True religion is more than a form of sound words; more than a Scriptural mode of worship and discipline; more than a course of decent and respectable morals. What more? According to our text, it is a life---a new spiritual life---the life of God in the soul of man; a spark, as it were of the divine nature---a birth derived from the Spirit of God.

Thus speaks our text. The words before us are full of majesty; they are the words of the Son of God, who spoke like no one else ever spoke;(John 7:46) and they were spoken in vindication of his character and mission against the objections of the Jews. He had performed a great miracle at the pool of Bethesda; he had healed, in a moment, a poor man, who had been a cripple almost forty years: but the Jews, instead of being convinced that he was the true Messiah, opposed and persecuted him. But he affirms his power to perform the same divine actions as his Father; and he claims the same divine honors.

Now one of the most glorious displays of the divine power is the resurrection of the dead; and "as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will."(John 5:21) This power, he declares in our text, will accompany his word; and he introduces the declaration with his usual solemnity, "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God."

There is a two-fold resurrection spoken of in this chapter, of both of which Christ is the author; the first is a spiritual resurrection, or the renewal of the souls of men who are dead in sins; and the other is a physical resurrection or raising up the dead bodies of men from the grave. The first is spoken of in the text; the other is asserted in the 28th and 29th verses of this chapter: "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." Of the spiritual resurrection, intended in the text, he says, not only the hour is coming, but it now is: and doubtless divine power accompanied the discourse of which our text is a part; and God grant that the same power may now accompany his word, that we ourselves may, this very morning hear the voice of the Son of God and live.

Here let us notice the four following particulars.

First. The condition of all natural men---they are "dead."

Secondly. The description of the gospel---it is "the voice of the Son of God."

Thirdly. The application of this with divine power---"the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God;" and,

Lastly. The happy effect of all this---"and those who hear will live."

First. Let us notice the condition of all natural men, as here described, "the dead will hear." Nothing, nothing, is more important in practical religion, than to be well acquainted with our true state and condition, as fallen creatures, as the children of Adam, in whom we all fell from his original state, the state in which he was created. Upon this, therefore, the Scripture frequently insists; and to better acquainted us with it, illustrates it with many pictures.

Here it is represented as a state of death; not that of the body, though that will assuredly follow, as the wages of sin; but that state of the soul, even in a living person, which unhappily resembles death. Thus the apostle Paul, when he congratulates the Ephesian Christians on their conversion, refers to their former condition before conversion. He says, "you he made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins;"(Ephesians 2:1 NKJV) and the same apostle, speaking of a person living in sin, expressly says, "She who lives in pleasure, (luxuriously and carnally devoted to sensual passions) is dead while she lives."(1 Timothy 5:6)

You will see how fitting this picture is, if you recollect the following particulars. The dead are in a state of perfect ignorance: whatever is passing in the world, even among those who were their nearest and dearest relations and friends, they do not know. Whatever improvements are occurring in science; whatever revolutions take place on earth, they do not know. And is not the state of every natural man, a state of ignorance? Indeed; "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, and he is not able to understand them," while remaining in that state, for "they are spiritually discerned."(1 Corinthians 2:14) The dead are totally inactive. As the tree falls so it lies: and thus it is with dead souls, the eye is closed to all the glorious objects of the gospel. The ear is shut against all the charming sounds of grace. Not a breath of prayer ascends to God. Not a step is moved towards the heavenly world.

Death is a state of deformity. The once beautiful appearance loses all its charm, and becomes shocking and ghastly. Abraham says, of his beloved Sarah, "Bury my dead out of my sight."(Genesis 23:4) And has not sin despoiled man of his original beauty; for once he was beautiful indeed; bearing the glorious resemblance of his great and holy Maker; but now, the holy God turns away with disgust from the sinner, for he is "of purer eyes than to see evil."(Habakkuk 1:13)

Putrefaction soon follows after death; for "all flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field"(Isaiah 40:6)---More odious to the infinitely holy God is iniquity, obscenity, profaneness, and every other vice, than the putrefying carcass to the living mortals, for the throat of the wicked---his abominable language, is more offensive to God than an open grave.(Romans 3:13)

There is yet another respect in which man may be said to be dead,---he is in a state of condemnation. Like a man under sentence of death, and who is therefore said to be "dead in law," though the sentence is not yet executed. Every man is a sinner, and because he is a sinner he stands condemned by the holy law of God; as it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them,"(Galatians 3:10) and unless such a person is set free from that state by the gospel, the "wrath of God remains on him."(John 3:36) Believers are, indeed, justified; they have "passed out of death into life,"(1 John 3:14) but before a man believes in Christ, and so takes the benefit of the heavenly act of grace, he continues "in his sin," and "the wrath of God remains on him."(John 3:36) and not only so, but living under the gospel, his unbelief creates an additional and worse offense, and exposes him to additional penalties; for "whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."(John 3:18) But let us go on,

In the second place, to consider that description of the gospel which is given us in the text---"The dead will hear"---hear what?---"The voice of the Son of God," and that voice is no other than the word of Christ, in and by the gospel.

It is generally understood that, at the great day, the Son of God will descend from heaven in great glory, and then, according to the twenty-eighth verse of this chapter, "all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out." We conceive, as we ought, very highly of that majestic voice, accompanied, as it will be, with the display of truly Almighty power; when all the countless millions of the dead, long before mingled with the dust, will retake human form, and, reanimated with the human spirit, will ascend to stand at the tribunal of Christ. To this is compared, in our text, the voice of the Son of God in the gospel. How great and glorious then is that gospel, which is "the power of God for salvation"(Romans 1:16) for, observe, it is the same voice which will one day raise the dead bodies of men from the grave, which now raises the dead soul from its state of nature and sin.

Our blessed Lord once resided on our earth; he traveled about Judea and Galilee, preaching the kingdom of God from city to city, from town to town, from village to village; in the temple, in the synagogue, on the mountains, in ships---wherever he had an opportunity---wherever an audience could be collected: but he has long since left our world, and transferred this work to other and frail hands.

The apostles were his first messengers; and when their labors were finished, the great work devolved on the ordinary pastors and teachers of the churches. Preaching the gospel is a divine ordinance, to be continued to the end of time: and those whom he has qualified for it, and called to it, he will bless in the discharge of their duty; according to his gracious promise, "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."(Matthew 28:20) Let every divine truth, then, though declared by the lips of fallible men; men of like passions with yourselves, be received, not as the word of man, but, as it is in truth, the word of God.(1 Thessalonians 2:13) And let the apostolic admonition be duly regarded, "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking from heaven;"(Hebrews 12:25) for the gospel, though it may be uttered by fallible lips, is a record, or testimony, from heaven, witnessed by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;(1 John 5:7) and it is at our peril that we neglect it.

Consider also the inestimable value of this word. It clearly informs us concerning the great things which belong to our peace; and "the unfolding of God's words" into the mind "gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple."(Psalms 119:130) This word likewise faithfully warns us; it kindly sets before us the dreadful danger that awaits the impenitent sinner; according to that which was stated to be the proper business of the prophet of old, when God said to him; "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die, and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand."(Ezekiel 3:17-18) The apostle Paul felt the force of this admonition; and he told the Ephesian elders, when he was taking leave of them, that he was "innocent of the blood of all, for he did not shrink from declaring to them the whole counsel of God"(Acts 20:26-27)---that "for three years he had not ceased night or day to admonish every one with tears."(Acts 20:31) Undoubtedly, the same is still the duty of every minister of the gospel.

In this word also, he affectionately invites us. He bids us "seek him, while he may be found;"(Isaiah 55:6) he assures us, that if "the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, the Lord will have compassion upon him, and abundantly pardon."(Isaiah 55:7) All things needful for the salvation of man, being prepared and proposed, he invites all, even those who are to be found in "the highways and hedges,"(Luke 14:23) to come and partake of the gospel feast, "everything is now ready:"(Luke 14:17)---indeed, he says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."(Matthew 11:28)

In this word also, he graciously and faithfully promises a ready welcome; indeed, he says, (and what more could we have wished him to say,) "Whoever comes to me I will never cast out."(John 6:37) We are,

In the third place, consider the application of this word to the heart, with divine power---"the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God." The dead hear? This is an extraordinary thing indeed!---The dead hear? How can this be? No human sounds; not the shrill blast of the trumpet, nor the horrible roar of the cannon, nor the tremendous peal of thunder, can affect the ear of the dead: yet, "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God," for that which is impossible to men, is easy to God.

On one memorable occasion, our blessed Lord visited the grave of his friend Lazarus; and when, amid a great company surrounding the tomb, "Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out:" behold, with astonishment, "the man who had died came out."(John 11:43-44) This is amazing! Lazarus hears the voice of the Son of God, and lives; he comes out, and entertains the Savior in his house. It is doubtless in allusion to such an effect of divine power as this, on a dead body, that our Lord speaks of the resurrection of a dead soul; and does it not plainly imply that nothing less than such a power is sufficient for this purpose?---If we know the Scriptures; if we know ourselves, we will readily admit that men are so profoundly and willfully ignorant; and oftentimes so hardened in their feelings; so wedded to the world; so full of hostility towards God and religion; that nothing less than almighty power can bring about the change here described---"the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God."

In this case, the person feels, for the first time, a disposition to hear and pay attention to the word of life, however strong his prejudices might have been before. It is said of Lydia, who was converted to God at Philippi, that "The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul."(Acts 16:14) Had not the Lord opened her heart, she would not have payed attention to them: for it is astonishing that the word of God is not heard even where it is spoken; and were you to go from pew to pew, in places of worship, you would find very few who hear it with attention, and fewer still, with understanding. The birds of the air take up the seed as soon as it is sown. It has no place in the heart of man. And thus many persons come to hear sermons, who never do hear. What sin is committed in all places of worship while sermons are preached!

Others are attentive, to some degree; yet they do not understand what they hear. But when the Lord speaks to the heart he causes his voice to be distinguished, and his people know the meaning of it as the apostle speaks of the Thessalonians, that they received the word, "not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God."(1 Thessalonians 2:13) And here is the difference between carnal and spiritual hearers; the carnal hearers go to hear the man; the spiritual hearers go to hear Christ, through the man; their language is---"Speak, Lord, for your servant hears."(1 Samuel 3:9)

When the word is heard to purpose, it is heard with faith. The word never profits, unless it is "mixed with faith."(Hebrews 4:2 NKJV) It is received as the testimony of God, divinely and infallibly true; and he who hears it as the voice of the Son of God, affixes his seal to it, and thereby declares his belief that God is true.

And if the word is thus mixed with faith, it will also be received with love, with earnest esteem and affection. "As newborn infants," the children of God imbibe "the pure spiritual milk"(1 Peter 2:2) of the word; and each of them can truly say, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth."(Psalm 119:103) "Oh how I love your law!"(Psalm 119:97)

Once more---He who hears the voice of the Son of God in his word, will hear it obediently. When Saul of Tarsus first heard this voice, and knew whose voice it was, he very properly said, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"(Acts 9:6 NKJV) Such will be the language of every true believer; there will be a heartfelt acknowledgment of the divine commandments, as "holy and just and good,"(Romans 7:12) and he will say, with sincerity, "Lord, I implore you, have mercy upon me, and write all these your laws upon my heart."

We move on now to the last particular before us, and that is, the happy effect of all this; "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." As Lazarus lived, from the moment that Christ uttered his voice, and said "Lazarus come out," so sinners, having heard the life giving voice of Christ in the gospel, begin a new and spiritual life, which will never cease, but will end in life eternal.

We heard, at the beginning of this sermon, that religion is a Life; there is a new principle implanted in the souls of men; a principle of motion, of perception, of enjoyment; something that is active and permanent in its nature; according to another figure of speech, used for the same purpose by our Lord, in his discourse with the woman of Samaria; "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life"(John 4:14)---Here is the enduring, active principle; that which we call life, and in which there is a gradual progression; the infant, the young man, and the father in Christ.

The word of Christ is the instrument of regeneration; "Of his own will," says James, "he brought us forth by the word of truth;"(James 1:18) and so we are said to be "born of God."(John 1:13)

And, according to the 24th verse, all such persons are said to live: "whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." We read also in the fifth chapter to the Romans, of the "justification of life."(Romans 5:18 NKJV) The believer is brought into a new state; and "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,"(Romans 8:2 NKJV) makes him free from the law of sin and death.

It is also a life of Comfort, to which we are called, for, being "justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."(Romans 5:1) There is satisfaction and pleasure in the word, and ways, and people of God. Believers delight in his service, and find a day in his courts, better than a thousand elsewhere: they had rather be doorkeepers in the house of God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Further, it is a life of Holiness. Those who live, "live to the Lord."(Romans 14:8) They are "alive to God in Christ Jesus;"(Romans 6:11) they are "redeemed to God;" they are no longer the servants of sin; they no longer live to themselves, but to the Lord; his will being their rule, his honor the great end of all their actions; and then

A life of Glory will crown the whole. This is God's great object; and therefore the believer is said already to "have eternal life."(John 3:16) The title to it he possesses in Christ Jesus, and the first fruits of it are received in the graces and influences of the Holy Spirit.

Thus we have endeavored to show, ---the condition of all natural men: they are dead; ---the description of the gospel, it is the voice of the Son of God; ---the application of this with power, the dead will hear; and ---the happy effects of the whole, those who hear will live.

As we close, consider how wonderful is the condescension of Christ! He speaks even to dead sinners---To us, even to us, "has been sent the message of this salvation!"(Acts 13:26) and O what importance does this give to the preaching of the gospel, to the reading of the Scriptures, and to all divine ordinances!

It is the voice of the Son of God. We should remember, whenever we consider them, that we are all present before God; we come to hear the voice of the Son of God. And let us take care that we listen to this voice. Does he speak, and will we not hear? Will we turn a deaf ear to the calls and, entreaties of the Savior?

"Behold," says he, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."(Revelation 3:20) Doubtless it is the character of all true Christians, that they hear the voice of the Son of God. Beware, then, of neglecting or refusing to hear him; for it is written, "And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people;"(Acts 3:23) and if any finally refuse to listen to him, how awful will be his condition another day! Then will he say, "Because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you."(Proverbs 1:25)

But if, through grace, we have been enabled, as some of us hopefully have been, to hear his gracious voice, let us, with joy, receive and rely upon the assurance he gives us in the text, that we will live, "those who hear will live!"

May this be our happiness, through Jesus Christ.