John 5:25

 John 5:25 says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.  Jesus was not speaking of those who are physically dead, but of those who are spiritually dead.  If we do not accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord in this lifetime, there will be no other opportunity once we are dead.  Verse twenty-six adds, For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; Jesus said just as the Father had life in Himself, so did the Son.  Jesus is dependent on no one for life.  Just as the Father has life in Himself, so does the Son, Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-seven continues, And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.  Jesus said He had been given the authority to judge by the Father, and one day we will face Him either as Judge or Savior.  Verse twenty-eight states, Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, Jesus said the hour was coming when the dead would hear His voice and live.  Some use this verse to justify praying for the dead or even being baptized for the dead, but Jesus was speaking of the spiritually dead, not the physically dead.  That is why we must reach people with the gospel while they are living. Verse twenty-nine adds, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.  As Judge, He will also one day call forth all those in the grave and they will be judged by their faith.  Those that have done the will of God and accepted the salvation Christ alone provides, whether looking forward to Christ or back on Him, will be with Christ, and those who didn't will be eternally separated from Him. They will not be separated by deeds, but by their faith in God and the Redeemer Who was either to come or already is here. Works have never saved a person.  Verse thirty continues, I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.me.  Then, Jesus states that He has the authority to act as Judge.  He alone is authorized to do so.  We can never be the judge of the salvation of others, though some churches claim to hold that authority.  Christ alone is worthy to judge.