John 5:25

The fifth instance of his Godhead and equality with the Father, doth amplifie the former in ver. 24. for, whereas there he proved his Godhead by being the Author of eternal life to beleevers; here he promiseth to give faith to his own, by causing them to hear his voice who are of themselves dead, and making them, by hearing and beleeving, to live a life of grace here, till it be perfected in glory. Doctrine 1. However Christ may propound the Doctrine of eternal life conditionally, to the visible Church, yet the promises are absolute in his intention toward the Elect, and he is the undertaker for performing all the conditions, which he requireth of them, when they are humble and flee to him; So much is held out, in that Christ undertakes to give faith, and cause the dead to hear, which was required as a condition in the former verse. 2. We have much need to be oft stirred up to be grave and serious in studying Christs glory, and about the matters of our salvation, and to be stirred up to give credit to what he saith and undertaketh for lost sinners; Therefore doth Christ again inculcate this Doctrine with Verily, verily, I say unto you. 3. The great manifestation of the power of Christs Word and Spirit, was reserved for the dayes of the Gospel; for Christ saith, the houre (or acceptable season, to be well improven, and therefore measured by an hour) is coming, after my resurrection, and pouring out of the Spirit, and now is, in some measure by my Ministry and Johns, when the dead shall hear, &c. Not that he gave not proof of this before his incarnation, but it was now to be in greater measure, and with greater efficacy. 4. Whatever remainders of the image of God, and what ever excellencie natural men may have; yet they are spiritually dead till Christ come unto them, being destitute of spiritual life, and of the favour and peace of God, being dead by a sentence of the Law past against them, and being under this, insensible, and unable to help themselves; for, here they are called the dead. 5. Such is the power of the Gospel, as being the voice of the Son of God, that not onely will it speak to them who have eares, but it will raise dead souls to life by conversion, and give them an eare to hear, and make them to beleeve; for, the dead shall hear the voice of the Sonne of God. 6. Such as are regenerate and raised from the dead, by the Word of the Gospel, and who do close with it, and Christ in it, by faith; their begotten life shall be cherished and entertained & carried on, by enjoyment of begun conformity & communion with Christ, till it be perfected with glory; for, they that heare (or being regenerate, are made so to hear, as to beleeve) shall live.