John 5:28-29

“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29).

Federal Visionists love this passage because they think that those who have done good will be resurrected to life, and those who have done evil will be resurrected to condemnation. However, this is does not comport with the solas.

How much good does one have to do to qualify for the resurrection to life? How much evil does one have to do to qualify for the resurrection to condemnation? Is one good deed enough to save? Is one bad deed enough to condemn? This quickly becomes a Pelagian game, in which no one is saved and no one is condemned.

Jesus was obviously having a little fun with the disciples, throwing out a blatantly Pelagian statement just to get their attention. Undoubtedly, the disciples had a good laugh when they realized that Jesus was just kidding.

Romans 4:23-25

"Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification" (Romans 4:23-25).

Federal Visionists love this passage because they think that the resurrection has something to do with justification. However, this is utterly Tridentine.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification only involves the life and death of Jesus. Jesus’ life (law-keeping) is given to us in the imputation of the active obedience of Christ. Jesus’ death (payment for sin) is given to us in the imputation of passive obedience of Christ.

The resurrection has nothing to do with justification. The resurrection is probably important for other reasons, but it has no place in the Reformed doctrine of justification.