When folks read John 5:22, they usually think of the so-called last judgment, but Jesus isn’t speaking in those terms, and, in fact, never really does. We formulate opinions of what Jesus says, and then we go about proving those opinions, rather than simply believing what Jesus really says. Jesus is the Image of God, and we are supposed to be his, vis-à-vis Jesus’ images, which, if we are, we would reveal the Father, as well. Nevertheless, we often have trouble saying and doing what we see Jesus saying and doing, because the word of God spoken out of context, is no longer the word of God. If the word of God is used by men to say or do something the Lord never really intended, how does that reflect or image what the Lord said or did? Hence, although we quote the text accurately, we are not applying it accurately.
Notice that Jesus is speaking about being the Father’s Image in John 5:22, and he is not telling us that the Father judges no one. He tells us the Father judges no one by himself. In other words, all things are done through the Son, the Image of God. Otherwise, how would we interpret John 5:19 and verse-30, if John 5:22 is true? Can one’s reflection in a mirror act of its own accord, or does it always follow what is done in front of it? Nevertheless, examples can take us only so far. Jesus is not a mirror; he is a living Being, and that Being is God, himself (John 1:1). He is showing us how things occur in the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Unless a man is born again, vis-à-vis unless a man is alive in the Spirit, he is unable to see (perceive) the Kingdom of God—the place where God lives. Therefore, unless a person is alive in his Spirit, he is unable to serve the Lord or even know his Lord’s will.
In other words, the will of God is made known to man by Jesus (John 1:18), and men are able to carry out the will of God in the world, only if they honor Jesus as they honor God (John 5:23). God so loved the world that he gave… (John 3:16), so, unless we are giving life, rather than taking life, unless we are loving and serving one another, rather than living and acting to serve ourselves, we are not carrying out the will of God (John 3:16; cp. 5:22-23).
Therefore, if one honors Jesus (John 5:23) by believing him (John 5:24), this means one has heard the voice of God in his Spirit (cp. John 6:44). If one hears God, he is able to perceive the Kingdom of God (John 3:3) and has passed from death to life (John 5:24; cp. 3:16-17). Believing Jesus, means one is no longer under judgment, but has been raised to eternal life (John 3:18; 5:24).
If we wish to speak in terms of final or last judgment, that has already occurred in Eden. If one rebels from God, he will die (Genesis 2:16-17). Man rebelled and was, therefore, cast out of God’s presence (Genesis 3:22-24). All men have rebelled against God, following the way of Adam (Romans 5:12), so death fell upon all men (Romans 5:14). All men die! Therefore, we can say that all men are condemned (judged) already (John 3:18). Jesus is the ONLY way out of judgment or condemnation (John 5:24). Men who trust that they are able to see (without Jesus – cp. John 9:41), will not come into the Light, which is Jesus (John 8:12; 9:5), because their works are evil (John 3:19). They, therefore, love the darkness of this world, and will not come into the Light of the Kingdom of God, because they do not wish to be proved wrong, or told they are evil, or shown they are not serving God (John 3:19-20). It is only those who are able to perceive the Kingdom (John 3:3) who come into the Light (Jesus). They enter the Light in order that the world may know the works they do are worked through the inspiration and power of God, because he who enters the Light has passed out from under judgment to life in the Kingdom of God (John 3:21; 5:24).
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