Standing in the Victory of Jesus
God's grace and peace be upon us today as we delve into a challenging text.
This verse which we have before us today is one which is easily taken out of context and used to deceive many and lead them into heretical beliefs. The first thing I will say to you is that we must never separate any individual passage from the context in which it is given. The apostle Paul is in the center of a huge discussion concerning the validity of the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the heart of the Gospel. If Christ has not been raised, then everything we believe is a lie.
He has just concluded stating that when Christ comes back everything will be made subject to Him. All things having been made subject to Him; He will deliver all things to His Father. In this way God is glorified. This is the context in which the passage we look at today is given. It is also important to look at the passages which follow, which have to do with martyrdom. Why would anybody subject themselves to the wild beasts of the arena if they were not doing it for what they believed was absolutely true. In other words, Paul is stating that no one would die for a lie.
It is in this context the following passage is spoken.
Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? 1 Corinthians 15:29
As I said, this passage, taken out of context, seems to indicate something which is contrary to the Christian faith. The idea that someone could be baptized on behalf of a person who has already dead in order that they might have forgiveness and eternal life, because they died without faith in Jesus is absolute heresy. It stands in contradiction to every other teaching of Scripture concerning salvation. There must therefore be a reasonable understanding of this passage which does not conflict with the rest of the teachings of God.
The issue comes in how this passage is translated. There are a few translations which render a clearer understanding. The translation GOD'S WORD says it this way, “However, people are baptized because the dead [will come back to life]. What will they do? If the dead can't come back to life, why do people get baptized as if they can [come back to life]?”
Then there is the International Standard Version which says, “Otherwise, what will those people do who are being baptized because of those who have died? If the dead are not raised at all, why are they being baptized because of them?”
Both of these translations come closer to the original intent of the text than most English translations. It all hinges on one word which appears twice in the text. The Greek word, ὑπὲρ, which can be translated “for” or “on behalf of” but it is also translated, “in view of” depending on the context. To say we are baptized “for” or “on behalf of” the dead implies that we are being baptized for them. To say we are baptized “in view of” the dead changes the meaning to say that we are joining them in what they believed and were believing when they died!
Paul is speaking about all things being subjected to Christ in the resurrection and thus He will be seen as Victor over all things. This is the victory which those who have died in the faith believed even unto their own deaths. In view of what they believed and died believed, we are baptized into the same faith. Continuing in the context, we would say that those who are martyred for the faith are also examples to we who believe today of true, unyielding faith in the heart.
Just so that we are clear, the writer to the Hebrews says, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). We live, we die, and we stand in judgment! It is at that moment Jesus pronounces the eternal judgment of God upon us! A judgment for us equals eternal life in the presence of God. A judgment against us results in eternal separation and the judgment of God upon sin for all eternity.
When this passage is taken out of context and made to stand on its own, it leads to heretical teachings such as are found in the Mormon religion which practices baptism for the salvation of those who already died. Again, this type of teaching stands in direct opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the belief that it is through faith in the heart that a person is saved, and not by the faith or actions of another individual. It even complicates the matter more when you talk about being baptized for a dead person.
There are two aspects of the proper understanding of this passage which we should consider. First, in keeping with Paul's original intent concerning the resurrection, if those who died in the faith have perished if the dead are not raised, why would we be baptized into the same thing they believed if there is no resurrection? This is very likely the original intent Paul had when he penned this text. There is a secondary understanding which would be in harmony with scripture. That would be the understand that those who are baptized will indeed see those who preceded them when we are joined together to celebrate the victory of Jesus. There is an assurance given to us in the Christian faith that just as we stand together in Jesus in this life, so shall the day come when we shall also stand together in Jesus for all eternity. This is a comforting truth which has sustained many Christians as they stood at the graveside and mourned the passing of someone they loved.
We must never forget that we stand shoulder to shoulder with all who name of the name of Jesus as Savior! We are together the Church of Jesus Christ in the world today. We who name Jesus as Lord come from many and varied backgrounds and earthly church denominations. The truth we hold onto is that Christ has only one Church comprised all who truly believe. This one Church is not limited to this moment in time and space. The One Holy Christian Church spans all time and consists of all who have confessed faith in Christ from the Garden of Eden to the moment of Judgement Day itself. All who have been baptized into this Church will celebrate eternally together.
This is what it means to be baptized in view of all who have been baptized before us. We are joining them in the one true faith and the proclamation of Jesus as Savior.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Russ
This verse which we have before us today is one which is easily taken out of context and used to deceive many and lead them into heretical beliefs. The first thing I will say to you is that we must never separate any individual passage from the context in which it is given. The apostle Paul is in the center of a huge discussion concerning the validity of the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the heart of the Gospel. If Christ has not been raised, then everything we believe is a lie.
He has just concluded stating that when Christ comes back everything will be made subject to Him. All things having been made subject to Him; He will deliver all things to His Father. In this way God is glorified. This is the context in which the passage we look at today is given. It is also important to look at the passages which follow, which have to do with martyrdom. Why would anybody subject themselves to the wild beasts of the arena if they were not doing it for what they believed was absolutely true. In other words, Paul is stating that no one would die for a lie.
It is in this context the following passage is spoken.
Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? 1 Corinthians 15:29
As I said, this passage, taken out of context, seems to indicate something which is contrary to the Christian faith. The idea that someone could be baptized on behalf of a person who has already dead in order that they might have forgiveness and eternal life, because they died without faith in Jesus is absolute heresy. It stands in contradiction to every other teaching of Scripture concerning salvation. There must therefore be a reasonable understanding of this passage which does not conflict with the rest of the teachings of God.
The issue comes in how this passage is translated. There are a few translations which render a clearer understanding. The translation GOD'S WORD says it this way, “However, people are baptized because the dead [will come back to life]. What will they do? If the dead can't come back to life, why do people get baptized as if they can [come back to life]?”
Then there is the International Standard Version which says, “Otherwise, what will those people do who are being baptized because of those who have died? If the dead are not raised at all, why are they being baptized because of them?”
Both of these translations come closer to the original intent of the text than most English translations. It all hinges on one word which appears twice in the text. The Greek word, ὑπὲρ, which can be translated “for” or “on behalf of” but it is also translated, “in view of” depending on the context. To say we are baptized “for” or “on behalf of” the dead implies that we are being baptized for them. To say we are baptized “in view of” the dead changes the meaning to say that we are joining them in what they believed and were believing when they died!
Paul is speaking about all things being subjected to Christ in the resurrection and thus He will be seen as Victor over all things. This is the victory which those who have died in the faith believed even unto their own deaths. In view of what they believed and died believed, we are baptized into the same faith. Continuing in the context, we would say that those who are martyred for the faith are also examples to we who believe today of true, unyielding faith in the heart.
Just so that we are clear, the writer to the Hebrews says, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). We live, we die, and we stand in judgment! It is at that moment Jesus pronounces the eternal judgment of God upon us! A judgment for us equals eternal life in the presence of God. A judgment against us results in eternal separation and the judgment of God upon sin for all eternity.
When this passage is taken out of context and made to stand on its own, it leads to heretical teachings such as are found in the Mormon religion which practices baptism for the salvation of those who already died. Again, this type of teaching stands in direct opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the belief that it is through faith in the heart that a person is saved, and not by the faith or actions of another individual. It even complicates the matter more when you talk about being baptized for a dead person.
There are two aspects of the proper understanding of this passage which we should consider. First, in keeping with Paul's original intent concerning the resurrection, if those who died in the faith have perished if the dead are not raised, why would we be baptized into the same thing they believed if there is no resurrection? This is very likely the original intent Paul had when he penned this text. There is a secondary understanding which would be in harmony with scripture. That would be the understand that those who are baptized will indeed see those who preceded them when we are joined together to celebrate the victory of Jesus. There is an assurance given to us in the Christian faith that just as we stand together in Jesus in this life, so shall the day come when we shall also stand together in Jesus for all eternity. This is a comforting truth which has sustained many Christians as they stood at the graveside and mourned the passing of someone they loved.
We must never forget that we stand shoulder to shoulder with all who name of the name of Jesus as Savior! We are together the Church of Jesus Christ in the world today. We who name Jesus as Lord come from many and varied backgrounds and earthly church denominations. The truth we hold onto is that Christ has only one Church comprised all who truly believe. This one Church is not limited to this moment in time and space. The One Holy Christian Church spans all time and consists of all who have confessed faith in Christ from the Garden of Eden to the moment of Judgement Day itself. All who have been baptized into this Church will celebrate eternally together.
This is what it means to be baptized in view of all who have been baptized before us. We are joining them in the one true faith and the proclamation of Jesus as Savior.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Russ
Recent
Archive
2024
February
May
2023
January
March
May
June
July
August
October
November
2022
December
Categories
no categories
No Comments