{"id":1437,"date":"2011-04-22T08:38:30","date_gmt":"2011-04-22T12:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.fbclafayette.org\/?p=1437"},"modified":"2011-12-12T09:27:31","modified_gmt":"2011-12-12T14:27:31","slug":"baptized-for-the-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/baptized-for-the-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"Baptized for the Dead?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Defining Event<\/h2>\n

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central event for followers of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Paul explained its importance in “the resurrection chapter,” 1 Corinthians 15:<\/p>\n

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:17-19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That is why Easter is such a marvelous holiday for Christians.\u00a0 We have the joy and priviege of celebrating\u00a0Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.\u00a0 Because the tomb is empty, the opposite of everything Paul mentioned in the passage above is true.\u00a0 Our faith is of great value.\u00a0 We are no longer in our sins.\u00a0 Those who have fallen asleep in Jesus are\u00a0alive and in heaven. Because we haven’t hoped in Christ in this life only, we have great reason to rejoice.<\/p>\n

An Unusual Phrase<\/h2>\n

Later in that same passage, Paul asked a very unusual question; “What will those do who are baptized for the dead?\u00a0 If the dead are not raised at all, why then are we baptized for them<\/em>?” (1 Corinthians 15:29)<\/p>\n

What exactly does that mean? Whenever we read a verse of Scripture that is\u00a0difficult to understand, it is wise to compare it with other passages in the Bible\u00a0that are clearer or easier to interpret.\u00a0 We know Paul was not saying that we could be baptized so that someone else could be saved.\u00a0\u00a0That would contradict everything the Scripture says about salvation.<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 15:29 is best understood in light of 1 Corinthians 15:18.\u00a0 Paul had already explained that because Christ was raised, those who have already died have not perished.\u00a0 The question now is, who is going to take the place of those who have already gone to be with the Lord?\u00a0 The answer is, men and women who have recently come to Christ.\u00a0 They are “baptized for the dead” in the sense that God uses their gifts and abilities to fill the vacuum in the church created by men and women who have already passed away.<\/p>\n

A Great Opportunity<\/h2>\n

Our church has a wonderful heritage.\u00a0 We have been blessed by many men and women who knew Jesus Christ\u00a0and allowed their living Savior to enable them to live faithful, godly, lives.\u00a0 But now a number of the them have gone to heaven.\u00a0 Their gifts and abilities that were such a tremendous blessing to our church family are no longer available.\u00a0 Others have grown older and are unable to serve the way they once did.<\/p>\n

Thank the Lord that He has simultaneously brought many new men and women to our church family.\u00a0 Month after month we see people follow the Lord in believer’s baptism.\u00a0 They often say in their testimonies that they are looking forward to serving the Lord together with their new church family.\u00a0 In that sense, they are being baptized for the dead.<\/p>\n

A Living Example<\/h2>\n

This week’s Passion Play is a great example of this principle in action.\u00a0 Some of the men and women who faithfully served in the Passion Play years ago are no longer alive.\u00a0 They will be celebrating this Easter in heaven.<\/p>\n

But God in His grace has raised up a new generation of servants.\u00a0 Many of those who will serve sacrificially this week are new believers in Christ.\u00a0 Praise the Lord for new life.\u00a0 Praise the Lord for those who have been baptized for the dead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Defining Event The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central event for followers of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Paul explained its importance in “the resurrection chapter,” 1 Corinthians 15: If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished…. read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[105],"tags":[4307,4308,4272,4253,4289],"yoast_head":"\nBaptized for the Dead? - Faith Church Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/baptized-for-the-dead\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Baptized for the Dead? - Faith Church Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Defining Event The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central event for followers of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Paul explained its importance in “the resurrection chapter,” 1 Corinthians 15: If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 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