As of First Importance

We've talked about it before. One of the great dangers in reading Scripture is misunderstanding the meaning of the text because we have somehow taken it out of context. And one of the verses in our reading this morning has frequently been misunderstood. So misunderstood, in fact, that the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have constructed much of their theology around it.

The verse in question is 1 Corinthians 15:29: "What will those do who are baptized for the dead?"

The LDS and many others have taken this to mean that in the early church it was a common practice for people to be baptized on behalf of others who have already died. Thus the Mormon interest in genealogy and their practice of baptizing on behalf of dead family members.

But if we look at the whole of Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians 15, we discover that this is not the point that he is making. Understanding verse 29 requires context. It requires a running start. It cannot be pulled out by itself. It belongs within the flow of Paul's entire argument.

At the beginning of the chapter, Paul states very plainly what is "of first importance" in the gospel message. He tells us that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried and that he rose again according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, the Twelve, 500 brethren at one time, James, all the apostles, and then to Paul. This is the foundation of the entire gospel. (15:3 - 8)

After laying the foundation, Paul addresses a particular concern within the Corinthian church: "How do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" (15:14) He goes on: "if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain." (15:13 - 14)

In other words, without the resurrection of Jesus, there is no gospel. There is no good news. There is no forgiveness of sin or hope of eternal life. The resurrection is an essential piece. Remove this one piece, and the whole message of salvation collapses. Yet this is precisely what some in the Corinthian church believe - that there is no such thing as the resurrection. Paul is attempting to show how wrong and dangerous this idea is. Everything, and I mean everything, hinges upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

So, carrying this thought forward, Paul mentions baptism in verse 29. The church then, as now, understood that baptism was an act of patterning one's life after Christ. It was a statement about unity with Christ - his death, his burial, his resurrection, and his eternal life. We are, as our baptismal formula says, "buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in the newness of life." (see Romans 6:4 - 7 and Colossians 2:12).

Following Paul's logic here - what happens if Christ has not been raised from the dead? What picture, what statement did you make in baptism? If you were baptized for the dead (but not raised with Jesus), then what have you done? The picture is imperfect. "If the dead are not raised at all [if not even Jesus has been raised!], why then have they [the unbelievers in resurrection] baptized for them?" (15:29b amplification mine)

Paul is not indicating that the church was baptizing on behalf of other people who had died. He is reminding the church that they are baptized because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. But if they don't believe in the resurrection, then they are just being baptized into a dead Jesus. And a dead Jesus is worse than useless. A dead Jesus means there is no forgiveness of sins. A dead Jesus means there is no advocate with the Father. A dead Jesus means that all our hopes of eternal life are worthless, and even worse, we are now found to be lying about the work of God in Christ - if Christ has not been raised.

But now Christ has been raised! (15:20) And this makes all the difference. We serve a living Lord! We are baptized into his death and his resurrection. We are not baptized for the dead. We are baptized for the resurrected! And if Jesus has been raised and has conquered death, then we have hope of our own resurrection and a share in his victory (again, see Romans 6:4 - 7). This is the good news! This is the gospel! This is what we believe!

So this morning, I am reminding myself of that which is most important, most fundamental, most basic in our faith. Christ died, was buried, rose again, and is alive and well today. I serve a risen Savior!

How about you?