Baptized for the Dead
The world is reeling right now. But God is still here. If we have been truly listening to the Spirit of God we are hearing a message that has been woven through the tapestry of God’s word: a message that is the ultimate fulfillment of the gospel. Today I would ask you to come and reason with me as we open the scriptures.
The apostle Paul tells us:
25 For he (Jesus) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 1 Corinthians 15:25-27
This is a difficult passage for many to understand. But basically Jesus must reign until God has put all of His enemies under His feet. And the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. And when death has been destroyed Jesus will be submitted to His father. We can see this in verse 28 that says:
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28
Now where did Paul get the idea that God put everything under Jesus’ feet? Well Paul is expanding on an idea that comes from Psalm 8:6 which says:
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;
Thou hast put all things under his feet: Psalm 8:6
Originally this verse applied to Adam. You’ll remember that God said in Genesis 1:26:
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26
Originally man had dominion over the earth. But when Adam sinned he not only lost dominion of the earth but he also brought death into the world. The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:21,22
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:21,22
Because of Adam’s sin death was brought into the world. But through Jesus Christ’s righteousness and sacrifice human beings can be made alive again and can overcome sin. This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:25,26:
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:25,26
We still experience death in this world. But someday soon even that enemy will be vanquished. Someday all the enemies of God will be conquered. Someday death will be overcome and then every thing in the universe will be subject to God. As evidence of this Paul makes a strange statement. He says in verse 1 Corinthians 15:29,30:
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 1 Corinthians 15:29,30
Paul tells us that if all of God’s enemies aren’t conquered and if death isn’t conquered then what will the people do that are baptized for the dead? Why would people be baptized for the dead? And what does being baptized for the dead have to do with conquering God’s enemies and conquering death?
In order to answer these questions and unlock the explanation we need to understand what Paul means by baptism in verse 29. I want you to first notice that Paul connects being baptized for the dead with being in jeopardy every hour. This is the first clue that the baptism that Paul is talking about here is not traditional baptism. The baptism he is referring to is connected with being in jeopardy. This baptism is connected with trials and tribulations. Is there a baptism like that in the bible? Let's go to Matthew 20:20-23. The bible says:
20 Then came to him (to Jesus) the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. Matthew 20:20-23
Jesus tells James and John, the sons of Zebedee that they will be baptized with His baptism. This baptism is still in the future. Jesus had already been baptized in water by John the baptist and the bible strongly implies that the apostle John had already been baptized by John the baptist because the apostle John had been a disciple of John the baptist before he met Jesus. This tells us that the baptism that Jesus refers to in Matthew 20 is still in the future.
The baptism that Jesus is taking about is a future baptism that was different from anything the two sons of Zebedee had experienced before. Their first baptism was with water but their second baptism would be by fire. Turn with me in your bibles to Matthew 3:11. Here John the baptist explains the difference between his baptism and Jesus’ baptism. He says:
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matthew 3:11
This baptism by fire is a baptism of trial and suffering. It is a baptism that purges us from sin and produces righteousness. The apostle Peter explains in 1 Peter 1:7:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7
Through trial and suffering we are baptized with fire. It is this baptism that Jesus refers to when He says that the sons of Zebedee would be baptized with His baptism. Just as Jesus experienced trial and suffering so too did the sons of Zebedee. Their faith was perfected through trials and persecutions that they later experienced through sharing the gospel. There is a baptism of water that we experience at conversion but there is also a baptism of fire that we experience when our faith is perfected.
It is this type of baptism that Paul is referring to when He speaks of being baptized for the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:29 is trying to tell us that there are those that are baptized through trial and suffering for the dead. There are those whose faith is perfected through suffering for those that have died.
Now who are these people that are being baptized for the dead and how does their faith being perfected through suffering help those that have died? Please turn with me to Hebrews 11. In this chapter we find the hall of fame for the faithful. The chapter begins in verse one saying:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. Hebrews 11:1,2
Then we find a list of the elders that obtained a good report through faith including Abel, Abraham, Noah and many others. Please look down with me to Hebrews 11:39. The bible says:
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
According to these two verses all of these people obtained a good report through their faith but they did not receive the promise. What is that promise? The apostle John tells us in 1 John 2:25:
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 1 John 2:25
The elders obtained a good report through their faith but they did not receive the promise of eternal life. In other words they all died. But Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:40:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:40
God has provided something better for the group that Paul calls “us.” In other words God has provided that some will receive something better. Better than what? Better than death. There are some that will receive the promise of eternal life. They will not die as all those in the past have. The apostle Paul even says this saying:
This may be a lot to take in but I want you to follow closely with me. Paul is telling us that the elders had a good report through faith but they died and did not receive the promise of eternal life. But there is a group of people that will receive eternal life and they will also cause the elders or those that have died to be made perfect. Having learned all of this we can understand what Paul meant when He talked about being baptized for the dead. Paul is explaining to us in 1 Corinthians 15:29 that there are those that will be baptized through trial and suffering and their faith will be perfected. And when their faith is perfected they will overcome sin just as Jesus overcame sin. And when they overcome sin through faith they will prove that God’s character can be perfected in His people.
It is this accomplishment that will enable God to raise from the dead all that have died while having faith in Jesus. When God’s people have overcome sin through faith in Jesus the last enemy of death will be overcome. Please turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15:50. Here Paul explains everything saying:
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
We cannot inherit eternal life if we are still corrupted by sin. But the good news is that we will not all remain corrupted by sin. Again Paul says:
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Something amazing is going to happen. Somehow there will be those that do not fall asleep in death. And because of this everyone will be changed. Paul says:
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
At some point God’s people will be baptized through fire and suffering and they will have their faith perfected and their characters restored and then death will be overcome. Paul adds:
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
You see death can’t be overcome until sin is overcome. And sin can’t be overcome until God’s people are fully surrendered to Him. But the good news is that Paul tells us that that is exactly what is going to happen. God’s people are going to be baptized for the dead. They are going to have their characters perfected through trial and suffering and in so doing they will prove that God is justified in raising those that have fallen asleep in Jesus. God will be able to resurrect all those that have died having faith in Jesus throughout the ages because sin has finally been overcome.
Do you want to be baptized for the dead? Do you want to fully overcome sin so that God can give the promise of eternal life to all those that have fallen asleep? If you do, then you can. The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:13:
I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
And if you are still wondering whether or not it is truly possible for God to have a generation of people completely surrendered to Him hear the words of Jesus who says to us:
With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
With God the remnant can be baptized through trial and suffering and overcome sin, and the final enemy of death can once and for all be overcome for all of God’s people. Isn't that good news? Death will be overcome once and for all. I hope you are looking forward to that as much as I am.
The world is reeling right now. But God is still here. If we have been truly listening to the Spirit of God we are hearing a message that has been woven through the tapestry of God’s word: a message that is the ultimate fulfillment of the gospel. Today I would ask you to come and reason with me as we open the scriptures.
The apostle Paul tells us:
25 For he (Jesus) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 1 Corinthians 15:25-27
This is a difficult passage for many to understand. But basically Jesus must reign until God has put all of His enemies under His feet. And the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. And when death has been destroyed Jesus will be submitted to His father. We can see this in verse 28 that says:
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28
Now where did Paul get the idea that God put everything under Jesus’ feet? Well Paul is expanding on an idea that comes from Psalm 8:6 which says:
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;
Thou hast put all things under his feet: Psalm 8:6
Originally this verse applied to Adam. You’ll remember that God said in Genesis 1:26:
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26
Originally man had dominion over the earth. But when Adam sinned he not only lost dominion of the earth but he also brought death into the world. The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:21,22
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:21,22
Because of Adam’s sin death was brought into the world. But through Jesus Christ’s righteousness and sacrifice human beings can be made alive again and can overcome sin. This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:25,26:
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:25,26
We still experience death in this world. But someday soon even that enemy will be vanquished. Someday all the enemies of God will be conquered. Someday death will be overcome and then every thing in the universe will be subject to God. As evidence of this Paul makes a strange statement. He says in verse 1 Corinthians 15:29,30:
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 1 Corinthians 15:29,30
Paul tells us that if all of God’s enemies aren’t conquered and if death isn’t conquered then what will the people do that are baptized for the dead? Why would people be baptized for the dead? And what does being baptized for the dead have to do with conquering God’s enemies and conquering death?
In order to answer these questions and unlock the explanation we need to understand what Paul means by baptism in verse 29. I want you to first notice that Paul connects being baptized for the dead with being in jeopardy every hour. This is the first clue that the baptism that Paul is talking about here is not traditional baptism. The baptism he is referring to is connected with being in jeopardy. This baptism is connected with trials and tribulations. Is there a baptism like that in the bible? Let's go to Matthew 20:20-23. The bible says:
20 Then came to him (to Jesus) the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. Matthew 20:20-23
Jesus tells James and John, the sons of Zebedee that they will be baptized with His baptism. This baptism is still in the future. Jesus had already been baptized in water by John the baptist and the bible strongly implies that the apostle John had already been baptized by John the baptist because the apostle John had been a disciple of John the baptist before he met Jesus. This tells us that the baptism that Jesus refers to in Matthew 20 is still in the future.
The baptism that Jesus is taking about is a future baptism that was different from anything the two sons of Zebedee had experienced before. Their first baptism was with water but their second baptism would be by fire. Turn with me in your bibles to Matthew 3:11. Here John the baptist explains the difference between his baptism and Jesus’ baptism. He says:
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matthew 3:11
This baptism by fire is a baptism of trial and suffering. It is a baptism that purges us from sin and produces righteousness. The apostle Peter explains in 1 Peter 1:7:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7
Through trial and suffering we are baptized with fire. It is this baptism that Jesus refers to when He says that the sons of Zebedee would be baptized with His baptism. Just as Jesus experienced trial and suffering so too did the sons of Zebedee. Their faith was perfected through trials and persecutions that they later experienced through sharing the gospel. There is a baptism of water that we experience at conversion but there is also a baptism of fire that we experience when our faith is perfected.
It is this type of baptism that Paul is referring to when He speaks of being baptized for the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:29 is trying to tell us that there are those that are baptized through trial and suffering for the dead. There are those whose faith is perfected through suffering for those that have died.
Now who are these people that are being baptized for the dead and how does their faith being perfected through suffering help those that have died? Please turn with me to Hebrews 11. In this chapter we find the hall of fame for the faithful. The chapter begins in verse one saying:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. Hebrews 11:1,2
Then we find a list of the elders that obtained a good report through faith including Abel, Abraham, Noah and many others. Please look down with me to Hebrews 11:39. The bible says:
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
According to these two verses all of these people obtained a good report through their faith but they did not receive the promise. What is that promise? The apostle John tells us in 1 John 2:25:
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 1 John 2:25
The elders obtained a good report through their faith but they did not receive the promise of eternal life. In other words they all died. But Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:40:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:40
God has provided something better for the group that Paul calls “us.” In other words God has provided that some will receive something better. Better than what? Better than death. There are some that will receive the promise of eternal life. They will not die as all those in the past have. The apostle Paul even says this saying:
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Corinthians 15:51
By sleep here the apostle Paul means death. Not everyone will die. In fact not only will there be people that receive the promise of eternal life and not die the bible says that without these people’s experience the elders will not be made perfect.
This may be a lot to take in but I want you to follow closely with me. Paul is telling us that the elders had a good report through faith but they died and did not receive the promise of eternal life. But there is a group of people that will receive eternal life and they will also cause the elders or those that have died to be made perfect. Having learned all of this we can understand what Paul meant when He talked about being baptized for the dead. Paul is explaining to us in 1 Corinthians 15:29 that there are those that will be baptized through trial and suffering and their faith will be perfected. And when their faith is perfected they will overcome sin just as Jesus overcame sin. And when they overcome sin through faith they will prove that God’s character can be perfected in His people.
It is this accomplishment that will enable God to raise from the dead all that have died while having faith in Jesus. When God’s people have overcome sin through faith in Jesus the last enemy of death will be overcome. Please turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15:50. Here Paul explains everything saying:
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
We cannot inherit eternal life if we are still corrupted by sin. But the good news is that we will not all remain corrupted by sin. Again Paul says:
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Something amazing is going to happen. Somehow there will be those that do not fall asleep in death. And because of this everyone will be changed. Paul says:
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
At some point God’s people will be baptized through fire and suffering and they will have their faith perfected and their characters restored and then death will be overcome. Paul adds:
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
You see death can’t be overcome until sin is overcome. And sin can’t be overcome until God’s people are fully surrendered to Him. But the good news is that Paul tells us that that is exactly what is going to happen. God’s people are going to be baptized for the dead. They are going to have their characters perfected through trial and suffering and in so doing they will prove that God is justified in raising those that have fallen asleep in Jesus. God will be able to resurrect all those that have died having faith in Jesus throughout the ages because sin has finally been overcome.
Do you want to be baptized for the dead? Do you want to fully overcome sin so that God can give the promise of eternal life to all those that have fallen asleep? If you do, then you can. The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:13:
I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
And if you are still wondering whether or not it is truly possible for God to have a generation of people completely surrendered to Him hear the words of Jesus who says to us:
With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
With God the remnant can be baptized through trial and suffering and overcome sin, and the final enemy of death can once and for all be overcome for all of God’s people. Isn't that good news? Death will be overcome once and for all. I hope you are looking forward to that as much as I am.
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