Consider these questions as you dwell in 1 Corinthians 15:12-34:

1. What are some of the different interpretations of the controversial verse 1 Corinthians 15:29, where Paul mentions being "baptized on behalf of the dead"? How does this verse challenge the usual Christian practices, and what do you think Paul's intended meaning might be?

2. How does Paul emphasize the importance of the resurrection of Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15, and what are the implications for our faith and hope if Jesus had not been raised from the dead?

3. Could you explain the significance of the reference to Psalm 110 in 1 Corinthians 15:25 and how it relates to Christ's reign and the ultimate defeat of death? How does this understanding of Christ's victory over death impact the hope of believers?

Transcript:

 There is a lot for us to consider in that passage and I'm going to start out with the controversial part even though it's towards the end of the passage because I don't want us to move from our devotional thought and application. Uh, go from reading the important part of the text I'm going to be focusing on, then get to the controversial part and then go back to the application.

I think it's best to start off with the confusing part here at the beginning, verse 29. Otherwise... What do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? We don't know, like many other things in 1st Corinthians, we don't know the context in which this is written.

We don't necessarily understand what is happening. So, there's many, many different interpretations. There's a reason that this isn't standard Christian practice. Uh, this has not been seen as something that has been done throughout church history. Uh, there is no other place in scripture where it is suggested that people should be baptized on behalf of the dead.

Uh, some people think, and I think this is probably the best interpretation, uh, that Paul is speaking about the fact that people were denying the resurrection of the dead, but yet they were baptizing on behalf of them. Why would you do that if you didn't think that there was some sort of... Uh, eternal life if there was some sort of resurrection, right?

And so, that is one of the interpretations of what, uh, people think this might mean. That Paul is saying, hey, you're, you're doing this practice, but yet you have people who are denying the resurrection. What, what sense does that make? And so, there are many reasons, as I said, why this is not standard Christian practice.

That we don't do this or talk about this. Uh, but, um, it is important that we look at it and understand it because, like I said, it kind of throws... Throws our minds for a loop because we know what the practices of baptism are and yet we don't ever talk about this. Well, that's the reason why. It's not something that's been prescribed anywhere else in scripture.

We don't see it done anywhere and we don't see it in church history. And so, it's something that we do not do.  With that being said, let’s go to this awesome passage. This is one of my absolute favorite passages. In all of scripture, uh, to go back to first Corinthians 15 at the top where it talks about what the gospel is and then it goes into this idea of the resurrection of the dead.

It is absolutely fantastic, uh, to think about not only what it says, but the implications for what it says, because it puts everything out there on the line for us. I want us to take a look at verse 16 through 18. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

And those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. So obviously there were people who were teaching that the dead were not raised. And so, Paul is saying, hey, Your faith here is reliant on a crucified and risen Savior, not just a, uh, crucified Savior.

And so, if the dead aren't raised, why would you believe that Jesus was raised? And if Jesus is not raised, then he's no different than anybody else who was crucified and died. The roads were lined with people hanging on crosses in this time. It was the most common form of execution and it was a symbol to the people around them that if you cross the government This is going to happen to you.

It was a common thing and so  If Jesus didn't raise from the dead, he's just another guy who died on a cross And so how are your sins forgiven if your alleged Savior Couldn't even defeat death. How would your sins possibly be be forgiven?  And so, Paul is saying that Jesus is a real savior and he did raise from the dead.

And he tells him here, if, if we have Christ to hope for only in this life, we're all people most to be pitied. And what Paul is saying is, if you're just saying that Jesus gives you hope in this life, if he gives you hope in this, this experience that we have, this material world, if that's all the good that Jesus gives you.

Um, then you should be pitied because it's more than that. If you're, if you're just hoping and your faith is holding onto something that, that doesn't have a God who can defeat death, you really don't have any hope, but Paul spins it here very quickly. He says, but in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.

This is a fact.  Paul says that Jesus has absolutely been raised from the dead, so he is able to defeat sin, death, and hell for you. And notice what verse 22 says, For, as an Adam all dies, so also in Christ shall be made alive. That is the big turn here. This is the connecting thing for all of Scripture.

Death comes through Adam, life comes through the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the big point. And so, it's very vital that we understand this That this is the big point that Paul is making Jesus is resurrected. And so, we have hope of eternal life And, we see here that, that he has been ascended.

He's going to come at the end of history to deliver his kingdom to God the Father. But it's after he destroys every rule and every authority and power. And notice verse 25. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Finally, death will be ultimately defeated.

He did defeat death in his resurrection, but you and I will still experience it until he returns at the end of history to deliver his kingdom to God the Father. Then death will finally and ultimately be destroyed. And notice verse 25. You've heard me mention this many times before. The idea of Jesus reigning until he's put his enemies under his feet.

That is an allusion to Psalm 110. 1 The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until your enemies are made a footstool.  Christ is ascended. He is Lord. He is reigning over all things. And one day he will return. And all his enemies will be made a footstool, and ultimately, the final enemy that he will destroy is death.

That is our hope, and it is secured in the fact of Christ's resurrection from the dead. Now, it's easy to see what this means for us. It means that we have hope, right? It means that we are not simply... Uh, living, trying to live our best life and get what we can now, because we have hope beyond it. And that is rooted, not in ourselves, but in the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

So, may we live our lives today in light of that great truth, trusting and hoping in this future glory that we will experience with Christ.