Shining Light on 1 Corinthians Chapter 15

First and foremost, context is crucial when evaluating any scripture. The context of the chapter in question pertains specifically to aspects of the resurrection.

Many mistakenly conclude that the first two verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 confirm that an individual need only believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in order to be saved. The gospel message certainly begins with that information; however, it does not stop there.

Paul begins his letter by reminding the group that he declared to them the gospel by which they were saved. (verses 1-2) He goes on to point out a specific part of the gospel message that he and they received FIRST; that Jesus died for their sins, was buried and resurrected. (verses 3-4) He then delves into concepts associated with resurrection throughout the rest of the chapter.

Apostle Paul’s comment about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection being what is shared with people FIRST indicates there is other information included in the gospel message. This truth is seen in scripture relevant to all groups of humanity: (Jews, Gentiles and Samaritans) Acts 2:22-41; 8:12-17; 10:37-48. In each of these scripture references we see individuals hearing the word of God and complying with the command to be water baptized in Jesus’ name and receiving the Holy Ghost as well.

Notice in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 29 Paul specifically brings up water baptism. He questions why people are getting baptized for the dead if they don't believe the dead will be resurrected. Even though baptism for the dead is not biblical it speaks to the fact that born again believers realized their own water baptism played a part in their spiritual rebirth. And as such, they were doing it in hopes of changing the fate of relatives and/or friends who had not submitted to it for themselves before meeting their demise.

Clearly one’s repentance and water baptism would hold no significance without Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Jesus’ sacrifice is what makes the NT spiritual rebirth possible at all. Even though Jesus died for the sins of all humanity, not all will have their personal sins washed away. It is through one's belief and obedience to God's plan of salvation as expressed in the word that all are given the opportunity to be become born again children of God.

You address an important point. Why did a number of Christians at Corinth try to do a proxy Baptism for deceased fellows?

Before answering, I would like to echo your statement that this had no effect. One cannot be Baptized for someone else - living or dead. And Paul shows that he does not join them in their belief. He writes, in verse 29, "THEY" twice. "They" implies that you do not include yourself. "I play Rugby, but THEY play Football". But we must investigate why they were driven to do this. Now, we learn from Acts 18:11 that Paul was there for one and one half years, and from verse 8 that Baptism was part of Paul's gospel. But what, in the teaching of Baptism, made the Corinthians so desparate as to be Baptized for their dead relations? The answer is in the context. It is "The Kingdom". The immediate preceding context was Christ, the risen One, SUBDUING all things that opposed God ending with the last enemy - death, AND THEN HANDING THE KINGDOM OVER TO HIS FATHER!

What, may we ask, has Baptism to do with the Kingdom? EVERYTHING! God started His recovery of His purpose in Genesis 1:26-28 with Abraham. He promised Abraham a piece of the earth to RULE. "The gates of your enemies" is the GOVERNMENT. It was were the elders of a city came to deliberate on matters judicial and political. And although at first, this Land was a PROMISE, at Abraham's request, it turned into a Covenant. God would give Canaan to Abraham and his seed and Abraham and his seed were to be CIRCUMCISED. "Circumcision" was a "sign" (Rom.4:11) that a seed of Abraham entered into Covenant FOR THE LAND. But Abraham's faith was exceeding, and by and by, the Promise was extended to the WHOLE EARTH. But TWO THINGS HAD CHANGED.

First, according to Genesis 1:26-28 God's Words were "let THEM (man and woman) have dominion." Since a woman does not possess a foreskin, she would be at a disadvantage in this Covenant. And second, and more important, circumcision was good for gaining Canaan, but to rule over all men and the earth required a NEW BODY. 1st Corinthians 15:50 says that combination of "flesh and blood" was not fit for inheriting this Kingdom. "Flesh and blood" had ruled the earth for 4,000 years by the time Paul wrote 1st Corinthians, and the result was EVIL GOVERNMENT! God had made all men from "one blood" and that "one" blood was Adam's. The life is in the blood and Adam's blood had produced a generation of EVIL RULERS. There had to be a revision of MEN before they could inherit this KINGDOM on earth. There is only one way to eradicate this combination of "flesh and blood". The solution to a polluted blood was DEATH. That is why we need resurrection - or, if we are still alive at Christ's coming, we need a "change" to incorruptibility (1st Cor.15:51-54).

But there is a problem with death. At death a man's body returns to the elements. But the Church is made of our BODIES (1st Cor.6:15). So, death might sort out the problem of an unfit BODY for the Kingdom, but it destroys the Church - which is the House and Testimony of God on earth in this age. So God sorts this problem of the Covenant out by replacing CIRCUMCISION with a "sign" that our whole Body is cut off. And this sign is to be FULLY IMMERSED IN THE DEATH WATERS. "Immersing" in water is a sign of God's judgment. The earth was TWICE covered by water in judgment - in Genesis 1:2, and at Noah's time. Baptism is a "SIGN" of us DYING. And according to Colossians 2:10-12 IT REPLACES CIRCUMCISION! Galatians 3:29 shows that all men who are IN Christ are seed of Abraham. So, according to the Covenant of Promise, you need circumcision if you want Canaan, or BAPTISM if you want THE WHOLE EARTH.

IF YOU REFUSE BAPTISM, YOU ARE REFUSING THE COVENANT OF PROMISE! You become INELIGIBLE for the KINGDOM when Christ sets it up on earth after His return. That is why some Corinthians saints were worried for their loved ones who had died and had refused Baptism. It is not that they weren't born again. It wasn't that their sins were not forgiven. It wasn't because they would go to the Lake of Fire. NO! All these things are guaranteed by Christ's Work. But we are SAVED FOR SOMETHING - THE KINGDOM on earth! And this is subject to a COVENANT. Man's part of this agreement was first CIRCUMCISION, as long as Canaan was the object of possession, but later it is changed to BAPTISM for the EARTH. Colossians 2:10-12 says;

10 "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

• The context is the "principalities and powers".
• By being IN Christ you are equipped to rule
• But you need DEATH. Your present BODY is unfit to rule. Christ called His death - Baptism (Matt.20:22-23)
• But Death defeats the Church, so a "sign" of this death is given
• This "sign" is a "circumcision WITHOUT hands"
• This death sign without hands is BAPTISM

Directed to Israelites; water is not mentioned.

The Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus. Does ceremonial washing save a person?

They had received the Holy Spirit and then they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. John's ceremonial cleansing was a baptism of repentance. Repentance is only part of the equation leading to salvation. Do we really need another thread on water baptism, when Jesus makes a clear distinction between the living water He gives juxtaposed against earthly water?

Your claim is false, as the scripture below clearly states

(Believe On The Lord Jesus Christ, And Thou Shalt Be Saved)

Baptism is an outward confession to the world, and has absolutely nothing to do with salvation.

Example: The Thief On The Cross, Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise

You teaching in error is straight out of Oneness Pentecostalism, JW's, etc

You still haven't responded to my direct question, do you believe in the present literal place of torment for the wicked (Hell)?

P.S. There will be no Millennial Kingdom upon this earth as you claim.

Acts 16:27-31KJV
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

The sacrificial system told of in the Old Testament throws light on the system of Christ for the forgiveness of sin. Blood, the symbol of Christ's blood was required for the life of the soul, as Christ's blood is required for the life of our souls.

In the first chapter of Isaiah the Lord scolds the Hebrews for taking blood of animals without the symbol of Christ---without using it for the forgiveness of their souls. That is what Christ did for us those three days after He was crucified, he paid for our souls. We can know that and believe in that without giving our sins to Christ for forgiveness as sometimes the Hebrews did, taking blood without giving sins to be forgiven.

Knowing of the gospel is not enough, we must use it for the forgiveness of out sin.

How could knowing that the Lord Jesus saves be enough to save us if we don't give our sins to Him for forgiveness? We can know of this without taking advantage of it. As James pointed out, the Lord expects action to follow our thoughts. To be great in the kingdom of heaven, then it would follow that we take advantage of the wonderful baptism that is offered us.

Look at your response, you actually replace the word (Believe) with the word (Knowing), not good.

In my opinion taking away from Gods word, to suit your belief and teaching.

I presented you with Acts 16:27-31 below, look very closely at verse 31 and that word in Big bold red (BELIEVE)

Acts 16:27-31KJV
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Belief in your heart in the Lord Jesus Christ, His Work On Calvary, The Resurrection, And Confession With Your Mouth Of This, No Baptism Needed, Simple!

Roman's 10:9-10KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation

The gospel has five parts to it, and baptism is never connected with it. There is no baptism connected with the Gospel. The Gospel is this: “how that Christ died for our sins.” That’s one. “According to the scriptures;” That’s two. Verse 4, “And that he was buried.” That’s three. “And that he rose again the third day.” That’s four. “According to the scriptures.” That’s five. That’s the Gospel. The Gospel has five parts to it: Death, sins, burial, resurrection, and according to the Scriptures.

1¶Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3¶For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

This thread addresses the point that people mistakenly form an opinion of what is entailed in the gospel message by using verses 1 and 2 alone. In doing so they are taking verses out of context.

In your comments in referenced to the records provided you neglect to see that all groups of people; heard the message concerning Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, obeyed the command to repent, were water baptized in Jesus' name and received the indwelling of the Holy Ghost albeit in differing sequences.

I simply pointed out that one verse was directed to Israelites.

I acknowledged the different sequence of events in various passages.

Meanwhile, you fail to address Holy Spirit baptism, and the clear
distinction Jesus made between His living water, and earthly water.

Having no background in Christianity or any family members that I know of who are believer's. So I've had not Christian influence growing up ,and I recieved Jesus very late in life . I'm absolutely astounded still that non Catholics and non cult members believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. It still amazes me to this day that we have this confusion . I've read the bible over and over and never once ,been able to see or understand how anyone confuses the Baptism of the Holy spirit and H20 ?? I have this debate with Catholics , Mormons, Jehovah witnesses ect . I expect abhorrent views from outside of Christianity . But not from those who hold to the bible alone . Just genuinely saddens me everytime .

It appears that certain posters are trying to claim (Baptism) is necessary for salvation, a false teaching.

Considering your comment, I guess you didn't read the entire post. Sometimes it seems useless to expect people to at least consider the entire context of scripture. Pulling scripture out of the context skews the truth of what the author is presenting to the reader.

As I stated the same message was presented to Jews (Israelites), Gentiles, and Samaritans. This truth makes it clear that all of humanity is expected to obey the same message. That message included receiving the Holy Ghost as well; which I mentioned.

My main point was that Paul brought up a portion of, not the entire gospel message in the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 15 that were associated with resurrection. People grab a hold of that and run with it as evidence to support their position concerning what is required for a person to be reborn spiritually.

I provided context relevant to the 1 Corinthian scripture. Everyone has freewill and can choose to study it out or not. It was just recently that I saw the relevance of what Paul was actually addressing in that scripture. When people bring up scripture that I have not personally studied in detail I try to maintain a teachable spirit and examine it to see if it says what they are saying it says. That's the job of all whose sincere desire is to be accepting and sharing God's word and not echoing a man-made tradition.

2 Tim 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

So I could freely commit any sin, and aim to keep that sin for myself, because I know that Christ offers eternal life? Demons know that about God.

I don't see a post here saying that baptism is necessary for salvation. I posted that the Lord offers us baptism and it is wonderful. Could that be read as "baptism is necessary for salvation"?

the fact that there is more to the gospel than 'believe in Jesus Christ who came in the flesh, gave His life and rose again' doesn't mean that it takes more than faith in this to be saved.

what do you think we're supposed to do once we've become saved, stay ignorant and in the same sorry state of works of death that we were in when He finds us? duh: we grow in Him, becoming conformed to His image. He is infinite in measure; how long does conforming take? how long, growing in knowledge of Him? what will we do for eternity, get bored?
the fact that we become conformed to His image doesn't mean we're not saved until we completely do ((or some limiting percentwise do)) -- that very act of conforming is His own work, not ours.

what is water, part of the conforming to His image or the thing that makes us sheep which belong to Him? what does He say? 'not of works' lest any boast, and 'not by desire or effort of man' but by His mercy -- 'not the washing of filth from the body' and 'not which comes out of a man, but which goes in'

what do those things comment on the answer to 'what is the physical immersion' ?