"Why Are They Then Baptised for the Dead?" (1 Cor 15:29)

This question was raised by Paul as he preached the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to his brethren and sisters in Corinth. He preached the gospel, and the mystery of godliness: "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1Timothy 3:16).

As Paul preached to his brethren, he asked some who questioned whether the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead: "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up; if so be that the dead rise not, for if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable (pitiable)" (1Corinthians 15:12-19).

All men are sentenced to death because of Adam and Eve's disobedience in eating the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden. Jesus was born not only the son of God but also the son of man, hence was under the sentence of death as are all men. However, he is the only man who never sinned ­ yet being flesh, even he was sentenced to die. However, he conquered his fleshly nature and fulfilled all righteousness in being baptised by John the Baptist. He was then to begin his ministry and preach the gospel for 3½ years. As he died on the cross, he cried out: "'It is finished' and he bowed his head and gave up the spirit" (John 19:30). What was finished? He had spoken: "I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O father, glorify me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me and they have kept thy word" (John 17:4-6).

Jesus rose after three days and taught his disciples for forty days. He then ascended to heaven to the right hand of his Father, as a means of redemption for all those who have believed in Him, denied self, and taken up their cross and followed him. Such will be found faithful at Jesus' judgement, and will be established as kings and priests in God's kingdom. How can they be brought to such a position if they have died ­ or are subject to death? Jesus spoke to Nicodemus: "'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God'. Nicodemus saith unto him, `How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?' Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God'" (John 3:3-5).

How can one be born of water and of spirit? When one is baptised, as Jesus was by John the

Baptist, he is baptised into Jesus by immersion in water, and rises from the waters of death as a new man of spirit. Paul further helps us: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that as many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted (united) in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man (flesh) is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:1-6). By burial of baptism, the old man of sin is crucified, dead to sin, and rises from the water as the new man of the spirit.

Paul also wrote to his brethren in Colosse concerning those who are: "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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:12-14).

If Jesus had not risen from the dead, how could we be "born of water and of the spirit", or raised up a new man, a new spirit, with the hope of hearing the words of Jesus? How could "the son of man come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then reward every man according to his works?" (Matthew 16:27). Jesus could not be in his Father's presence if he had not been resurrected, with the man of flesh conquered, when he cried out: "It is finished!"

Bro Francis Kotei Odiko (Subri, Ghana)