Author Rob Bell’s words do not hold true when evaluated through the inerrant word of God. Jonathan Edwards, a colonial‐era pastor, had it right. The difference between the most carnal, sinful, wicked people in the world, compared with the most righteous, spiritual, saintly ones, is one of appearance rather than fallen nature. Those who are able to seemingly rise above common sin have done nothing of the kind; they just have the tools to hide it better from others.
When someone is lucky enough to be born in an environment that teaches these hiding skills, then he or she has the tools needed to look “good” and escape condemnation or restriction from society. Those born within a culture that neglects teaching the necessity for the outward appearance to hide sin receive blunt judgment and accusation from the perfumed pews of Christian pretenders.
Kathy L McFarland Peck, Idaho
USA TODAY Letter to the Editor by Fulton J Waterloo, “Theology and Nuance” (June 1, 2011)
USA TODAY reader Kathy McFarland made some valid points about the fallen nature of all people in the eyes of God and their continuance in sin in her Thursday letter “Salvation only through Jesus.” However, the possible implications of her theology are nothing short of mind‐boggling.
It is one thing to state correctly, that “Hitler and Mother Teresa were sinners.” It is another to deny the reality that many people cooperate with God’s grace rather than resist it. In the reader’s world, every man is a wife beater; every adult a child molester; every mechanic a cheat; and every lawyer an ambulance chaser, but we just aren’t aware of it.
If the only difference between Hitler and Mother Teresa was that she was “lucky enough to be born in an environment that teaches these hiding skills” then we need to begin a search for the millions of innocent people that she murdered.
Even more dangerous, if there is no difference in the “lived faith” of individual people, does sin even matter? To McFarland’s credit, she has taken the doctrine of “salvation by faith alone” to its obvious conclusion.
This evening, God willing, I will obey the speed limits on my drive home. Inevitably, a motorist will blast by me, only to be pulled over several miles down the road by a state trooper. In McFarland’s reality, the speeding motorist and I were driving the same speed; I just had better “hiding skills.”
Perhaps her letter demonstrates the danger of theology without nuance, and interpretation without guidance.
Fulton J. Waterloo Aston, Pa. Rebuttal to Fulton J. Waterloo, “Theology and Nuance” (June 1, 2011)
USA TODAY Rebuttal to Fulton J Waterloo’s Letter to Editor dtd June 1, 2011 by Kathy L McFarland
Clearly, Fulton Waterloo has learned the hiding skills of traveling the speed limit, whereas the speeder that passes him is sinfully negligent (if speed could be defined as sin in Waterloo’s world). And Mother Teresa, bless her works in His name, learned from a young age that walking the way of her beloved Christ was preferable to submitting to her fallen nature and allowing it to guide her along a life path. Hitler was evil, through and through; his fallen nature overtaken by the worst of darkness, a glaring example of what happens when fallen nature walks so far away from God.
Beware! It is easy for “good” sinners to compare themselves to “bad” sinners, and convince themselves that the salvation of Jesus Christ is not needed. Sadly, that trick of the mind convinces many to trust in their own perceived righteousness, rather than relying upon the saving grace of Christ, and that error will one day doom them.
Baptism: Bringing Death to a Christian through Christ’s Baptism of Redemption
Lecture 111-2 By Kathy L. McFarland
Introduction
To help you understand this lesson, we are going to give you big clues of how the lesson will progress. That piece of knowledge should then begin your journey to understanding God’s Truth about the Doctrine of Baptism that the Lord has revealed to us through His Word.
There are exactly three places that are the starting point for eternal life that a saved Christian can leave from:
1. The Physical Grave – Faithful Christians in the salvation of Jesus Christ, but that die without the Baptism of Christ, lie in their physical graves for awhile until Christ raises them up from their sleep in those graves at the beginning of End Times, and given eternal bodies as they are received in Heaven.
2. The Baptismal Grave – Christians that have repented of their sin, accepted Christ as their Savior, and have faith in His Resurrection can have the opportunity to release the hold of original sin in the Baptismal Grave and Resurrect into eternal life as they arise from the Baptismal Waters. Christians that have received the Baptism of Christ will not lie in their physical graves; upon their physical death, their unneeded bodies will decay in the grave, while their soul will be released and guided to Heaven and clothed with a new eternal body.
3. The Rapture – Alive Christians, at the time of Christ’s return, will rise up and meet him with their physical bodies. They will be given eternal bodies sometime after that inside the Heavenly Gates.
Romans 6:1–11 (KJV 1900) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:1-11)
Romans 6:1–2 (KJV 1900) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
1. The Grace of the LORD God forgives sin for followers of Jesus Christ. However, Baptized Believers become DEAD to sin. Original sin can no longer dwell within the Baptized.
2. The Baptism of Jesus Christ causes death to come to a Believer, thereby releasing the hold of original sin upon the body.
Romans 6:3 (KJV 1900) 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (KJV 1900) 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. 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.
3. Original sin corrupts every human being born
4. Only death, through grave or Baptism, can release original sin’s hold upon a body
Romans 6:3–5 (KJV 1900) 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
5. When a person has been called forward to the LORD God, his ears are opened. Those that can hear must be told the things of Christ before Baptism can happen.
6. It is important that the Pastor ensure the new Christian has full understanding of Christ and what it means to be a Christian and the realities of Baptism.
7. The Pastor prepares the Baptismal pool by ensuring a prayerful, sacred place and a blessed, running-water-filled container. It is best that the pool be deep enough for dunking the full body.
8. The repentant sinner is called to the Baptismal Pool. The Pastor instructs the sinner to kneel in the pool, as the nose and mouth are covered to prevent choking.
9. The Pastor stands and supports sinner’s shoulders. The sinner is laid in the Baptismal water, and words explaining the actual death to the sinner as the baptismal grave envelops.
10. The Pastor then raises the redeemed Baptized from the waters in the memory of Christ’s Resurrection “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”
11. When the Baptized go under the Baptismal waters, their death is brought upon the body. Original sin releases. When they rise up from the Baptismal Grave, they are brand-new people that will never have original sin attached to them again unawares. When they physically die, they will NOT ever have to be in the grave; their souls will go immediately to Heaven.
Romans 6:6–9 (KJV 1900) 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
12. When the resurrected Baptized rise from the Baptismal Grave SIN HAS NO MORE DOMINION!
13. The powerful, sacred spiritual rite of Baptism is also effective in establishing a deep spiritual connection to the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as preparing for Holy Spirit Baptism.
14. Sometimes, Believers are not certain they received an effective and correct Baptism in Christ. This confusion often comes from past doctrinal practices of different churches.
15. The Pastor of the Baptism can know with surety if the Baptism of Redemption through Christ has taken place by witnessing the Holy Spirit’s presence within the Christian.
16. There is NO Holy Spirit Baptism that inserts God into a Believer, unless the Baptism of Christ has been fully accomplished in the manner prescribed by Holy Scripture.
17. Pastors should never baptize an already Baptized Christian. However, if the Believer has not received the Holy Spirit, it is acceptable to rebaptize to ensure the assumption of the grave.
18. There is also confusion about Baptisms because some Church doctrines allow for childhood baptism. Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. support the doctrinal position of NO Baptism of Redemption until the child has reached the age of accountability (Twelve-years-old or with special exceptions), based upon the Scripture account of Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter (Mark 5:21-43). (A special study of Mark 5:21- 43 will follow your study of Baptism).
Romans 6:10–14 (KJV 1900) 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
19. It is critically important that Pastors of Baptism ensure the Baptism of seekers understand the principles associated with the Baptism of Redemption.
20. All saved Christians are promised eternal life through the acceptance of Christ as Savior and confidence in His Resurrection.
21. Death comes to all people because of original sin. But the LORD God’s provision is that those that live to Him will only experience one death.
22. Baptized Christians one death takes place in the Baptismal Grave. Unbaptized Christians must sleep in their graves for awhile until Christ comes and raises them up to join Him in Heaven.
23. ONE DEATH ONLY! Eternal life always for those that are saved through their faith in Jesus Christ.
24. Original sins are cast off with death. But BEWARE! Worldly ways will have ample opportunity to cause you to sin in your lifetime. You must NOT let further sin to have dominion over you.
25. The Baptism of Redemption through Christ is one of the most amazing graces promised by the LORD God to the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The institution of this most Holy Baptismal rite equips faithful Christians to receive the Holy Ghost Baptism and to remove and prevent further sins from having control over their lives.
Romans 6:15–20 (KJV 1900) 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
26. Servants of sin keep sinning. The Baptized followers of Christ are freed from sin and can become righteous. But righteous can become servants to sin by yielding to uncleanness and iniquity.
27. When the Believer declares faith in Christ the hope is for salvation.
Faith = Salvation and eternal life.
28. When the Believer is saved the hope is in Baptism for the release of original sin.
Baptism = Release from original sin
29. When the Believer goes under the Baptismal waters, the hope is for Resurrection into eternal life from that point on, without the need for the grave.
Baptismal waters= death
Rising out of Baptismal waters = Resurrection and entrance into eternal life without further need of the grave.
30. When the Believer resurrects out of the Baptismal waters, the hope is for the Holy Spirit.
Resurrection out of Baptismal waters = Eligibility to receive Baptism of Holy Spirit.
31. When the Believer receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the hope is to remain sin free and accomplish enduring works of God.
Holy Spirit = Sin free and enduring works of the LORD God that will bring glory to Him.
32. Believers Resurrected in the Baptism of Christ can walk with Him in the newness of life, sin free. They will have eternal life. They become eligible to receive the Holy Spirit and once that Spirit is within the Believer, great works of God will become manifest.
33. But first, the Christian journey begins with faith in Christ, the most important grace of the LORD God given and the only one needed for salvation and eternal life.
John 3:1–8 (KJV 1900) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 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? 5 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
34. “Born Again” is the condition when a believer dies in the Baptism of Christ then is Resurrected into the new life in Christ. Believers must be born of water and the Holy Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God.
35. The Baptism of Christ makes Believers flesh clean. The Holy Spirit Baptism makes the soul clean.
36. The LORD God gives the gift of the Holy Spirit Baptism as reward to those that follow Christ through His Baptism with Him.
Eight Requirements for the Baptism of Christ (John 3:1-8)
1. Be called forward to Christ by the LORD God and receive a desire to know Him 2. Hear the Word of God 3. Be repentant of sin 4. Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for your sins and was Resurrected, with all your heart 5. Confess outwardly that you know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 6. Be baptized by water (signifying your death) in the name of Jesus Christ 7. Come out of the water (signifying your resurrection) in the name of the LORD God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. 8. Receive the gift of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
Conclusion The Baptism of Christ causes death to come one time to a Believer, and Resurrect in Christ’s example, granting eternal life from that point on when rising out of the baptismal waters.
Baptized Christians do not sleep in their graves!
Unbaptized Christians sleep in their graves until they are Resurrected by the Lord Jesus Christ; they then assume their eternal lives.
The grace the LORD God gives followers of Christ MUST come through faith, and faith can only come through a personal response of a living person. Faith cannot be assumed by another in proxy.
Simply stated, the connection between Christ and Believers is completed through Baptism and allows the relationship between the Lord and His Followers to be steady and sure. It only takes faith in the Lord to receive salvation; but once faith is realized and repentance is at hand, Believers are eligible to receive the Baptism of Redemption through Christ, to establish that intimate relationship between them as original sin’s grasp upon Believer’s is extinguished.
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 is Christ 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 have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 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. 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. 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? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:12‐34, KJV)
Introduction
There is only one mention of “baptism for the dead,” written in a letter by Paul to the Corinthians as an elucidation of his point concerning resurrection of believers (1 Corinthians 15:12‐34). Though every word in Scripture is intentional to express God’s Truth, with a singular use no less valuable than all other words, interpretation of its exact meaning is difficult when comparative uses are not available. This singular idea has been used throughout the history of Christianity by creating debates and establishing odd doctrines that operate outside the salvation of Jesus Christ as revealed through His Gospel.
Vicarious baptism was a practice by the Marcionites. The followers of Cerinthus also participated in the baptism of the dead. However, it is the Latter‐Day Saints (LDS) (Mormon) implementation and declaration of one part of their tripartite mission statement to “proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints, and redeem the dead,”1 that continues to be newsworthy in these modern times. Their belief that no one can enter the “celestial” heaven without baptism motivates their representational baptismal dunking as one of the most important temple works that can be accomplished by Mormon adherents.2 Religious autonomy seems radically challenged in these unauthorized procurator baptisms that lead to other faiths embraced in life by devout believers being removed posthumously by heavy‐handed substitution with this practice. These actions have led to the Mormon/Jewish controversy that is focused upon “the wrongful posthumous baptism of Jewish dead continues, despite repeated denials by the disingenuous Mormon leadership.”3
Jewish leaders call the zealous baptism of unrelated Jews “arrogant and disrespectful to the dead, especially the Holocaust victims”4 as Mormon believers practice proxy baptism in their temple work so the non‐Mormon dead can be granted entrance into the celestial heaven according to their doctrine.
A deep biblical study of baptism application with regards to the dead can only go so far to reveal God’s Truth since there is only one direct reference in Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:29). However, when the sacrament of Baptism and Salvation through Christ is applied with strict adherence to biblical development, then the idea of baptism for the dead can be illuminated and understood theologically and ultimately prevent odd, zealous applications of misguided activity that refutes the Gospel of Christ.
Jewish and Early Christianity Baptismal Practices and Beliefs The attention‐seeking, first century Jewish philosophical sect of Pharisees placed great emphasis on public showing of their faith and accentuated the ceremonial rites which included baptism.5 This emphasis upon public‐viewed baptisms was not shared by early Christians at first; but by the second century some Christian leaders wrongly declared baptism necessary for salvation.6
The Essenes were an austere Jewish philosophical sect with adherence to strong discipline that allowed them to exceed the virtues of the Sadducee and Pharisee sects by “cultivating a peculiar sanctity” according to Josephus.7 Though they did not practice rituals or ceremonies, and considered “external rites to be without value in spiritual development,”8 the entry into the sect required an observation period and probation to confirm temperance for one year before the use of the “purer kind of holy water.”9
One of the sectarian manuscripts written for the Qumranian Essene sect was found with the Dead Sea Scrolls discoveries, The Sectarian Manual of Discipline (DSD), which revealed the Essenes custom of holy living that required a repentance of sin, rejection of evil, confession of faith and works of righteousness in step with the works of God always.10 But, there was no indication of actual baptism or a rite of purification following the year of probation.11
While a causal inference link with the New Testament idea of “baptism” and the Essene use of “holy water” is sometimes connected as proof of transitioning Jewish belief with Christian practice, there is absolutely no evidence to support this supposition.
It was John the Baptist’s works recorded in the New Testament that began a transitioning of “baptism with water” with the promise of the baptism of “Holy Ghost and fire” to come (Luke 3:16). Some scholars suggest that John’s baptism was derived from the baptism of proselytes among the Jews, while others claim the development of baptism to have first originated with the Essenes and brought forward by John from a shared experience with the sect as a child.12 There is no proof for this idea, though, many Christian scholars explore the concept of the Qumran prototype of John’s baptism often.13 14 John the Baptist is not mentioned in any of the “820 fragmentary or complete manuscripts found in the eleven Qumran caves” according to author Joseph A. Fitzmyer.15
Since there is no perfect evidence for or against John the Baptist’s involvement with the Qumranian Essenes, the circumstantial likeness should probably be ignored. One thing is certain, however; in both the sect of Essenes and John the Baptist’s teachings, partaking of the most holy water or water baptism required a repentance of sin and a rejection of evil to purify themselves to one day meet the LORD God. While the Jewish Essenes prepared for the coming of the LORD God in the future, John the Baptist understood that his cousin as God’s only begotten Son, the Messiah Jesus Christ, would soon lead believers toward faith in the LORD God and righteousness to complete His works. Whether the Essenes actually did baptism with their Holy Water to initiate recruits into their community, or John the Baptist’s water baptism originated solely from the will of the LORD God to prepare the path of the coming Lord Jesus Christ, it is most certain that the dedicated believers were NOT baptized WITHOUT regard of their repentance and rejection of evil. Thus, it is highly unlikely that the baptism of actual dead people would be accepted by the Essenes or John the Baptist as a valid salvation tool, since the dead are unable to actively repent when life has ended.
Baptism of Water for Repentance
John baptized his followers in the wilderness with water. He was he first to do this sort of baptism based upon its form of full immersion in water and significance declaring the cleansing of a repentant sinner through the forgiveness of God.16 It was the “baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). This water baptism did NOT give forever forgiveness or assistance by God for the penitent’s future sins; once baptized the repenting sinners were required to seek to live a holy life. John’s water baptism DID require a confession of sins (Mark 1:5) because without an acknowledgement of sin, there was no proof for repentance. If the penitent failed to experience the true repentance of a regretful sinner, then the water baptism would have no purpose or effect as did the earlier cases of the flawed sacrifices rejected by God in His Tabernacle. It is important to note that it is God’s Grace that forgives; it is not the baptismal waters that offers salvation. John’s repentance baptism with the full immersion in water symbolizes a death and renewal aspect that will develop foundationally when Christ dies and is Resurrected and the Holy Spirit Baptism is made known to Christ’s followers. The Baptism of John before the Apostolic era required the ceremony to be preceded by complete repentance (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 13:24; Acts 19:4).
The Practice of the Unknown Rite of Baptism for the Dead in Early Christianity
The exact meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:29 has always been elusive to many early and modern‐day Christian scholars confusing modern‐day Catholic traditions and Protestant anti‐sacramentalists, and forcing them to avoid analyzing the obscure ritual ompletely.17 Those modern‐day scholars that bravely jump into the confusing midst of specific interpretation have concluded that either they are deceased Christians, those connected with the Corinthian Christians, or the living Corinthian Christians themselves.18 Regardless, the dead baptized in attention to Paul’s obscure teaching becomes applicable to some beings; correct interpretative analysis requires a critical scholarly look at the possible meaning based upon the known factors of this unattested ritual.
The problems with interpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:29 with confidence of capturing original writer’s meaning are numerous; some problematic areas include:
1. Unique Reference
One of the common interpretations of 1 Corinthians 15:29 is the act of vicarious Baptism that was first proposed by Ambrosiaster as a valid exegesis for this specific reference. He explains that Paul had convinced the Corinthians of the coming resurrection, and they thought those that had died before baptism would be destined to miss the rising of the dead or be condemned.
German Benedictine monk Bishop Haymo of Halberstadt, concurred with Ambrosiaster in restating “There were some Corinthians who did not believe in the Resurrection; others believed that those who died after being baptized would rise again, but that those who died without Baptism would either not rise at all or rise only to be damned.”19
Accordingly, Ambrosiaster comments that Paul’s question concerning people baptized in death illustrates to the listeners the witness of their perseverance in faith. Ambrosiaster clarifies that it was not the action of non‐orthodox vicarious baptism that Paul approves, but rather, the acts that declare faith in the future resurrection that bears witness to the LORD God’s Truth. 20 Some modern‐day interpreters continue to represent Ambrosiaster’s belief concerning the representation of vicarious Baptism in 1 Corinthians 15:29.
Some modern‐day theologians, such as Dr. D. A. Carson, point out that “there is no good evidence for vicarious baptism anywhere in the New Testament or among the earliest apostolic fathers.”21 The unique reference does not link to any confirming Scripture. If God was implementing such an extreme practice that went against the salvation through Jesus Christ while a person was alive and could make that acceptance as Savior after death, then He would certainly have included many different references to help His people navigate that odd doctrine.
The one‐reference alone gives evidence that it is not doctrine‐changing, but rather, some other type of declaration by Paul that is offered for consideration by the reader.
2. Original Greek and how it has been defined
Theologians also debate the interpretation of the original Greek word tous baptizomenous22 with some claiming that the vicarious baptizers at Corinth were the “very ones denying the doctrine of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12).”23 They then extend this argument by pointing out that the Apostle Paul brings attention to those that both denied the Resurrection yet vicariously baptized for the dead to be resurrected as a contradiction of nonsensical belief. Accordingly, Bishop Haymo of Halberstadt. concludes that “there were some Corinthians who did not believe in the Resurrection; others believed that those who died after being baptized would rise again, but that those who died without Baptism would either not rise at all or rise only to be damned.”24
3. Catechumens baptized on the graves of the dead 25
It just might be that the vicariously baptized tradition was began for dear children that had died in infancy before they could be officially baptized. The sorrow of the parents, with the possibilities of never seeing their offspring again, certainly could have been a motivating factor in baptizing their dead bodies through another living.
4. Baptized on behalf of the dead
The festival held amongst Romans for the celebration of “the great expiation” or “lustration” was an early heretical practice to give happiness and good welfare to the dead.26 However, Tertullian stresses in his footnotes that it did not include any notions of “indefinite immortality” or the “recovery of the body.”27
5. Sought baptism only when death was imminent
A folk custom growing from the early days of Christianity to present‐day, involves believers in Christ who plan to accept Him and His Eternal Salvation only close to death before receiving the Baptism of Christ, allowing them to live their lives free of guilt from their sinful natures. Traditionally, death‐bed confessions of faith have frequently been heard; so much so that legal surety of confessions on the deathbed are counted as strong evidence of truth and guilt by most universal court systems. Sometimes the procrastinating confessors will time it just right, and confess Christ before death and receive His Baptism. Often, it doesn’t work out. The procrastinators die, or are mentally inhibited in such a way that baptism right before death never happens.
Early Heretical Greek Practices of Lustration
The Greek practice of baptizing the dead with living people confirmed their confidence that the guilty could separate themselves from the guilt of their crimes through the purification
process.28 Tertullian’s comments compare the Greek practices to those that developed in Rome as similar in nature. “The newly dead would be asked whether he would receive baptism, and he making no answer, the other replied in his stead, and so they baptized the living for the dead” according to Exell.29
Early Heretical Roman Practices of Lustration
The Great Lustration took place during the month of February in Rome. This month was chosen for the cleansing of the dead by heretics paying heed to the name of the month februa. Ovid described the meaning of februa as displaying significant typological meaning for purification as he lists several different proofs of common usage for that specific word. Februa was the name used for instruments of purification, woolen cloths, and swept‐out houses. Toasted spelt and slat was given to officer to cleanse, and boughs, pure trees, wreathes given to priests for the same reason, both called by the name februa. Anything used to cleanse bodies went by the name of Februa in the early times. According to Ovid, “The month is called (February) after these things, because the Luperci purify the whole ground with strips of hide which are their instruments of cleansing, or because the season is pure when once peace‐offerings have been made at the graves and the days devoted to the dead are past. It was believed that every sin and every cause of ill could be wiped out by lustration rites and purgation.”30
It can be surmised that the heretical Roman practices of lustration, where a live person is washed for an unclean dead person upon the false god altar, was accomplished when both were naked. This is based upon the summation of the preference of the gods for the heretics to be without clothing during ceremonies toward their worship.31
Lustratio was first defined as a “purification by ablution in water.”32 Rome did not just conduct lustrations for the atonement for sins; the rites also bestowed blessings by the false gods upon the hopeful participants. It was this type of washing most sought amongst Romans.33 The purification of worshippers by the Roman Catholic Church, through the sprinkling of water or smoke through an instrument of februa, has been traditionally developed within the holy rites of the church partially copying this earlier lustratio practice of cleansing.34
It was not just the Greeks and Romans; when Jews died in the state of ceremonial uncleanness that required purification, one of the friends of the dead would be washed and perform ablution on his behalf, with the deceased being declared clean posthumously. Even the Patristic Church tried to partially copy this odd theological performance by “placing Eucharistic elements in the mouths or hands of the dead.”35
Latter‐Day Saints Redemption of the Dead 36
Surprisingly, proxy baptism is not mentioned in the Book of Mormon.37 Latter Day Saints Prophet Joseph Smith created the ordinances of baptism for the dead (1840), eternal marriage (1841) and eternal proxy marriage (1842) to realize his promise to believers for the establishment of a celestial “kinship‐based covenant system.”38 After Smith’s death, the LDS doctrines encouraged men to choose an apostle as a substitute parent and establish a worthy lineage for him and his family.39 The exact purpose for Smith’s ordinance of “adoption sealings”, is that it would “join entire sealed families in an expanding web of eternally procreative relationships in heaven and eternal glory”40 and thus metaphorically become the “family of God.”41 Smith “implied that the dead are under the same requirements as the living regarding the ordinances of salvation, including baptism and even marriage.”42 After the church relocated to Nauvoo, Illinois, Smith declared that followers “could now act for their friends who had departed this life, and that the plan of salvation was calculated to save all who were willing to obey the requirements of God.”43 Between 1840‐1844, 11,506 dead were baptized by proxy through Smith’s followers in the Mississippi river and later in the new temple. 44
Posthumous baptisms are now performed in over 150 LDS temples throughout the world. Members, usually the young believers, are escorted to a “decorative baptismal font resting on statutes of 12 oxen” where the member, representing a deceased relative, receives baptism through full‐immersion in water.45 The specific dead, that are confined to “spirit prison,” are informed of the proxy baptism and given the choice to accept the salvation graciously performed through baptism by their relatives46. Upon acceptance of proxy baptism, the lost are saved, and go immediately to heaven and receive exaltation according to the flawed doctrine of the LDS church followers.47
The LDS church committed to the removal of the names of Holocaust victims and Jews from the list of those to be posthumously baptized, unless they were direct ancestors of current church members or written permission was obtained from living members of deceased’s family.48 Yet, in 2007, Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal was included on the
International Genealogical Index and scheduled to be posthumously baptized until the Simon Wiesenthal Center intervened and requested the removal of the name.49 The LDS church removed his name from their list and implemented checks and balances that to assure that only Mormon relatives for the proxy baptisms be included in their database. They appeared to regret the inclusion of Wiesenthal’s name, but stressed that proxy baptisms were important because “God wants all his children home again, in families and in glory.”50
It is important to note that the LDS Mormon belief in the baptism for the dead is challenged by the Reorganized Church (RLDS). They argue that baptism for the dead policy of the LDS Church is honoring a practice of paganism recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:29, rather than a misinterpreted Christian behavior. Further, RLDS apostle Russell F. Ralston debates the need for baptism at all, referencing the unbaptized thief on the cross assured of a Heavenly home as Christ promised. Ralston points out that the misinterpretation of the baptism for the dead by the LDS Church places more focus on human saviors than it does in the Divine Savior. The 1970 RLDS World Conference declared the ecumenical Christianity position a “historical” noteworthy to be considered only as an appendix. The RLDS temple in Independence has no plans to construct a baptismal font in the temple basement, and the flawed idea of baptism of the dead is thought only important for church historical theological consideration.
Scriptural Teachings about the Different Things of Salvation and Baptism
There is a great deal of confusion concerning Salvation and Baptism in Christian beliefs. It is imperative Christians have a solid understanding that faith brings salvation with eternal life and baptism brings eternal life quicker. The doctrinal teachings of Jesus Christ must be known before a full understanding of how fundamentally the practice of vicarious baptism of the dead goes against the Gospel of Christ delivered to us in Scripture.
Salvation brings Deliverance (Romans 3:23)
Human souls are not condemned because they do greater sin than others. They are not judged eternally damned for failure to receive the Baptism of Jesus Christ. They are condemned because of their sinful states. All unsaved do bad actions because their hearts, their cores, their complete beings have sin that originated from Adam’s transgression against the Will of God. Some unsaved do really terrible sins, and some unsaved have no outward sign of the terrible condition of sin. Some have good upbringings with diligent, moral guardians that train their children to subdue their sinful natures, and some do not. That does not mean that some are greater sinners than others. All living human beings have the sinful nature inside them (Romans 3:23).
Some may well be able to subdue those basic instincts, while others are controlled by the same sinful natures to do grievous harm to others. Both the noble and the derelict have the same natures inside them. If an unsaved person does not sin, self‐control may be present, but the sinful nature still exists. The actions of the unsaved may well differ in degree, but not in guilt or cause.
Unsaved sinners must understand that they have sinful natures, and are unable to save themselves if they are to receive the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. All human beings begin life with the sinful nature, and fall short of the glory of God. The LORD God is not present in the sinful realm. Sin is offensive to God. It doesn’t matter how much good people do in the world, if their works are done while they harbor their sinful natures, the greatest of works in humanity, religion, science, art, medicine, education and government are made null by the presence of sin (James 2:26). Those who come from families of “good stock,” those who are well educated and able to advance the human condition to rightful laces, those who do good daily and give all they have to others, and those who struggle daily to live an honest life, are all short of the glory of God, when they still have the original nature of sin.
Salvation brings Deliverance from Sinful Nature (Romans 6:23)
Sinners must die, no matter what they do in this lifetime. The wages that come to the guilty is death. Until death is brought to sinful natures, they remain inside the unsaved, leading them toward their promised destiny of separation from God.
It takes more than the death of the sinful natures to give the unsaved hope, however.
Unsaved people that die and are placed in their graves, are dead unsaved people with no chance for salvation through Christ’s sacrifice. Eventually, the unsaved people will be resurrected to face
the Judgment of Jesus Christ to answer for the things they did with their sinful natures, but until then, the unsaved lay dead in their graves.
Salvation brings Deliverance from Eternal Death (Ephesians 2:1‐3)
The LORD God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to ONLY those who seek deliverance from their sinful natures while they are yet alive. The unsaved people with their sinful natures walk according to the course of the world. The “course of the world” encapsulates all of the degrading, grotesque, ugly things that have developed and become perilously established within our world today. They include, but are not limited to, those very things spoken of in 2 Timothy 3:1‐7…
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Salvation brings Deliverance from the Ways of the World
Sexual perversion, the sacrifice of our children, the dirty habits of obscene self‐love and self‐focus are the ways of the world; these are just of a few of the carnal things of sinful nature that entrap the unsaved in these times. The unsaved who are entrapped by their sinful natures, are led by the prince of the power of air who is known by the names Lucifer, Satan, and the Devil. Human beings can be saved from the ways of the world and the sins it nourishes through salvation given by Christ. Unless sinners receive release from original sin, they are destined to enjoy the ungodly things of the world without guilt while removing themselves farther away from God’s presence.
Salvation brings Deliverance from the Wrath of the LORD God
People holding onto their unsaved and sinful natures are children of LORD God’s wrath. In the Last Days, the wrath of God will come upon the earth to judge and punish the unsaved that have taken the mark of the beast (Revelation 16:1, 2).
Salvation brings Deliverance from Lack of Faith and Belief
Salvation can only be received through faith. Faith is the gift of God, through his wonderful and undeserved Grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9). The Unsaved cannot give faith to themselves. If they could, they would boast of their godly ability. Only the LORD God gives those
He Wills the faith to turn toward Him, reject their own sinful natures, and reach toward the righteous and holy nature of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Salvation brings favorable Judgment for Living Works of the LORD God
The unsaved dead will one day stand before the Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus Christ and be judged according to their works (Revelation 20:11‐15). Those works done by the unsaved are nullified and void. They are vanity. Works are not measured living and righteous when done while the workers had the natures of sin.
If the Unsaved maintained their status in their lifetime to their death, then they have no living works that can be measured. (Revelation 14:13) Those with dead works, those who chose to go to their grave with their sinful nature and reject the Grace of the Lord God and the salvation through Jesus Christ, will be judged guilty and sentenced to eternal damnation and be cast into the lake of fire.
Through the belief and acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and His Resurrection from the dead, the unsaved can receive salvation and become “saved”. Acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way salvation can come to anyone, free them from their sinful nature, and make them whole (Acts 4:10‐12).
Salvation comes to Believers through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Salvation is a two‐step process. The first step is one of belief, and the second step is one of action. If the Unsaved believe, but do nothing, they remain unsaved. If the Unsaved do not believe, but go through the action of a repentant sinner, they too remain unsaved.
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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9‐10 KJV)
PERSONAL STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Know that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself.
2. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior
3. Believe that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to atone for your sins.
4. Be confident that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead.
Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ
Galatians 2:20 KJV
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV)
The confessor of Jesus Christ as Savior is crucified with him. A Believer is joined to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through faith. When Christ is confessed and accepted as a Believer’s Savior, Christ
shares both His crucifixion and Resurrection. This makes the Believer eligible to receive the Baptism of Jesus Christ. However, it is vitally important to note that this Baptism does NOT bring
salvation to the soul; it is only faith in Christ as Savior, developed during a physical lifetime, that offers eternal salvation.
The dead are not given an opportunity to develop faith in Christ after their demise.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST
Romans 6:1‐18 KJV
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 so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up 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 together in the
likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the
servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:1‐18 KJV)
Followers of Christ are crucified with his Crucifixion by their faith, and that faith alone, gives promised salvation. (Galatians 2:20)
The Baptism of Jesus Christ allows them to immediately ascend to Heaven upon their physical death. This is called the “First Resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4–5)
If people die without the Baptism of Jesus Christ, but were believers in faith that Christ is their Savior, then they will be resurrected on the great Judgment Day into the Resurrection of Life. (John 5:28–29) Even they only experience one death. Sadly, they cannot go to Heaven immediately because they did not experience death through baptism. They must sleep in their graves in their first death. However, when Christ resurrects them from the grave, faithful believers will ascend to Heaven and join those faithful Baptized Christian that have gathered around His throne.
If people die without the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and did NOT believe in Christ’s salvation, they are resurrected from their grave on the great Judgment Day into the Resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28–29) They, as well as death and Hell, will be cast into the lake of fire. This is called the “second death.” (Revelation 20:11–15)
Those Unbelievers who reject Christ’s salvation in their lifetime, sleep in their graves until Christ raises them to His Judgment Seat to finalize His verdict. (Revelation 20:11–15)
All of the benefits of Salvation are given to a Faithful Believer the moment he accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:9‐10)
But there is one more step a believer must fulfill to see Heaven immediately upon physical death.
A faithful Christian must also be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, and be buried with Him also. Faith allows Believers to share His Crucifixion, and their Baptism allows them to experience His Burial and His Resurrection. This death releases the hold of original sin and the devil.
Those experiencing the death of Jesus Christ and His burial through the experience of Baptism, will not die a second death. When Baptized Christians experience physical death, they immediately ascend to Heaven. Those baptized with the Baptism of Jesus Christ go to their ONLY grave within the baptismal waters. When they rise up from their baptismal water graves, they resurrect into the NEW LIFE, with a NEW BIRTH. Baptized Believer’s souls will never go to the grave again! (1 Corinthians 15:54‐57)
CRUCIFIED ONCE, BURIED ONCE AND RESURRECTED ONCE!
Revelation 20:13
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1‐7 av)
Heaven is a temporary dwelling place, until His chosen Time, when a new Heaven and a New Earth will be established according to His Will.
The unbaptized Believers, who were faithful in the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, but failed to complete the process of going to the grave in Baptism, will go to an earthly grave to sleep for a period (Daniel 12:1‐4).
The Unbaptized but Saved Believers will be resurrected from their graves, in His time, and given Eternal Life through His Grace of Salvation (Revelation 20:13).
Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the UNBAPTIZED, BUT SAVED BELIEVERS will go on to Eternal Life after their resurrection from their graves and their soul journey to Heaven.
Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the BAPTIZED, SAVED BELIEVERS will go to Heaven for a while, and then on to Eternal Life on the New Earth, where all Believers will begin a
new and blessed life under the rule of their King Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
The Baptism of Christ causes death to come one time to a Believer, and Resurrect in Christ’s example, granting eternal life when rising out of the baptismal waters. Those that are already dead are NOT going to be made alive again through the rising out of the Baptismal waters in the likeness of the Resurrection of Christ. They will merely be WET DEAD people, asleep in death until resurrected by Christ on Judgment Day.
The most valid interpretation to Paul’s reference in 1 Corinthians is the understanding that the grace the LORD God gives followers of Christ must come through faith, and faith can only come through a personal response of a living person. Faith cannot be assumed by another in proxy. Baptism of the dead is spoken about by Paul as a persuasive logical argument against the vicarious event conducted by a people who were not upholding the true teachings of Christ. The perspective of Paul attacks and counterattacks this odd belief that subverts the LORD God’s promise of grace, and the Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection from the dead.
Footnotes
1 Grant Underwood, “Baptism for the Dead: Comparing Rlds and Lds Perspectives,” Dialogue 23, no. 2 (1990): 99.
2 Donald A. Carson, “Did Paul Baptize for the Dead,” Christianity Today 42, no. 9 (1998): 63.
5 Julius R. Mantey, “Baptism in the Dead Sea Manual of Discipline,” Review & Expositor 51, no. 4 (1954): 526.
6 Ibid.
7 Josephus, The Jewish War: Books 1‐7, ed. Jeffrey Henderson et al., trans. H. St. J. Thackeray, vol. 1, Loeb Classical Library (Cambridge, MA; London; New York: Harvard University Press; William
Heinemann Ltd; G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1927‐1928 ), 369.
8 Mantey, 522.
9 Josephus, 1, 375‐77. Entry into their meetings of community was not granted even after the partaking of the holy water, with candidates requiring a further examination of their temperance. This restriction does not verify it as a baptism for purification and is too scant in its description by Josephus to grasp the meaning of the use of holy waters with its different degrees of sufficiency.
10 Mantey, 523.
11 Ibid.
12 Joseph A. Fitzmyer, The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Origins, Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge U.K.: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000), 13‐21.
13 John C. Hutchison, “Was John the Baptist an Essene from Qumran?,” Bibliotheca sacra 159, no. 634 (2002): 191.
14 Donald A. Hagner, Word Biblical Commentary: Matthew 1‐13, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002), 46.
15 Fitzmyer, 18.
16 Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1‐8:26, vol. 34A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 17‐18.
17 Nicholas Taylor, “Baptism for the Dead (1 Cor 15:29)?,” Neotestamentica 36, no. 1‐2 (2002): 111.
18 Ibid., 112.
19 Bernard M. Foschini, “‘Those Who Are Baptized for the Dead’: 1 Cor 15:29,” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 13, no. 3 (1951): 46.
20 Ambrosiaster, Commentaries on Romans and 1‐2 Corinthians, trans. Ancient Christian Texts Gerald L. Bray (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2009), 196.
23 Foschini, 47 footnotes: Baronius, Annales Eccl. Ad annum 75 (Romae, 1588), Vol. 1, p. 478. Weiss, O.c., p. 363. Reuss, Les Epitres Pauliniennes, (Paris 1878), p. 263.
24 Bishop Haymo of Halberstadt, “Patrologia Latina (the Latin Patrology),” ed. Migne (1841‐1845), 117598.
25 1 Corinthians: New Testament, vol. IXa, Reformation Commentary on Scripture (IVP Academic, 2017), 377‐79.
26 Tertullian, “Against Marcion,” in The Writings of the Fathers Down to A. D. 325: Ante‐Nicene Fathers, ed. James Donaldson Alexander Roberts, A. Cleveland Coxe (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson
36 This one of many reports about difficult interpretations of Scripture details seemingly extreme interpretations by legitimate religious domains. Though many might suspect a bias toward traditional Christian churches, that is not the case. I envision fairly documenting the most extreme reactions to faulty interpretation by all belief groups that are the best in example for each report. Unless the reader can understand the extreme adaptations that suspected mistaken interpretation can yield, these different
reports would be uninformative. It seems that the LDS have the extreme modern‐day belief concerning Baptism of the Dead. The next report on one of the difficult Scriptures for interpretation will report on another denomination that wins my attention for possible extreme adaptation.
37 Carson, 63.
38 Rex Eugene Cooper, Promises Made to the Fathers: Mormon Covenant Organization (Salt Lake
City: University of Utah Press, 1980), 108 (Term created by Cooper).
39 Glen M. Leonard, Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, a People of Promise (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret
Book Co./Brigham Young University Press, 2002), 264 (Practice ceased in 1894).
40 Ibid., 264.
41 Gordan Irving, “The Law of Adoption: One Phase of the Development of the Mormon Concept
of Salvation, 1830‐1900,” BYU Studies 14, no. Spring (1974): 294.
42 Simon Baker, Statement, Journal History, Archives, Historical Department (Salt Lake City, UT:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐day Saints, 1840).
43 M. Guy Bishop, What Has Become of Our Fathers? Baptism for the Dead at Nauvoo, Dialogue:
A Journal of Mormon Thought (1990), 85‐97.
44 Gary James Bergera, “The Earliest Eternal Sealings for Civilly Married Couples Living and
Dead,” Dialogue 35, no. 3 (2002): 44.
45 The Associated Press, “Mormons Perform Baptisms on Holocaust Victims,” The Associated
48 “Mormons Agree to No Lds Proxy Baptism of Simon Wiesenthal,” The Christian Century 124,
no. 2 (2007): 14.
49 Ibid.
50 “Mormons Perform Baptisms on Holocaust Victims,”Ibid.
Bibliography
1 Corinthians: New Testament. Reformation Commentary on Scripture. Vol. IXa: IVP Academic, 2017.
Ambrosiaster. Commentaries on Romans and 1‐2 Corinthians. Translated by Ancient Christian Texts Gerald L. Bray. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press,
2009.
Baker, Simon. Statement. Journal History, Archives, Historical Department. Salt Lake City, UT: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐day Saints, 1840.
Bergera, Gary James. “The Earliest Eternal Sealings for Civilly Married Couples Living and Dead.” Dialogue 35, no. 3 (Fall 2002): 41‐66.
Bishop, M. Guy. What Has Become of Our Fathers? Baptism for the Dead at Nauvoo. Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 1990.
Carson, Donald A. “Did Paul Baptize for the Dead.” Christianity Today 42, no. 9 (1998): 63‐63.
Cooper, Rex Eugene. Promises Made to the Fathers: Mormon Covenant Organization. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1980.
Exell, Joseph S. Biblical Illustrator, Volume 5. Colorado: Delmarva Publications, Inc., 2015.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Dead Sea Scrolls and Christian Origins. Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge U.K.: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000.
Foschini, Bernard M. “‘Those Who Are Baptized for the Dead’: 1 Cor 15:29.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 13, no. 3 (1951): 276‐83.
Guelich, Robert A. Mark 1‐8:26. Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 34A, Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989.
Hagner, Donald A. Word Biblical Commentary: Matthew 1‐13. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002.
Halberstadt, Bishop Haymo of. “Patrologia Latina (the Latin Patrology).” edited by Migne, 1841‐1845.
Hutchison, John C. “Was John the Baptist an Essene from Qumran?”. Bibliotheca sacra 159, no. 634 (2002): 187‐200.
Irving, Gordan. “The Law of Adoption: One Phase of the Development of the Mormon Concept of Salvation, 1830‐1900.” BYU Studies 14, no. Spring (1974).
“Jewishgen ‐ an Affiliate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage ‐ a Living Memorial to the Holocaust.”
Josephus. The Jewish War: Books 1‐7. Translated by H. St. J. Thackeray. Loeb Classical Library. Edited by Jeffrey Henderson et al. Vol. 1, Cambridge, MA; London; New York: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann Ltd; G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1927‐1928
Leonard, Glen M. Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, a People of Promise. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Co./Brigham Young University Press, 2002.
Mantey, Julius R. “Baptism in the Dead Sea Manual of Discipline.” Review & Expositor 51, no. 4 (1954): 522‐27.
“Mormons Agree to No Lds Proxy Baptism of Simon Wiesenthal.” The Christian Century 124, no. 2 (2007): 14‐14.
Taylor, Nicholas. “Baptism for the Dead (1 Cor 15:29)?”. Neotestamentica 36, no. 1‐2 (2002): 111‐ 20.
Tertullian. “Against Marcion.” Chap. III. Ethical ‐ V (Tertullian Against Marcion) In The Writings of the Fathers Down to A. D. 325: Ante‐Nicene Fathers, edited by James Donaldson Alexander Roberts, A. Cleveland Coxe. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999.
The Associated Press. “Mormons Perform Baptisms on Holocaust Victims.” The Associated Press, https://religionnews.com/2017/12/21/mormons‐perform‐baptisms‐on‐holocaust‐victims/.
Underwood, Grant. “Baptism for the Dead: Comparing Rlds and Lds Perspectives.” Dialogue 23, no. 2 (Sum 1990): 99
About the Author
Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians, and an academic independent scholar. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University and the Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School. She is Founder and President of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc., the curriculum developer for Becker Professional Theology Academy, and a teaching faculty member. She also performs duties as Ordination evaluator, and is an endorser for Chaplains at Becker Bible Ministries, Inc.
Kathy’s favorite studies to teach include the connections between Old Testament exegesis, Christian apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.
To help you understand this lesson, we are going to give you big clues of how the lesson will progress. That piece of knowledge should then begin your journey to understanding God’s Truth about the Doctrine of Baptism that the Lord has revealed to us through His Word.
There are exactly three places that are the starting point for eternal life that a saved Christian can leave from:
1. The Physical Grave – Faithful Christians in the salvation of Jesus Christ, but that die without the Baptism of Christ, lie in their physical graves for awhile until Christ raises them up from their sleep in those graves at the beginning of End Times, and given eternal bodies as they are received in Heaven.
2. The Baptismal Grave – Christians that have repented of their sin, accepted Christ as their Savior, and have faith in His Resurrection can have the opportunity to release the hold of original sin in the Baptismal Grave and Resurrect into eternal life as they arise from the Baptismal Waters. Christians that have received the Baptism of Christ will not lie in their physical graves; upon their physical death, their unneeded bodies will decay in the grave, while their soul will be released and guided to Heaven and clothed with a new eternal body.
3. The Rapture – Alive Christians, at the time of Christ’s return, will rise up and meet him with their physical bodies. They will be given eternal bodies sometime after that inside the Heavenly Gates.
Romans 6:1–11 (KJV 1900) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:1–2 (KJV 1900) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
1. The Grace of the LORD God forgives sin for followers of Jesus Christ. However, Baptized Believers become DEAD to sin. Original sin can no longer dwell within the Baptized.
2. The Baptism of Jesus Christ causes death to come to a Believer, thereby releasing the hold of original sin upon the body.
Romans 6:3 (KJV 1900) 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (KJV 1900) 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. 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.
3. Original sin corrupts every human being born
4. Only death, through grave or Baptism, can release original sin’s hold upon a body
Romans 6:3–5 (KJV 1900) 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
5. When a person has been called forward to the LORD God, his ears are opened. Those that can hear must be told the things of Christ before Baptism can happen.
6. It is important that the Pastor ensure the new Christian has full understanding of Christ and what it means to be a Christian and the realities of Baptism.
7. The Pastor prepares the Baptismal pool by ensuring a prayerful, sacred place and a blessed, running-water-filled container. It is best that the pool be deep enough for dunking the full body.
8. The repentant sinner is called to the Baptismal Pool. The Pastor instructs the sinner to kneel in the pool, as the nose and mouth are covered to prevent choking.
9. The Pastor stands and supports sinner’s shoulders. The sinner is laid in the Baptismal water, and words explaining the actual death to the sinner as the baptismal grave envelops.
10. The Pastor then raises the redeemed Baptized from the waters in the memory of Christ’s Resurrection “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”
11. When the Baptized go under the Baptismal waters, their death is brought upon the body. Original sin releases. When they rise up from the Baptismal Grave, they are brand-new people that will never have original sin attached to them again unawares. When they physically die, they will NOT ever have to be in the grave; their souls will go immediately to Heaven.
Romans 6:6–9 (KJV 1900) 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
12. When the resurrected Baptized rise from the Baptismal Grave SIN HAS NO MORE DOMINION!
13. The powerful, sacred spiritual rite of Baptism is also effective in establishing a deep spiritual connection to the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as preparing for Holy Spirit Baptism.
14. Sometimes, Believers are not certain they received an effective and correct Baptism in Christ. This confusion often comes from past doctrinal practices of different churches.
15. The Pastor of the Baptism can know with surety if the Baptism of Redemption through Christ has taken place by witnessing the Holy Spirit’s presence within the Christian.
16. There is NO Holy Spirit Baptism that inserts God into a Believer, unless the Baptism of Christ has been fully accomplished in the manner prescribed by Holy Scripture.
17. Pastors should never baptize an already Baptized Christian. However, if the Believer has not received the Holy Spirit, it is acceptable to rebaptize to ensure the assumption of the grave.
18. There is also confusion about Baptisms because some Church doctrines allow for childhood baptism. Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. support the doctrinal position of NO Baptism of Redemption until the child has reached the age of accountability (Twelve-years-old or with special exceptions), based upon the Scripture account of Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter (Mark 5:21-43). (A special study of Mark 5:21- 43 will follow your study of Baptism).
Romans 6:10–14 (KJV 1900) 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
19. It is critically important that Pastors of Baptism ensure the Baptism of seekers understand the principles associated with the Baptism of Redemption.
20. All saved Christians are promised eternal life through the acceptance of Christ as Savior and confidence in His Resurrection.
21. Death comes to all people because of original sin. But the LORD God’s provision is that those that live to Him will only experience one death.
22. Baptized Christians one death takes place in the Baptismal Grave. Unbaptized Christians must sleep in their graves for awhile until Christ comes and raises them up to join Him in Heaven.
23. ONE DEATH ONLY! Eternal life always for those that are saved through their faith in Jesus Christ.
24. Original sins are cast off with death. But BEWARE! Your lusts and mortality will have ample opportunity to sin in your lifetime. You must not let further sin to have dominion over you.
25. The Baptism of Redemption through Christ is one of the most amazing graces promised by the LORD God to the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The institution of this most Holy Baptismal rite equips faithful Christians to receive the Holy Ghost Baptism and to remove and prevent further sins from having control over their lives.
Romans 6:15–20 (KJV 1900) 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
26. Servants of sin keep sinning. The Baptized followers of Christ are freed from sin and can become righteous. But righteous can become servants to sin by yielding to uncleanness and iniquity.
27. When the Believer declares faith in Christ the hope is for salvation. Faith = Salvation and eternal life.
28. When the Believer is saved the hope is in Baptism for the release of original sin. Baptism = Release from original sin
29. When the Believer goes under the Baptismal waters, the hope is for Resurrection into eternal life from that point on, without the need for the grave.
Baptismal waters = death; Rising out of Baptismal waters = Resurrection and entrance into eternal life without the grave.
30. When the Believer resurrects out of the Baptismal waters, the hope is for the Holy Spirit. Resurrection out of Baptismal waters = Eligibility to receive Baptism of Holy Spirit.
31. When the Believer receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the hope is to remain sin free and accomplish enduring works of God. Holy Spirit = Sin free and enduring works of the LORD God that will bring glory to Him.
32. Believers Resurrected in the Baptism of Christ can walk with Him in the newness of life, sin free. They will have eternal life. They become eligible to receive the Holy Spirit and once that Spirit is within the Believer, great works of God will become manifest.
33. But first, the Christian journey begins with faith in Christ, the most important grace of the LORD God given and the only one needed for salvation and eternal life.
John 3:1–8 (KJV 1900) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 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? 5 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
34. “Born Again” is the condition when a believer dies in the Baptism of Christ then is Resurrected into the new life in Christ. Believers must be born of water and the Holy Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God.
35. The Baptism of Christ makes Believers flesh clean. The Holy Spirit Baptism makes the soul clean.
36. The LORD God gives the gift of the Holy Spirit Baptism as reward to those that follow Christ through His Baptism with Him.
Eight Requirements for the Baptism of Christ (John 3:1-8)
1. Be called forward to Christ by the LORD God and receive a desire to know Him 2. Hear the Word of God 3. Be repentant of sin 4. Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for your sins and was Resurrected, with all your heart 5. Confess outwardly that you know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 6. Be baptized by water (signifying your death) in the name of Jesus Christ 7. Come out of the water (signifying your resurrection) in the name of the LORD God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. 8. Receive the gift of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
Conclusion The Baptism of Christ causes death to come one time to a Believer, and Resurrect in Christ’s example, granting eternal life from that point on when rising out of the baptismal waters. Baptized Christians do not sleep in their graves! Unbaptized Christians sleep in their graves until they are Resurrected by the Lord Jesus Christ; they then assume their eternal lives.
The grace the LORD God gives followers of Christ that must come through faith, and faith can only come through a personal response of a living person. Faith cannot be assumed by another in proxy. Simply stated, the connection between Christ and Believers is completed through Baptism and allows the relationship between the Lord and His Followers to be steady and sure. It only takes faith in the Lord to receive salvation; but once faith is realized and repentance is at hand, Believers are eligible to receive the Baptism of Redemption through Christ, to establish that intimate relationship between them as original sin’s grasp upon Believer’s is extinguished.
There is a technique that you can master to study Scripture deeply. Developing this skill allows the Holy Spirit to respond immediately to the text and move you to deeper and deeper places that God wants you to understand. It is the technique I use, whether it is a small half-size verse, or a large amount of Scripture that seems to go forever. All my courses are developed on this technique, and all my life skills are based upon utilizing it whenever I open my Bible. It was taught to me by the Holy Spirit over forty years ago.
When you have learned it, your spiritual world and teachings will open up to you! I call the technique, making “Statements of Facts” (SOF). I know. It’s not a fancy name. Its sad; as a writer, you would think I could come up with a better name.
Let me give you a couple SOF’s about the technique:
1. Consistent technique allows you to follow the Bible Scripture fully each time
2. When you have been consistent in your technique, you learn the process quickly
3. When you have learned how to make statements of fact, your opinion doesn’t matter
4. When the Holy Spirit sees that you are focused solely upon Scripture, He raises you up into a higher realm of learning
5. In these End Days, corrupted churches and pastors are straying farther and farther away from Scripture and preaching a message that does not belong to the LORD God.
a. There are so many False Teachers in these Days.
b. There are so few Truth Tellers in these Days
6. Eventually, you will be learning to develop teachings and sermons based upon this powerful, foundational technique.
7. When Christ comes again, may He find every student I have ever taught to be fully invested and focused upon the Word of God. Amen.
Today, we are going to be studying Jairus and his twelve-year-old daughter. This is an account that might not be talked about much in church settings. It is a simple account, that is split in two with another account involving a woman touching the hem of Jesus. (By the way, notice how I call it an “account.” Never call the different accounts within Scripture a “story” or “stories.” When those two words are used, the very character of Scripture is changed).
I will start an examination of the account of Jairus with SOF, and then on Mark 5:37-43, please complete the SOF and use it.
Mark 5:21–24 (KJV 1900)
21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him….
Mark 5:35-43 …While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. (Mark 5:35-43)
SOF Statements from each verse…
And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. (Mark 5:21)
1. The statement “When Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side” might prompt mature Christians to prepare to search for deeper meaning of Scripture.
2. We should prepare that the following discourse of Christ’s will be about passing over (physical death) from earth to Heaven.
22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. (Mark 5:22-23) (Note how I put two verses together because they were connected).
3. Jairus, a ruler of the Jewish Synagogue, fell at Christ’s feet and begged Him to come heal his sick daughter who was near death.
4. Jairus PRAYED to Jesus to lay hands on her that she would be healed and live.
23 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him….
5. Jesus went with him, but he was surrounded by a throng of people and delayed.
6. This was when woman with the blood issue touched the hem of Christ’s clothes and was healed, and her faith made her whole. This too hints at the contact with Jairus daughter that is upcoming.
35Someone from the Ruler of the Synagogue’s House Certain came to Jairus and said “Thy daughter is dead: why do you trouble the Master any further?” 36When Jesus heard this spoken, He said, “Be not afraid, only believe.”
7. Do you remember your study of the little ships passing over?
8. The message from Christ was the same thing that stressed “Be not afraid, only believe.” Amen?
Small Essay Exercise #1
Complete the rest of the SOF for the following Scriptures verses. Number the SOF sentences in each verse where the XXX is located:
37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
XXX
38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
XXX
39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him to scorn.
XXX
But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
XXX
41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
XXX
42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
XXX
43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to ear.
XXX
Small Essay Exercise #2
Write a small analysis essay, and connect why you might conclude that Becker Bible Ministries, Inc., has chosen the doctrine of Baptism for only those of the accountable age of 12-years-old or older.
Use your SOF learning that you have accomplished about the daughter of Jairus. From this point on, when you have a question on Scripture, please copy the Scripture to your post or notepad, and do Statements of Fact underneath it. Once that has been done, ask your question (if the Holy Spirit has answered you during this technique but you need confirmation, please ask.)
The Statements of Facts (SOF) do not have to be on the entire account. You can take just individual Scripture verses and do the same process. Eventually, the Holy Spirit will have you cover the entire account. However, with questions in our studies, verse examinations are acceptable to me.
In a perfect world of Bible Studies, every one of you that reads this lesson will quickly began learning the SOF technique, and sharing your results with others. My experience is excitement for the technique, but putting off the homework for another day. I challenge you each that if the Holy Spirit excites your spirit, GET TO WORK AND LEARN SOF FOR YOURSELF AND HIM! If you have questions, ask. If you complete your learning through your homework, share with others, your difficulties, your confusions, and even how great your Bible Teacher is.
First set of Slides Faith given and measured by the LORD God alone
Slide 1 – You cannot become a Christian, receive salvation or become born again, until you first experience an opening of your eyes and your ears by God, as He moves you toward an opportunity to receive His gift of grace and faith (Luke 10:21-24; 24:30-35; Acts 13:48).
Slide 2 – Not everybody is given this opportunity. Most people in the world are blind and deaf to His things. When God chooses certain people to receive sight and hearing to obtain faith, He is showing great love for them (Matthew 11:13-17; 20:29-34; 1 Corinthians 1:17-31).
Slide 3 – Usually, when faith is given, you experience a curiosity and a driving need to learn more about God and His Things. You are no different than every other Christian that has also received the great gift of faith. Things are very confusing at the start, especially when you are from a non-believing family or a non-believing culture. Quickly, the Holy Spirit will bring you to fellowship with other Christians, and you will learn the words and doctrines of faith with the moving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:5-21).
Slide 4 – Your soul knows God, and hungers for His touch…that is why you seek answers. Now your mind must understand. God will provide you with exactly the things you need, to become more comfortable with His Things. He will provide you access to Christians that can answer your questions and feed you knowledge, and help you through these scary first moments of belief. His Bible will be made available to you, and will become your map as His Word speaks about all the things you need to know to begin your journey, and understand the things that you are thinking about in the first moments of faith (John 6:33-37).
Slide 5 – Simply put…you are very special to God, and He has chosen you to move closer to Him. The closer you come to Him, the more peace and joy you will have. To get really close to Him, you must be brought to Him by Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Slide 6 – The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross allowed death to be brought to sin. That means that your sins can also receive death. Because Jesus Christ resurrected from death, you also can receive eternal life (John 6:37-40; 10:27-29). Once you no longer under the control of sin, and are resurrected into the life of a new believer, you can come closer to God (Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57).
Slide 7 – Each step of the way, God is going to open your eyes and ears more and more. Thoughts that seem scary to you now will soon pass, as you receive the Foundation of Jesus Christ. Take a deep breath, be courageous, and walk toward the place that God is leading you (Luke 6:47-49).
Slide 8 – Ask questions and read His Words through the Holy Bible, and know that there are many Christians here today that will be praying that your path is made clear, and your eyes opened fully to receive pure faith in His promises! You are very, very special to be called by God to come closer to Him through His Son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:15)!
Second Set of Slides Faith brings Salvation, Baptism brings Heaven
Slide 9 – The only way be saved from damnation and resurrected to life eternal and inhabit the New Earth requires faith, and only faith, in the atoning blood and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, the baptism of Jesus Christ is required if you desire to go to Heaven for a time for rest until all things of God are in place for the New Earth to be established.
Slide 10 – Salvation comes to a Christian through faith (Hebrews 9:23-28). A Christian must have faith that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the redemption of the Christian’s sins. There is nothing a person can do to save himself from sin. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, and his crucifixion and resurrection, that a person can receive salvation (Romans 3:19-26). When a person receives the promise of salvation, he receives the promise that he will be forgiven of all sin, be judged innocent, and saved from the judgment of eternal damnation.
Slide 11 – Faith is the condition of believing. Christians cannot receive salvation from judgment of eternal damnation until they face Jesus Christ for judgment; those baptized will join Him in Heaven for Judgment, those unbaptized believers will be resurrected from their grave at a certain time and receive His Judgment (Hebrews 9:27-28). This Judgment officiated in Heaven is often called the “Glory Seat” Judgment by Christian scholars (Revelation 20:1-6; 22:12-14), and is different than the Final Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Christians believe in God’s promise that they will be forgiven of all sin as a result of Christ’s crucifixion. A Christian must have Faith of this promise throughout his life, and even into his physical death. This faith brings the reward of promised salvation and eternal life through the free Grace of the LORD God as a result of the sacrifice given freely by His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:15-18).
Slide 12 – A simple way to distinguish the difference between faith, salvation and baptism is expressed fully in Scripture. Believers that have faith in Jesus Christ are children of the LORD God, and will receive the same inheritance as His Chosen people. Believers that receive the baptism of Jesus Christ, put Him on, and become one with Him; this means they are born again and resurrected in eternal life through His Resurrection (Galatians 3:26-27). All those with faith in Jesus Christ, whether baptized or not, receive salvation and are promised eternal life. The only difference between the baptized and unbaptized is the time of their resurrection into eternal life!
Third Set of Slides Faith Statements of Fact
Slide 13 – (1) As a result of sin, a person is separated from the LORD GOD’s presence (Exodus 20:18-21; Psalm 51; John 8:34-36).
Slide 14 – (2) The only thing that can remove sin is death (Romans 6:1-14).
Slide 15 – (3) Jesus Christ died for sin once, and as a result, those accepting him as their Savior, are promised salvation for life eternal (Romans 8:7-9; Galatians 3:19-26).
Slide 16 – (4) This salvation guarantees that when a person faces the Judgment of the LORD God, he will be able to redeem the sacrifice of the blood of Christ for his sin, and allowed to continue on to the New Earth. (1 Peter 1:6-9).
Slide 17 – (5) This promise of this redemption is accepted by faith. This faith in redemption does not make the person free from sin in their life (Ephesians 1:3-23).
Slide 18 – (6) To be free from sin in this life requires a believer to embrace the foundational doctrine of Jesus Christ (2 John 1:8; 1Timothy 6:1-6).
Slide 19 – (7) Two parts of this doctrine of Jesus Christ are the baptism by water and the baptism by the Holy Ghost (Hebrews 6:1-3).
Slide 20 – (8 ) Water baptism is the process in which death is brought to a believer. When a faithful believer goes under the water baptism, he is dying and going to his grave. As a result of his death, sin loses its power, and no longer has the ability to stay with that person, and it is destroyed (Romans 6:3-4).
Slide 21 – (9) As the believer rises from the baptismal waters, he is receiving the same resurrection in faith that was accomplished through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The faithful man is born again. He is no longer the man that died in sin, but a new man resurrected into the Kingdom of God (Romans 6:8-11).
Slide 22 – (10) The baptized faithful will never again experience death. Death occurs one time for the release of sin, and those believers who have died through baptism are cleansed of their original sin, and will never again go to their grave. Those faithful, who do not receive the baptism of Jesus Christ, are not released from sin until physical death comes to them (Hebrews 9:17-28). If they have not been baptized, then they must experience natural death to their grave to be released from sin (Romans 6:3-11).
Slide 23 – (11) The baptism of the Holy Ghost is given to the born again man, to burn up any sin that comes his way, and lead him on the path that the LORD God wills to walk (Matthew 3:11-12; 1 John 2:20-24).
Slide 24 – (12) Those baptized believers are taken to Heaven for rest for a time, until the New Earth and the New Heavens are established in His Time (2 Peter 3:9-13).
Slide 25 – (13) On the New Earth, the baptized believers, and those unbaptized who had faith in their redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (now freed from sin as a result of death, and resurrected through the promised redemption) ( Romans 8:10-11) will be joined together once again.
Slide 26 – You must be cleansed of sin through the death of water baptism and resurrection to life eternal through faith in Jesus Christ before you can receive rest in Heaven for a time (1 Peter 1:3-5; 3:21-22). To receive the promise of eternal life and the ability to walk on the New Earth requires you only to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, believe in his resurrection, and have faith in the redemption of his sacrifice before you die in natural life and go to your grave until resurrection.
Slide 27 – Having faith of salvation through the sacrificed blood of Jesus Christ is all that is necessary to receive the promised salvation from eternal damnation. The process of receiving salvation through this sacrificed blood is called Redemption (1 Peter 1:18-23). At the designated time, all believing Christians who come through Jesus to the presence of the LORD God will have their sins redeemed through his shed blood, and they will be judged innocent as a result of their faith in Him. Until that day, faithful Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit and await the promised redemption to be paid in full (Ephesians 4:30).
Fourth Set of Slides Salvation is not the ticket to Heaven.
Slide 28 – Salvation is the promise of a verdict of innocence following the redemption of blood, and avoiding the sentence of eternal damnation. It is baptism, the lively expression of hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ that allows believers to enter Heaven upon their physical death (1 Peter 1:3-9).
Slide 29 – Many misguided, young, or self-focused Christians think that Heaven is a permanent place that everybody who is good gets to go to at their death. It is not. Heaven is a temporary dwelling place for the LORD God and His Spirits, Jesus Christ, the angels, and the saints who are righteous. Heaven is going to come to an end one day, at the moving of the LORD God (2 Peter 3:9-10; Revelation 21:1-8). All of the saints in Heaven, as well as those resurrected from their grave through their faith in Jesus Christ, and martyrs who died for the cause of Christ (Revelation 6:9-11) will one day populate the New Earth; joining them will be all of the others judged favorably on Judgment Day and who receive the verdict of not-guilty and given the reward of eternal life by the Supreme Judge who is also the Son of God (Revelation 20:11-15).
Slide 30 – To be Righteous means to be free of sin. Faith does not remove sin from a living body! Even though you have faith, original sin still dwells within you. There is only one way a person that is alive and walking the earth can become righteous. The original sin must leave his body (1 Peter 4:16-19).
Slide 31 – There is only one way that sin can leave the body. Physical Death of the body – The moment the body dies, sin has no hold, and dies (Romans 5:7-21). But here’s the problem… If you die with sin still within you, then you go to your grave. Sinful people do not get to rest in Heaven for awhile. In fact, that’s why death exists to start with. Because there is sin, then death must come to man. So the dead in sin stay in their graves until they are resurrected on the Day of Rapture, just before the rapture of living Christians (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
Slide 32 – There is a much better option laid out for Christians. The Baptism of Jesus Christ causes the body to die, and the sins to die in a faithful Christian. If a Christian goes under the baptismal waters to their grave, they die and the original sin’s control is removed from them. When the Christian comes up out of the baptismal waters and in faith experiences the same resurrection that Jesus did, then they come out of the waters sin free and new. This new person, free from original sin, is called Born Again (John 3:1-7).
Slide 33 – The born again Christian is a new being, and sin-hold-released baptized Christians have two options available to them to remain sin free, and increase their righteousness through His Will. The first one is the authority of Jesus Christ to forgive sin on earth (Luke 5:17-25). When a baptized Christian commits sin, he has the opportunity to confess, repent, and return to a righteous state through forgiveness and restoration by Jesus Christ.
Slide 34 – The second option is through the Holy Spirit Baptism, a baptism accomplished through the laying on of hands by an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Acts 19:1-7). When the Holy Spirit is infused into a baptized believer, then that Christian has all of his innocent sins burned away, helping to maintain a righteous state (Matthew 3:11-12).
Slide 35 – When the baptized and faithful Christian experiences a physical death, he is immediately taken to Heaven. This Christian will not feel the sting of death or lay asleep in the grave for even an instant (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). The baptized and faithful Christian is immediately taken to Heaven, where they serve the Lord Jesus Christ for a time in the bosom of the LORD God, until the rest of the LORD God’s plans are completed (Revelation 7:13-17).
Slide 36 – At the establishment of the New Earth and the New Heaven, the Christian will assume a new life on that new earth, along with all of the favorably judged people who stood before the throne of Jesus Christ. This New Earth life will be ruled by King Jesus Christ, and will begin its existence with sin free people who love the LORD God, and humbled forever by the undeserved grace and salvation received as a result of His Son sacrifice (2 Peter 3:11-18; Revelations 21:1-8).
Slide 37 – Faith in your salvation through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is all that is need to receive eternal life. The absence of Baptism or Works does not remove you from this promise. However, Baptism allows the grasp of sin to be freed from its hold upon you, and permits your entrance into Heaven for a short while. Works brings reward to you through the “Glory-Seat Judgment of Jesus Christ. When all is finished according to God’s Will with this old heaven and earth, it will be those of faith in Him that will occupy the New Heaven and New Earth. It is faith in Jesus Christ that makes us citizens of that new Kingdom of God, as it is revealed and established in His Time! Thanks be to God!
Salvation comes to Believers through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Salvation is a two-step process. The first step is one of belief, and the second step is one of action. If the Unsaved believe, but do nothing, they remain unsaved. If the Unsaved do not believe, but go through the action of a repentant sinner, they too remain unsaved.
Romans 10:9-10 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)
PERSONAL STEPS TO SALVATION 1. Know that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself. 2. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior 3. Believe that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to atone for your sins. 4. Be confident that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV)
The confessor of Jesus Christ as Savior is crucified with him. A Believer is joined to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through faith. When Christ is confessed and accepted as a Believer’s Savior, Christ shares both His crucifixion and Resurrection. This makes the Believer eligible to receive the Baptism of Jesus Christ. However, it is vitally important to note that this Baptism does NOT bring salvation to the soul; it is only faith in Christ as Savior, developed during a physical lifetime, that offers eternal salvation. The dead are not given an opportunity to develop faith in Christ after their demise.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST
Revelations 20:4–5 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 so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up 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 together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:1-18 KJV)
Followers of Christ are crucified with his Crucifixion by their faith, and that faith alone, gives promised salvation. (Galatians 2:20) The Baptism of Jesus Christ allows them to immediately ascend to Heaven upon their physical death. This is called the “First Resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4–5)
If people die without the Baptism of Jesus Christ, but were believers in faith that Christ is their Savior, then they will be resurrected on the great Judgment Day into the Resurrection of Life. (John 5:28–29) Even they only experience one death. Sadly, they cannot go to Heaven immediately because they did not experience death through baptism. They must sleep in their graves in their first death. However, when Christ resurrects them from the grave, faithful believers will ascend to Heaven and join those faithful Baptized Christian that have gathered around His throne.
If people die without the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and did NOT believe in Christ’s salvation, they are resurrected from their grave on the great Judgment Day into the Resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28–29) They, as well as death and Hell, will be cast into the lake of fire. This is called the “second death.” (Revelation 20:11–15) Those Unbelievers who reject Christ’s salvation in their lifetime, sleep in their graves until Christ raises them to His Judgment Seat to finalize His verdict. (Revelations 20:11–15)
All of the benefits of Salvation are given to a Faithful Believer the moment he accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:9-10)
But there is one more step a believer must fulfill to see Heaven immediately upon physical death. A faithful Christian must also be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, and be buried with Him also. Faith allows Believers to share His Crucifixion, and their Baptism allows them to experience His Burial and His Resurrection. This death releases the hold of original sin and the devil.
Those experiencing the death of Jesus Christ and His burial through the experience of Baptism, will not die a second death. When Baptized Christians experience physical death, they immediately ascend to Heaven. Those baptized with the Baptism of Jesus Christ go to their ONLY grave within the baptismal waters. When they rise up from their baptismal water graves, they resurrect into the NEW LIFE, with a NEW BIRTH. Baptized Believer’s souls will never go to the grave again! (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
CRUCIFIED ONCE, BURIED ONCE AND RESURRECTED ONCE!
Revelation 21:1-7 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1-7 av)
Heaven is a temporary dwelling place, until His chosen Time, when a new Heaven and a New Earth will be established according to His Will.
The unbaptized Believers, who were faithful in the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, but failed to complete the process of going to the grave in Baptism, will go to an earthly grave to sleep for a period (Daniel 12:1-4). The Unbaptized but Saved Believers will be resurrected from their graves, in His time, and given Eternal Life through His Grace of Salvation (Revelation 20:13).
Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the UNBAPTIZED, BUT SAVED BELIEVERS will go on to Eternal Life after their resurrection from their graves and their soul journey to Heaven.
Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the BAPTIZED, SAVED BELIEVERS will go to Heaven for a while, and then on to Eternal Life on the New Earth, where all Believers will begin a new and blessed life under the rule of their King Jesus Christ.
Conclusion The Baptism of Christ causes death to come one time to a Believer, and Resurrect in Christ’s example, granting eternal life when rising out of the baptismal waters. Those that are already dead are not going to be made alive again through the rising out of the baptismal waters in the likeness of the Resurrection of Christ. They will merely be wet dead people, asleep in death until resurrected by Christ on Judgment Day.
The most valid interpretation to Paul’s reference in 1 Corinthians is the understanding that the grace the LORD God gives followers of Christ must come through faith, and faith can only come through a personal response of a living person.
A Christian must have faith that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the redemption of the Christian’s sins. There is nothing a person can do to save himself from sin. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, and His crucifixion and resurrection, that a person can receive salvation.
When a person receives the promise of salvation, it is the promise of the LORD God that Believers will be forgiven of all sin, be judged innocent, and saved from the judgment of eternal damnation through His Son’s blood shed for His followers.
Faith is the condition of believing. Christians believe in God’s promise that they will be forgiven of all sin as a result of Christ’s crucifixion. A Christian must have Faith of this promise throughout his life, and even into his physical death. This Faith results in the reward of salvation, through the Grace of God.
Romans 10:9–10 (KJV 1900) 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.
Matthew 10:32–33 (KJV 1900) 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
This is important:
THE MOMENT A PERSON TRULY BELIEVES AND CONFESSES THAT JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, WALKED ON THE EARTH, DIED FOR THEM, AND RESURRECTED, AND AS A RESULT, PROMISED SALVATION THROUGH THE REDEMPTION OF HIS SHED BLOOD, THEN THAT BELIEVER IS SAVED AND PROMISED TO RECEIVE THE JUDGMENT OF INNOCENCE AND THE REWARD OF LIFE ETERNAL AT THE BY CHRIST.
That’s all it takes to be saved: BELIEF that is CONFESSED!
Having faith of salvation through the sacrificed blood of Jesus Christ is all that is necessary to receive the promised salvation from eternal damnation. The process of receiving salvation through this sacrificed blood is called Redemption. At the designated time, all believing Christians who come to Jesus on the Judgment Throne will have their sins redeemed through his shed blood, and they will be judged innocent by the LORD God as a result of their faith in Christ.
Salvation is not the ticket to Heaven. Salvation is the promise of a verdict of innocence following the redemption of blood, and avoiding the sentence of eternal damnation. Many misguided, young, and self focused Christians think that Heaven is a permanent place that everybody who is good gets to go to at their death. It is not. Heaven is a temporary dwelling place for the LORD God and His Spirits, Jesus Christ, the angels, and the saints who are righteous. Heaven is going to come to an end one day, at the moving of the LORD God.
All of the Christian Saints in Heaven will one day populate the New Earth, along with all of the others judged favorably on Judgment Day and who receive the verdict of eternal life.
Righteous means to be free of sin. Faith does not remove sin from a live body! Even though you have faith, original sin still dwells within you. There is only one way a person that is alive and walking the earth can become righteous. The original sin must leave his body. There is only one way that sin can leave the body. Death of the body. The moment the body dies, sin has no hold, and dies.
But here’s the problem If you die with sin still within you, then you go to your grave. Sinful people do not get to rest in heaven for awhile. In fact, that’s why death exists to start with. Because there is sin, then death must come to man. So the dead in sin stay in their graves until they are resurrected on the Day of Rapture, just before the rapture of those alive Christians, that will occur before the great Judgment Day.
1 Corinthians 15:50–57 (KJV 1900) 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 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. 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. 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.
Romans 6 (KJV 1900) 6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is a much better option prepared for Christians. The Baptism of Jesus Christ causes the body to die, and the sins to die in a faithful Christian. If a Christian goes under the baptismal waters to their grave, they die and the original sin’s control is removed from them. When the Christian comes up out of the baptismal waters and in faith experiences the same resurrection that Jesus did, then they come out of the waters sin free and new.
John 3:3–8 (KJV 1900) 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 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? 5 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. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
This new person, free from original sin, is called Born Again. The born again Christian is a new being, and sin free Baptized Christians have two options available to them to remain sin free, and increase their righteousness through His Will. The first one is the the authority of Jesus Christ to forgive sin on earth. When a baptized Christian commits sin, he has the opportunity to confess, repent, and return to a righteous state through forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit Baptism, a baptism accomplished through the laying on of hands by an apostle of Jesus Christ, is also given to baptized Christians. When the Holy Spirit is infused into a baptized believer, then that Christian has all of his innocent sins burned away, helping to maintain a righteous state.
When the baptized and faithful Christian experiences a physical death, he is immediately taken to Heaven. This Christian will not feel the sting of death or lay in the grave for even an instant. The baptized and faithful Christian is immediately taken to Heaven, where he rests for a time in the bosom of the LORD God, until the rest of the LORD God’s plans are completed.
Revelation 21:1–8 (KJV 1900) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
At the establishment of the New Earth and the New Heavens, the Christian will assume a new life on that New Earth, along with all of the favorably judged people who stood before the throne of Jesus Christ. This New Earth life will be ruled by the Savior Jesus Christ, and will begin it’s existence with sin free people who love the LORD God, and humbled forever by the undeserved grace and salvation received as a result of His Son’s Sacrifice.
Salvation comes to Believers through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a two-step process. The first step is one of belief, and the second step is one of action. If the Unsaved believe, but do nothing, they remain unsaved. If the Unsaved do not believe, but go through the action of a repentant sinner, they too remain unsaved.
Romans 10:9-10 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)
PERSONAL STEPS TO SALVATION 1. Know that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself. 2. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior 3. Believe that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to atone for your sins. 4. Be confident that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead.
Salvation comes by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the promises of the LORD God
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV)
The confessor of Jesus Christ as Savior is crucified with him. A Believer is joined to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through faith. When Christ is confessed and accepted as a Believer’s Savior, Christ shares both His crucifixion and Resurrection. This makes the Believer eligible to receive the Baptism of Jesus Christ. However, it is vitally important to note that this Baptism does NOT bring salvation to the soul; it is only faith in Christ as Savior, developed during a physical lifetime, that offers eternal salvation. The dead are not given an opportunity to develop faith in Christ after their demise.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST
Romans 6:1-18 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 so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up 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 together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:1-18 KJV)
Followers of Christ are crucified with his Crucifixion by their faith, and that faith alone, gives promised salvation. (Galatians 2:20)
The Baptism of Jesus Christ allows them to immediately ascend to Heaven upon their physical death. This is called the “First Resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4–5)
If people die without the Baptism of Jesus Christ, but were believers in faith that Christ is their Savior, then they will be resurrected on the great Judgment Day into the Resurrection of Life. (John 5:28–29) Even they only experience one death. Sadly, they cannot go to Heaven immediately because they did not experience death through baptism. They must sleep in their graves in their first death. However, when Christ resurrects them from the grave, faithful believers will ascend to Heaven and join those faithful Baptized Christian that have gathered around His throne.
If people die without the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and did NOT believe in Christ’s salvation, they are resurrected from their grave on the great Judgment Day into the Resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28–29) They, as well as death and Hell, will be cast into the lake of fire. This is called the “second death.” (Revelation 20:11–15) Those Unbelievers who reject Christ’s salvation in their lifetime, sleep in their graves until Christ raises them to His Judgment Seat to finalize His verdict. (Revelation 20:11–15)
All of the benefits of Salvation are given to a Faithful Believer the moment he accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:9-10)
But there is one more step a believer must fulfill to see Heaven immediately upon physical death. A faithful Christian must also be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, and be buried with Him also. Faith allows Believers to share His Crucifixion, and their Baptism allows them to experience His Burial and His Resurrection.
This Baptismal death releases the hold of original sin and the devil. Those experiencing the death of Jesus Christ and His burial through the experience of Baptism, will not die a second death. When Baptized Christians experience physical death, they immediately ascend to Heaven. Those baptized with the Baptism of Jesus Christ go to their ONLY grave within the baptismal waters. When they rise up from their baptismal water graves, they resurrect into the NEW LIFE, with a NEW BIRTH. Baptized Believer’s souls will never go to the grave again! (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
CRUCIFIED ONCE, BURIED ONCE AND RESURRECTED ONCE!
Revelations 21:1-7 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelations 21:1-7 av)
Heaven is a temporary dwelling place, until His chosen Time, when a new Heaven and a New Earth will be established according to His Will.
The unbaptized Believers, who were faithful in the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, but failed to complete the process of going to the grave in Baptism, will go to an earthly grave to sleep for a period (Daniel 12:1-4). The Unbaptized but Saved Believers will be resurrected from their graves, in His time, and given Eternal Life through His Grace of Salvation (Revelation 20:13).
Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the UNBAPTIZED, BUT SAVED BELIEVERS will go on to Eternal Life after their resurrection from their graves and their soul journey to Heaven.
Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the BAPTIZED, SAVED BELIEVERS will go to Heaven for a while, and then on to Eternal Life on the New Earth, where all Believers will begin a new and blessed life under the rule of their King Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
The Baptism of Christ causes death to come one time to a Believer, and Resurrect in Christ’s example, granting eternal life when rising out of the baptismal waters. Those that are already dead are not going to be made alive again through the rising out of the baptismal waters in the likeness of the Resurrection of Christ. They will merely be wet dead people, asleep in death until resurrected by Christ on Judgment Day.
The most valid interpretation to Paul’s reference in 1 Corinthians is the understanding that the grace the LORD God gives followers of Christ must come through faith, and faith can only come through a personal response of a living person. Faith cannot be assumed by another in proxy. Baptism of the dead is spoken about by Paul as a persuasive logical argument against the vicarious event conducted by a people who were not upholding the true teachings of Christ. The perspective of Paul attacks and counterattacks this odd belief that subverts the LORD God’s promise of grace, and the Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection from the dead.
And by the way: Christians are NOT made angels after rising to Heaven. They are given brand new bodies formed for humans. They will NEVER become angels.
1 Corinthians 15:35–58 (KJV 1900) 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 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. 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. 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. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
