I Corinthians 15:29-34: "The Case for Resurrection Continued"
Paul continues to build his case to prove that not only was Christ resurrected, but that one day all of His children will be raised to eternal life.
After just outlining that Christ will "deliver up the kingdom to the God and Father" after the resurrection of the Old and New Testament saints, Paul continues, "otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?" This is a very difficult verse to understand. Paul could not be teaching that someone can be saved by a vicarious baptism. What we can gather from this is that those who are baptized would be those who are saved. More specifically, as baptism was given as a symbol and testimony of a surrendering to Christ. Therefore, within this context it is possible that Paul is saying what about those who gave their lives as a testimony for Christ? Was it for nothing if they are not raised? Paul is questioning the reasons that those who would testify to be Christ's and live a life as such, yet get nothing out of it once they are dead, what is the purpose. MacArthur writes, "we could guess that Paul may have simply been saying that people were being saved (baptism being the sign) because of the exemplary lives and witness of faithful believers who had died". MacArthur continues to explain, "If there is no resurrection, no hope of a future life, Paul asked, why are people coming to Christ because of the testimony of believers who have died? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they [many present Christians] baptized for [become believers because of the testimony of] them [deceased faithful believers]?". Whatever Paul is trying to say, from the context, we can gather that his goal was to help us understand that if we are not raised after we die, there is no purpose in us as believers to live the way we do. If Christ is not raised, or if we simply cease to exist once we die, we should just live our lives according to our own sinful passions.
Paul continues, "Why are we also in danger every hour? I protest, brethren, by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me?" Paul continues to prove that as Christians we live our lives differently and obediently to Christ, because we have faith that we will be raised again and face Christ in our resurrected bodies. Why should we sacrifice so much, die to our sin, deny ourselves of sinful indulgences and give so much of our time to something, unless there is eternal value in it. MacArthur writes, "If there were no resurrection of the believing dead, then suffering and dying for the sake of the gospel would be masochistic, suffering for suffering's sake. As Paul had already pointed out, 'If we hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied' (15:19)". What would be the point in introducing others to Christ if they will never meet him face to face. Think of those on their death beds, what possible incentive would they have to give their lives to Christ, if they were simply going to cease to exist in a couple days? There would be no point. But we have been told in Ecclesiastes that God has put eternity on our hearts, and we know we will someday see Him again. We know as believers that we are called to obey and "die to ourselves daily" so that we can present ourselves a "living sacrifice" to God. We do all this with the hope that we will one day see Him face to face. Paul concludes this thought with the summary, "If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die". This gives us the idea of giving ourselves over to our sensual desires. If we simply live and then die, and there is no judgment on our lives, then why would we sacrifice so much temporary and immediate pleasure, if we are only to live in this world? Paul is saying let us give into our desires and have nothing withholding us from doing whatever we please if we will never face God in judgment. This is in fact how many live their lives apart from Christ, living in complete rebellion to God, living for themselves, for they believe they will not be held accountable for their actions. MacArthur writes, "What would not make sense is the godly self-sacrifice of those 'who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, . . . wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground' (Heb. 11:33-34, 38). Their hope that 'they might obtain a better resurrection' (v. 35) would have been futile and empty".
Paul now stresses the importance of sanctification in our living because of the fact that we will face Christ again when we are raised after death, "Do not be deceived, 'Bad company corrupts good morals'". If there was no resurrection, we might as well eat, drink and do whatever we want, however, because there is a resurrection, we ought to live our lives in a way pleasing to the Lord. We ought to sacrifice and sanctify ourselves, and in order to do this, Paul warns us of spending our time with those who do not live their lives for Christ. MacArthur writes, "the Corinthians were both listening to some wrong teaching and associating with some evil people. Whether the teaching was in formal messages or not, it was bad and corrupting". Therefore, instead of being deceived, and led astray into believing what those of corrupt morals, we should, "become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning". We should think clearly about what God's Word says, and it is clear that there will be a resurrection, and that we ought to live a sanctified life. Paul warns them to quit sinning because they know and have been taught the truth. For they had allowed some to come into their midst and influence them, they had let those who "have no knowledge of God" into their midst, and for those who know better it was "to [their] shame". Paul knew the dangers of spending time and hanging around those who spoke such heresy (no resurrection) and who lived however they wanted. MacArthur writes, "those of you who believe in the resurrection know better, and you should be leading those who do not believe in the resurrection into a true knowledge of God, rather than allowing their heresy and their immorality to mislead and corrupt you".
Paul has once again proven the importance of the resurrection and how that should affect the way we live our lives, and the company we keep. Let the truth of the resurrection, not only of Christ, but of us and children of God, spur us on to "love and good deeds".
After just outlining that Christ will "deliver up the kingdom to the God and Father" after the resurrection of the Old and New Testament saints, Paul continues, "otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?" This is a very difficult verse to understand. Paul could not be teaching that someone can be saved by a vicarious baptism. What we can gather from this is that those who are baptized would be those who are saved. More specifically, as baptism was given as a symbol and testimony of a surrendering to Christ. Therefore, within this context it is possible that Paul is saying what about those who gave their lives as a testimony for Christ? Was it for nothing if they are not raised? Paul is questioning the reasons that those who would testify to be Christ's and live a life as such, yet get nothing out of it once they are dead, what is the purpose. MacArthur writes, "we could guess that Paul may have simply been saying that people were being saved (baptism being the sign) because of the exemplary lives and witness of faithful believers who had died". MacArthur continues to explain, "If there is no resurrection, no hope of a future life, Paul asked, why are people coming to Christ because of the testimony of believers who have died? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they [many present Christians] baptized for [become believers because of the testimony of] them [deceased faithful believers]?". Whatever Paul is trying to say, from the context, we can gather that his goal was to help us understand that if we are not raised after we die, there is no purpose in us as believers to live the way we do. If Christ is not raised, or if we simply cease to exist once we die, we should just live our lives according to our own sinful passions.
Paul continues, "Why are we also in danger every hour? I protest, brethren, by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me?" Paul continues to prove that as Christians we live our lives differently and obediently to Christ, because we have faith that we will be raised again and face Christ in our resurrected bodies. Why should we sacrifice so much, die to our sin, deny ourselves of sinful indulgences and give so much of our time to something, unless there is eternal value in it. MacArthur writes, "If there were no resurrection of the believing dead, then suffering and dying for the sake of the gospel would be masochistic, suffering for suffering's sake. As Paul had already pointed out, 'If we hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied' (15:19)". What would be the point in introducing others to Christ if they will never meet him face to face. Think of those on their death beds, what possible incentive would they have to give their lives to Christ, if they were simply going to cease to exist in a couple days? There would be no point. But we have been told in Ecclesiastes that God has put eternity on our hearts, and we know we will someday see Him again. We know as believers that we are called to obey and "die to ourselves daily" so that we can present ourselves a "living sacrifice" to God. We do all this with the hope that we will one day see Him face to face. Paul concludes this thought with the summary, "If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die". This gives us the idea of giving ourselves over to our sensual desires. If we simply live and then die, and there is no judgment on our lives, then why would we sacrifice so much temporary and immediate pleasure, if we are only to live in this world? Paul is saying let us give into our desires and have nothing withholding us from doing whatever we please if we will never face God in judgment. This is in fact how many live their lives apart from Christ, living in complete rebellion to God, living for themselves, for they believe they will not be held accountable for their actions. MacArthur writes, "What would not make sense is the godly self-sacrifice of those 'who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, . . . wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground' (Heb. 11:33-34, 38). Their hope that 'they might obtain a better resurrection' (v. 35) would have been futile and empty".
Paul now stresses the importance of sanctification in our living because of the fact that we will face Christ again when we are raised after death, "Do not be deceived, 'Bad company corrupts good morals'". If there was no resurrection, we might as well eat, drink and do whatever we want, however, because there is a resurrection, we ought to live our lives in a way pleasing to the Lord. We ought to sacrifice and sanctify ourselves, and in order to do this, Paul warns us of spending our time with those who do not live their lives for Christ. MacArthur writes, "the Corinthians were both listening to some wrong teaching and associating with some evil people. Whether the teaching was in formal messages or not, it was bad and corrupting". Therefore, instead of being deceived, and led astray into believing what those of corrupt morals, we should, "become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning". We should think clearly about what God's Word says, and it is clear that there will be a resurrection, and that we ought to live a sanctified life. Paul warns them to quit sinning because they know and have been taught the truth. For they had allowed some to come into their midst and influence them, they had let those who "have no knowledge of God" into their midst, and for those who know better it was "to [their] shame". Paul knew the dangers of spending time and hanging around those who spoke such heresy (no resurrection) and who lived however they wanted. MacArthur writes, "those of you who believe in the resurrection know better, and you should be leading those who do not believe in the resurrection into a true knowledge of God, rather than allowing their heresy and their immorality to mislead and corrupt you".
Paul has once again proven the importance of the resurrection and how that should affect the way we live our lives, and the company we keep. Let the truth of the resurrection, not only of Christ, but of us and children of God, spur us on to "love and good deeds".
posted by amesfam | 8:54 AM
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