In my own opinion about this idea of being baptized for the dead, I think that what Paul is speaking of here is not so much the rite of baptism, but that which lies behind baptism as its primary meaning. I have said before when we talked about baptism that what is involved is not so much the mode of how baptism is carried out—whether you are immersed, sprinkled, or poured—but the fact that by that public act you are identified with Jesus Christ. I think that is the basic meaning of the word anyway. The root word of “baptism” is bapto, which means “to dip.” But baptizo means “to identify.” If that is the case, then what Paul may be pointing to here is the idea of our being identified with Christ as dead men, that is, those who have heard His call, picked up their cross, and have started on the way to Golgotha after Him. Christians do precisely what Paul says he does in verse 31: he dies every day.
Connecting this to Paul’s main argument in this part of the chapter, if this is what it means to be a Christian, what is the use of doing that? Why make that confession of identifying with Christ and live a life of self-denial if the dead do not rise? If there is no resurrection, that is a crazy thing to do. Why not use our life for what we can get out of it? If tomorrow we are going to die and there is nothing else after that, then why not eat, drink, and enjoy life today? We should get what we can now.
Of course that is not what Paul is recommending. Paul is saying that there really is a resurrection. Christ has been raised, and, moreover, His resurrection is the firstfruits of those that sleep. Christians who are now dead, and will go on to die before Christ returns again, are one day going to rise because Christ has risen. All those united to Him in saving faith will follow. What happens to Christians after death is not some vague and meaningless existence. Rather, we look forward to a genuine resurrection of our bodies in a new and glorified way. We are going to be raised up and made like Jesus Christ in His resurrection body. That is our destiny, if we belong to Jesus Christ.
I wonder as I talk about this if there are people who have listened to these claims of Christianity and have said, “Well, you know, I can understand what you’re talking about, but it really isn’t my faith—at least it’s not my faith yet. I’ve heard these things, but Christ is not my Savior. I’m really not united to Him in a way which will result in my future resurrection.” If that is your case, I want to say that the Gospel invitation is open. You do not have to wait for a special rite or a certain opportunity. Jesus has already given His invitation to you when He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Jesus asks that you acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you are serious about following Him. You will find that when you are joined to Him by faith in His death and resurrection, that union, which God Himself makes between you and Jesus Christ, is an unbreakable thing. God never begins a thing and then changes His mind later.
You might not understand spiritual things very well. In that sense you may be in the situation of these Corinthians, who were muddled in their spiritual thinking. But what you do need to know is that God knows all about you and has done what is necessary for your salvation. If you have not yet come to Him, I give you that invitation, which is also the command of God and the command of Jesus Christ, that you turn away from your sin and that you turn to Him and find these marvelous truths that really are the essence of the meaning of history and the meaning of personal existence. May you find that these great truths are yours as well.
