1 Corinthians 15 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?
Let us first have a look at baptism and the reasons for doing it, keeping in mind that God created each one of us with the power of free choice, and that salvation is a personal choice, which God would never force on anyone.
Romans 6 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised 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 united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Colossians 2 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Galatians 3 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
In the passages above, we see that baptism is a symbolic death to self and our old life, showing by our baptism that we are now followers of Jesus. We go down into the baptismal font as Jesus went down into the grave, and we die to sin and self when we are under the water. When we come up out of the water, it symbolizes us rising to new life, as Jesus was resurrected from the dead. The entire baptism ceremony is a public testimony that we identify ourselves with the death and resurrection of Jesus by choice, and that our lives are now dedicated to following Him.
The idea of being baptized for someone who died while unsaved, is trying to force salvation on the dead person, without their knowledge or consent. This goes completely against the character of God, who never forces us to do anything, but simply acknowledges our choices and their consequences. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death, eternal death, and that also is a choice. If we reject God’s invitation to receive salvation and eternal life for free, because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross, then God accepts that decision, and no amount of praying for the dead person, or being baptized for the dead person, can change the decision made before death. Those who are dead, have made their final choice for or against God, and the next thing that comes up for them is the judgment, as we see in the passage below. And every person is responsible for his/her own salvation, so how can someone else give salvation to a dead person who has rejected it his/her whole life, by praying or being baptized for the dead person? It makes no sense!
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
In the 1 Corinthians 15 passage above, the apostle Paul is discussing the state of the dead, and speaking against people who claim that there is no resurrection. At that time, as also in the present, there were people who advocated praying for the dead, or being baptized for the dead, so that those who never chose to follow God, would now, after death, be able to be saved and have eternal life. Paul is telling them that being baptized for the dead (which they believed!) is ridiculous if you don’t believe that there is no resurrection. He is not saying that praying, or being baptized for the dead, is correct. As we see in verse 23 of the passage, the dead are in the grave until the resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming, and they therefore are judged for their choices and decisions made while still alive. Once they are dead, there is not a second chance at salvation, neither by someone else’s prayers, nor by someone else’s baptism.
Psalm 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—
Ezekiel 14 14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God. 15 “If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts, 16 even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate. 17 Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,’ and I cut off man and beast from it, 18 even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered. 19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast, 20 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”
