Well, it's Resurrection Sunday,
and when I woke up this morning,
I was pretty tired,
but I made a beeline straight for the accounts in the Gospels
of how the tomb was found empty,
and I very quickly found myself ready to rejoice,
ready to celebrate.
And today is a day where we should give ourselves to celebration.
But to be honest with you,
this morning I have mixed feelings.
I'm delighted to see all of you here this morning,
but I'm aware that there are so many other people
who are lying in bed right now
for whom this day is not a special day,
for whom it's just an ordinary long weekend Sunday,
the chance to gather with family,
eat chocolate,
do an Easter egg hunt,
and then add to that the tragedy in Sri Lanka.
I have mixed feelings today,
even though it's Resurrection Sunday.
We're talking right now in our church,
we're in a series talking about the resurrection,
and I imagine that Paul also had mixed feelings
as he wrote about something so glorious,
so precious to him.
But as he looked at the situation in the church at Corinth,
mixed feelings.
If you have your Bible with you,
I invite you to open it up to 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
And we've been working our way through this chapter.
And last we heard in this chapter from Paul,
there are some in the church here at Corinth
who have been saying that there's no resurrection of the dead.
And Paul has come right out and challenged this.
He said there's a massive implication to that
if there's no resurrection from the dead,
then not even Christ has been raised from the dead.
And then we heard a couple weeks ago
as he laid out all the implications of that,
serious implications.
Well, this morning,
Paul goes on to give three more implications.
And we pick it up in verse 29,
chapter 15.
He says this,
Now if there is no resurrection,
what will those do who are baptized for the dead?
If the dead are not raised at all,
why are people baptized for them?
And as for us,
why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
I face death every day.
Yes,
just as surely as I boast about you
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus
with no more than human hopes,
what have I gained?
If the dead are not raised,
let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.
These are Paul's three more implications.
He's arguing,
making an argument with the Corinthians
as to why their belief
that there is no resurrection
doesn't make sense.
It doesn't fit.
And the first thing that he told us
a couple weeks back
is that we saw the risen Christ alive.
If he appeared to us,
we were with him.
In verse 20 he says,
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.
But then he comes back
and just points to a few more things
to appeal to them
and help them see that this is the reality.
Baptism for the dead.
What on earth are you talking about, Paul?
Some of us, when we hear that,
we might think that we just walked into
the middle of one of those inside jokes
and we just...
Baptism for the dead?
It's not spoken about
anywhere else in the Bible.
In historical records,
we have nothing pointing to a practice
of baptism for the dead
at the time of this writing.
What is baptism for the dead?
One translator notes that
there are over 200 different theories
as to what this baptism for the dead
refers to.
So if you're thinking,
what on earth is that?
You're not alone.
The best of scholars and historians
have been wondering this too.
Many of them have proposed
all kinds of ideas,
different variations on what he means
when he says baptism,
different ideas about what it means
to be baptized for
or on account of
or different ideas
of who the dead refers to
and a whole bunch of different combinations
of these things.
If you just read this
at its kind of straightforward sense,
it would seem
that there were some
who were being baptized
for other people
or on behalf of other people.
And one of kind of the leading thoughts
is that this referred to
people who were being baptized
for other believers
who had died
but never had the opportunity
to themselves be baptized
before they were killed.
But of course with this,
the question that immediately
comes to mind is,
well, what did the being baptized
for them do for them?
How did it benefit them?
Because if we suggest
that this baptism
for these deceased believers
somehow added to their salvation
or enabled them
to attain to the resurrection,
it goes against everything
that Jesus
and the apostles
and even Paul himself taught.
So that's for sure not it.
Others have proposed
that instead of this,
perhaps it was
more of a symbolic act
that in being baptized
for departed believers,
they were symbolically commending
those people to God
and to the resurrection.
Another idea out there
is that this refers
to just ordinary baptism
and that the idea here
is that people saw
that some believers
had been martyred,
they'd been persecuted
and killed
and as a result of their death,
they themselves
had come to faith in Christ
and been saved
and were baptized
and that their baptism
had a bit of a nod
to that person
that they knew about
or they loved
and was a bit of a statement
of faith
that they would see
that person again
someday
in the resurrection.
One of the questions
that we could ask here
is does Paul approve
or disapprove
of this practice
of baptism for the dead?
Some suggest
that he disapproves of it
and what they point to
is the language.
Paul kind of uses
the third person.
He says,
what will they do
who are baptized
for the dead?
This is something they do
and the implication
is that we don't do it.
And so,
he's not approving
of this practice.
But then on the other hand,
we kind of wonder,
well,
if he disapproves of it,
then why is he using this
in his argument
for why there's a resurrection?
It kind of doesn't make sense.
So the scholars,
the commentators,
they're as confused
as you are
as you read this passage.
Some have just simply
looked at this
and said,
well,
maybe,
he's not really
commanding it,
he's not really
saying,
don't do it,
forbidding it.
Perhaps he's allowing it.
Perhaps it was
a meaningful practice
that he allowed them
to do as a church.
Whatever the case,
it's kind of lost in history.
We don't know the answer.
But what we do know
is the point
that Paul is making
using this.
He's saying,
if there is no resurrection,
what will those do
who are baptized
for the dead?
If there's no resurrection,
then,
if this is a valid,
permissible practice,
then this thing
that you've been doing
in faith
that's been meaningful
to you
is meaningless.
Or,
if,
another possibility
is that he's simply
pointing out
an inconsistency.
Some of these
Corinthians
have been saying
that there's no
resurrection of the dead.
Where did they
get that from?
Probably from
other people
outside the church
who had been
kind of
speaking into their ear.
and it could be
that Paul is
pointing at them
and saying,
why are you
listening to them?
These people
are telling you
it's ridiculous
to believe
in a resurrection
and in the next breath,
the next day,
they're going
and being baptized
for a dead loved one
because
they believe
in the afterlife
all of a sudden.
They're living
inconsistently,
so why are you
listening to them?
either way,
Paul's point
is clear.
The resurrection
is a reality.
It was a reality
with Christ.
We saw him
alive
and it's a future
reality
for believers
and we
ought to live
in light
of that reality.
The second
implication
that Paul gives
is in verse 30.
He says,
and as for us,
why do we
endanger ourselves
every hour?
I face death
every day.
Yes,
just as surely
as I boast
about you
in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
If I fought
with wild beasts
in Ephesus
with no more
than human hopes,
what have I gained?
Paul is challenging them.
Think about this,
guys.
I've been
traveling around
from town
to town,
city to city,
city,
and people
are after me.
This is dangerous.
I have risked
my life.
Why would I
do that
if this life
is all I have
to live
and after that
is nothing?
What is there
for me to gain?
Earlier
in his letter,
Paul
reminded them
of what
it has been
like for him.
He says this
in chapter 4,
verse 9,
it seems to me
that God
has put us
apostles on display
at the end
of the procession,
like those condemned
to die
in the arena.
We have been
made a spectacle
to the whole universe,
to angels
as well as
to human beings.
we are fools,
we are weak,
we are dishonored.
To this very hour
we go hungry
and thirsty,
we are in rags,
we are brutally
treated,
we are homeless,
we work hard,
we are cursed,
we are persecuted,
we are slandered,
we have become
the scum
of the earth,
the garbage
of the world
right up
to this moment.
Do you think
that
I
and my fellow
apostles
would give up
everything
and go through
that
if this life
is all we have
and there is
nothing
after death?
No way.
What Paul
is showing them
is that
his faith,
his belief
in a future
resurrection
matches
the way
that he's been
living.
I risk
my life
because
I am
confident
that if
they kill me
it's not
the end
for me.
And this is
implied in this
whole chapter.
I risk
my life
because
I
believe
that there's
something worse
than death
that people
are facing
in the
afterlife.
And that's
why I
take my
one precious
life in my
hands
and lay it
down
at great
risk
so that
some
so that
you
might be
saved.
The third
implication
that Paul
gives
is at the
very end
of verse
32.
He says
this.
He says
if the
dead are
not
raised
let us
eat
and drink
for tomorrow
we die.
If there's
no life
after death
if this
is it
then
we should
join the
rest of
the world
in living
it up
eating
drinking
being
married
getting
the most
out of
it
as much
as we
can
because
it's
nothing
but
hopelessness
at the
end
of the
line
for us
death
why
suffer
needlessly
why
put
ourselves
through
all
of
this
if
this
is
it
we
should
just
go
out
and
party
it
up
and
live
our
lives
to
the
full
if
there's
no
life
after
death
no
resurrection
back
to
verse
20
but
Christ
has
indeed
been
raised
from
the
dead
says
Paul
these
implications
would be
tragic
and
would be
devastating
but
you guys
are wrong
there is
a
resurrection
and the
proof of
that
is
Jesus
he
was
raised
from
the
dead
we
were
with
him
after
he
died
we
know
it
for
a
fact
and
therefore
you
guys
who
say
there
is
no
life
after
death
there's
no
resurrection
are
mistaken
there
is
not
only
that
we
heard
two
weeks
ago
he
has
been
raised
but
he
is
the
first
fruits
verse
20
of
those
who
have
fallen
asleep
he's
the
first
portion
of a
greater
resurrection
harvest
that is
yet
to
come
he's
the
first
installment
he's
the
down
payment
he's
the
proof
he's
the
pledge
he's
the
guarantee
that
there's
more
where
that
came
from
he
gives
this
wonderful
promise
in
verse
22
just
as
surely
as
everybody
who
is
in
Adam
dies
so
also
everybody
who
is
in
Christ
shall
be
brought
to
life
after
they
die
but
Paul
goes
on
verse
23
he
says
but
each
in
turn
Christ
the
first
fruits
then
when
he
comes
those
who
belong
to
him
there's
a
certain
order
to
this
resurrection
harvest
there's
a
certain
timeline
to
it
it's
a
two
part
thing
first
part
Christ
is
raised
from
the
dead
second
part
the
rest
those
who
are
in
Christ
are
raised
from
the
dead
when
he
comes
at
his
return
everybody
who
whose
body
is
lying
in
the
cemetery
who
is
a
believer
their
souls
have
gone
to be
with
Jesus
but
their
bodies
if
they've
been
buried
in
the
cemetery
are
lying
over
there
in
the
ground
and
when
Jesus
returns
the
promise
is
that
they
will
come
back
to
life
and
get
up
out
of
the
grave
amazing
the
resurrection
that
Paul
is
talking
about
here
is
not
a
spiritual
resurrection
it's
not
a
resurrection
that
has
already
taken
place
like
Philetus
and
Hymenaeus
were
teaching
in
Paul's
letter
to
Timothy
it's
not
something
that
happens
to
each
of
us
after
we
die
Paul
says
that
moment
when
we
come
out
of
the
graves
happens
when
he
comes
when
Jesus
returns
and
at
this
point
in
Paul's
letter
he
then
zooms
out
and
he
gives
us
a bit
of
the
bigger
picture
he
goes
on
in
verse
24
he
says
then
the
end
will
come
when
he
hands
over
the
kingdom
to
God
the
father
after
he
has
destroyed
all
dominion
authority
and
power
for
he
must
reign
until
he
has
put
all
his
enemies
under
his
feet
the
last
enemy
to
be
destroyed
is
death
for
he
has
put
everything
under
his
feet
now
when
it
says
that
everything
has
been
put
under
him
it's
clear
that
this
does
not
include
God
himself
who
put
everything
under
Christ
when
he
has
done
this
then
the
son
himself
will
be
made
subject
to
him
who
put
everything
under
him
so
that
God
may
be
all
in
all
we'll
go
into
some
of
the
details
there
just
a
few
but
before
we
do
I
think
we
just
need
to
think
of
how
Paul
is
using
this
how
this
fits
with
his
point
Paul's
arguing
that
there
is
a
resurrection
death
if
there's
no
resurrection
then
that
means
that
death
is
allowed
to
persist
as a
power
as a
principle
it's
allowed
to
continue
alongside
God
Paul
says
there's
no way
God's
going to
allow
that
death
will
not
be
allowed
to
oppose
God
to
oppose
his
son
or
to
oppose
his
people
at
the
final
act
death
itself
will
be
vanquished
it
will
be
beaten
there
is
much
in
here
that
speaks
of
a
coming
kingdom
a
beautiful
picture
of
how
God
is
sending
his
son
will
send
his
son
to
abolish
all
power
all
authority
all
dominion
that
is
opposed
to
him
and
death
will
not
be
an
exception
to
that
it
too
will
be
destroyed
the
picture
that
Paul
gives
us
here
is
of
Christ
coming
and
bringing
this
world
back
into
order
the
fullness
of
God's
kingdom
here
on
earth
only
one
kingdom
with
one
king
forever
it's
a
beautiful
picture
I'm
not
going to
say a
lot
about
this
morning
but
it's
something
that
maybe
you
want
to
take
some
time
to
look
at
yourself
to
meditate
over
Paul
spends
a
fair
bit
of
this
just
talking
about
the
relationship
of
the
father
and
the
son
he
talks
about
how
the
son
is
sent
by
the
father
to
bring
this
kingdom
to
order
and
how
the
son
he
goes
out
he
does
this
he
subdues
his
enemies
he
destroys
these
rival
powers
and
authorities
and
then
what
does
he
do
he
gives
the
kingdom
he
delivers
the
kingdom
to
his
father
his
mission
complete
but
there's
also
this
what
we
see
of
God
the
father
he
doesn't
sit
back
and
just
watch
this
no
he
acts
to
bring
the
victory
for
his
son
the
king
to
put
his
enemies
under
his
son's
feet
it's
a
beautiful
picture
the
story
so
big
between
a
father
and
a
son
and
a
world
and
I
can't
help
but
just
feel
humbled
just
a
small
insignificant
guy
caught
up
in the
middle
of
this
great
story
sandwiched
in the
middle
of all
this
is
this
beautiful
statement
verse
26
the
last
enemy
to be
destroyed
is
death
that
stalking
beast
that
takes
us
all
what
Paul
is
saying
is
the
first
blow
against
death
was
struck
when I
raised
my
son
from
the
grave
and
the
last
blow
that
will
vanquish
it
forever
will
be
struck
on
that
day
when
he
comes
death
will
be
beaten
we
will
be
resurrected
brought
back
to
life
but
not
only
that
we
will
be
forever
changed
the
principle
and
power
of
death
that's
at
work
in
our
bodies
that
causes
our
organs
to
fail
and
our
bodies
to
age
and
succumb
to
sickness
and
disease
that
itself
will
come
to
its
end
before
Christ
when
he
comes
it's
an
incredible
and
glorious
picture
of the
hope
that
we
have
those
of
us
who
belong
to
Christ
having
been
to
the
to
the
summit
with
what
he
shares
and
describes
here
I
half
expected
Paul
to
end
this
passage
this
portion
with
a
little
worship
hymn
or
something
like
that
a
song
of
praise
to
God
who
has
done
this
for
his
people
and
so
I
was
a
little
shocked
when
I
came
to
verse
33
do
not
be
misled
says
Paul
bad
company
corrupts
good
character
come
back
to
your
senses
as
you
ought
and
stop
sinning
for
there
are
some
who
are
ignorant
of
God
I
say
this
to
your
shame
mixed
feelings
mixed
emotions
Paul's
describing
the glory
of the
resurrection
but then
all of a
sudden
he
brought
back
down
to
think
of
the
situation
that
this
church
is
in
and
we
didn't
talk
about
it
this
morning
but
they've
been
in
all
kinds
of
immorality
they've
had
all
kinds
of
fighting
and
quarreling
with
each
other
and
division
mixed
emotions
Paul
puts
his
finger
on
three
things
three
things
that
they
need
to
do
that
they
need
to
address
he
says
in
verse
33
do
not
be
misled
bad
company
corrupts
good
character
one
of the
problems
that I
see
in
you
guys
church
of
Corinth
is
that
you've
been
letting
others
who
are
not
living
the
way
of
Christ
influence
you
you've
been
listening
to
them
speaking
into
your
life
to
the
point
now
where
you're
almost
denying
the
resurrection
come
to
your
senses
stop
listening
to
them
bad
company
corrupts
good
character
the
second
thing
he
points
his
finger
on
is
in
verse
34
he
says
come
back
to
your
senses
as
you
ought
and
stop
sinning
I
really
like
this
verse
Paul
just
shoots
straight
as
an
arrow
stop
sinning
last
I
checked
our
world's
way
of
dealing
with
problems
is
not
to
tell
people
just
to
stop
it
that
doesn't
work
don't
tell
them
that
especially
if
they're
wrestling
with
addictions
don't
just
tell
them
to
stop
that'll
just
reinforce
their
guilt
and
the
weight
that
they
feel
and
cause
them
to
do
it
even
more
and
yet
it
seems
that
Paul
under
the
inspiration
of the
Holy
Spirit
just
missed
the
memo
on
this
he
says
come
to
your
senses
and
stop
sinning
thank
you
Paul
thank
you
for
telling
us
what
you
see
that
we
are
in
sin
that
we
are
responsible
for
our
actions
that
we
need
to
simply
engage
our
minds
come
back
to
our
senses
and
act
to
put
a
stop
to
this
behavior
the
word
come
back
to
your
senses
is
literally
sober
up
sober
up
you
guys
have
been
living
like
you're
in
a
drunken
stupor
here
sober
up
come
back
to
your
senses
the
third
thing
that
Paul
puts
his
finger
on
and
it's
connected
to
these
other
two
is
at
the
end
of
verse
34
there
he
says
for
there
are
some
who
are
ignorant
of
God
whoa
he
says
I say
this
to
your
shame
part
of
the
problem
here
with
you
guys
in
Corinth
is
that
some
of
you
don't
know
God
you're
living
you're
thinking
you're
feeling
like
you
don't
know
God
come
back
to
your
senses
don't
listen
to
those
guys
over
there
come
back
it's
by
this
gospel
this
good
news
that
you
are
saved
if
you
hold
firmly
to
the
word
I
preach
to
you
he
says
that
little
phrase
I
say
this
to
your
shame
you
almost
get
the
sense
of
a
slap
on
the
wrist
and
sometimes
we
need
that
too
is
a
gift
of
God's
grace
if
we're
willing
to
respond
and
hear
him
it's
resurrection
Sunday
and
I
wanted
to
end
this
message
with
celebration
totally
unbridled
nothing
else
in the
way
but
while
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
is a
glorious
reality
it's
also
a
reality
that
we
live
in
this
broken
world
amongst
broken
people
I
want
to
rise
to
celebrate
the
resurrection
today
but
I
feel
like
there's
a
ball
and
chain
tied
to
my
right
leg
why
do
we
need
the
resurrection
we
need
the
resurrection
because
Jesus
was
executed
why
was
he
executed
because
I
am
desperately
sinful
and
in
need
of
God's
forgiveness
mixed
feelings
as we
hear what
Paul says
about this
glorious
kingdom
that is
coming
and how
all the
enemies
of
Christ
will be
put under
his feet
and destroyed
are you
aware
are you
aware that
you
and me
would be
numbered
among the
enemies
were it
not for
the grace
of God
were it
not for
what we
remembered
on Friday
and so
I hope
that we
can spend
the rest
of this
day
celebrating
to the
best of
our
ability
that
Jesus
is alive
that
we
have
a
resurrection
to look
forward to
in the
future
and that
there
is a
great
and
glorious
kingdom
coming
to this
earth
that we
get to
be a
part of
those
of us
who
belong
to
Christ
but let's
not celebrate
like fans
in the
stands
just cheering
for our
favorite
hero
waiting for
him to
strike the
final blow
let's
celebrate
as people
who at
one time
were in
the arena
ourselves
fighting on
the wrong
side
and by
God's
grace
we were
given
the chance
to change
sides
before the
final round
when Christ
comes as
king
and puts
an end
to all
who
oppose
him
what an
amazing
gift
what an
incredible
gift
and so
let's
celebrate
the
resurrection
of Jesus
today
but let's
also live
like it's
coming
like he
is coming
let's
submit
ourselves
to him
as our
king
the king
who is
coming
today
and live
our celebration
in that
way
let's
pray
father in
heaven
thank you
that you
have
just
peeled
back
the
covers
a little
bit
so
that we
can
see
the
great
ending
of the
story
we
long
for that
day
thank you
that you
have given
so graciously
to us
lord we
have loved
ones in
our lives
who need
to know
this
truth
help us
to share
that with
them
and to do
it well
with our
words but
also with
our actions
fill our
celebration
fill our
hearts with
joy
we ask
and pray
this in
Jesus name
amen
heart
pour
mine
ops
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