Featured In 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 29, Paul speaks in favor of baptizing living persons on behalf of the dead.

Multicolored Lemur said:

I probably would answer an “outward manifestation of an inward change.” And I think that’s a pretty mainstream answer

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Well, it's a very generic answer. Ok, the word "baptize" comes from the Greek word "baptizo" and it means "to immerse". The NT indicates there are two types of baptisms. The most common is water baptism where a person is immersed in water. No where in scripture is anyone ever baptized by sprinkling. Many people incorrectly believe that water baptism is a requirement for salvation. It is not. Others believe that somehow water baptism washes away sin. It does not (Jesus had no sin, but was baptized. More about this in a moment). The thief on the cross was never baptized, yet Jesus told the man he would be with Christ in Paradise that very day. The Apostle Paul while correcting wrong beliefs that being baptized by certain people carried more significance than being baptized by others, said he was glad he did not baptize any of them (1 Cor.1:15). Just a few verses later Paul said he was not appointed to baptize, but to preach the Gospel (1 Cor.1:17). So it is clear that water baptism has zero affect on salvation. Jesus was baptized at the beginning of His ministry. Why? His baptism was a foreshadowing of His death, burial and resurrection. That was the reason He came.

So why are people baptized today? First of all, baptism is only for believers. If a person is not a follower of Christ, his baptism is useless. The evidence for this is found in the 8th chapter of the book of Acts. The Ethiopian Eunuch, after hearing the Gospel, asked if he could be baptized when he and Philip came upon some water. Philip's answer in verse 37 makes it clear that to be baptized, one must first believe: Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Once a person is saved, they are then baptized as a public profession of their faith in Christ. They openly identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as payment for their sins. Jesus's baptism looked ahead to Calvary while our baptism looks back to Calvary.

Now, let's look at the second type of baptism taught in the NT. It is baptism into Christ. When a person is saved, God baptizes (immerses) that person into the body of Christ (Rom.6:3; Gal.3:27). At the same time the Holy Spirit is baptized (immersed) into the believer (1 Cor.6:19). Therefore, while water baptism is not necessary for salvation, baptism into Christ is. With this understanding of baptism, we see that if water baptism cannot save a living person, it has even less effect on a dead person.

BTW, the Unitarian minister you mentioned was correct. God does not send people to Hell. People who reject Jesus Christ as their personal Savior choose Hell for themselves. God is a gentleman and gives people what they desire...eternal separation form Him. God made a way for every person to avoid Hell, but He gives folks what they ask for.

Multicolored Lemur said:

Why are we focusing on sin rather than loneliness for example?

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Because sin is what separates people from God. It is sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. It is sin that sends people to Hell. That’s why it is so important to focus on sin.

Multicolored Lemur said:

Nope.

I just don’t buy that. I remember when I was an evangelical Christian considering and mulling over the belief— God is Holy and can’t stand sin in his presence.

But really, Is God that prissy and that much of a goody two-shoes?

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Hahaha…it doesn’t matter if you buy it or not. That’s what the Bible teaches. And God is not prissy. He is holy.

AgnosticBoy said:

Scooter said:

Many people incorrectly believe that water baptism is a requirement for salvation. It is not.

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I appreciate making that compelling case! As I've said before, it is important factor to consider on this issue. If water baptism doesn't save, then I question the point of doing baptism for the dead.

And here's from one of my go-to sources, GotQuestions:

The concept underlying baptism for the dead is that baptism is necessary for salvation, that those who have died un-baptized cannot inherit eternal life. Those souls need someone still living to become a surrogate for them; if someone will be baptized on their behalf, they may be granted access to heaven. But this contradicts Scripture.

What, then, do we make of 1 Corinthians 15:29? In that verse, in the middle of a discussion of physical resurrection, Paul says, “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?” This is a difficult verse to interpret, but we know from the rest of Scripture that it does not mean a dead person can be saved by proxy. We can rule out the idea that the baptism of someone living can benefit someone dead. As already noted, baptism is not a requirement for salvation in the first place (see Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:28; 4:3; 6:3–4). The entire passage of 1 Corinthians 15:12–29 is about the surety of the resurrection; “baptism for the dead” is only mentioned in passing to bolster the truth that the resurrection is our confident hope.

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And here's one interesting interpretation for 1 Corinthians 15:29 from the same source quoted from earlier...

3. Those baptized for the dead are “living believers who give outward testimony to their faith in baptism by water because they were first drawn to Christ by the exemplary lives, faithful influence, and witness of believers who had subsequently died. Paul’s point is that if there is no resurrection and no life after death, then why are people coming to Christ to follow the hope of those who have died?” (MacArthur, J., The MacArthur Study Bible ESV, Crossway, 2010, p. 1,710).

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So that means it's really not done with the intent of saving the dead person, but just as public expression of the faith the dead person had?! I find the baptism topic interesting. Gets the swim trunks and goggles reading (joking )

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Again, if baptism can’t save the living, it can’t help the dead. If the dead weren’t saved when they died, they can never be saved.