|
|
Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
September 15
Click on verses for Full Scripture
|
previous - - - - - - - - - -
next
|
Today's Pathway:
|
In verses 27-28 Paul continues his discussion of Christ's victory over His enemies. He repeats what he said in verse 25, that Jesus will be in absolute authority over everything. He then adds the fact that there is one exception to Jesus' authority over all. He will not be in authority over God the Father. While it may be difficult for our human minds to grasp this, there is a hierarchy within the Trinity. We know that the Father sent both the Son (John 20:21) and the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), and the Holy Spirit's responsibility is to glorify the Son (John 16:14). We saw in I Corinthians 11:3 that "the head of Christ is God". Paul is reminding his readers that God the Father is not, and will not ever be, subject to God the Son. So, the culmination of all of God's plan and purpose, which has been in motion since Satan's initial rebellion against Him, will be that Jesus gives everything to His Father and God the Father is once again the Authority over all, and no one will ever rebel against Him again.
Beginning in verse 29, Paul returns to giving evidence of the future resurrection of believers. He asks why some would be baptized for the dead if there was no resurrection. This is a difficult verse to understand fully, and there are numerous interpretations as to what it means. One thing that we know that it does NOT mean is that people who are living today can be baptized to save the souls of those who are already dead. This is Mormon doctrine, and is in total opposition to the rest of the Bible's teaching concerning salvation by grace through faith. Without sharing all the different views on this verse that have been given through the years, it is my opinion that Paul is referring to the pagan practice of baptising for the dead, and in so many words is saying, "You should believe in the resurrection because even the pagans believe in it, and they show this when they baptize for the dead." David Reed wrote,
"Notice that in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 the apostle Paul is teaching the Corinthian church about the resurrection of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the resurrection of the body. From verse 1 and throughout the whole chapter Paul addresses 'brethren' in the Lord and speaks in terms of 'you', 'we', and 'us', with one exception. Only in verse 29 are 'they' mentioned:
'Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?'
From this it would be reasonable to conclude that Paul talks in verse 29 about a group outside the Christian community. Baptism for the dead is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. If it were an ordinance of the church one would expect to see the teaching repeated and elaborated on."
I believe he is correct.
In verses 30-32, Paul raises another point: if there is no future resurrection, why are he and the other apostles willing to risk death every day? John MacArthur wrote,
"It is an obvious truth, that unbelievers and hypocrites do not become martyrs. People do not die for something they hold lightly. They do not die for something about which they have doubt. They do not die for things they do not believe are worthy of life and death. People give their lives only for causes to which they are wholeheartedly committed. And one of those great realities is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who said,
'Because I live, ye, too, shall live also' (John 14:19)."
Paul faced numerous attacks against his life, and suffered incredible hardships. He could have avoided all of that by abandoning his service of Christ. And, if there were no resurrection, it would have made sense for him to do so. His testimony gives evidence of his belief in the resurrection. We will look at that in more detail tomorrow.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
|
|
You Are Here: 
