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Articles
Posthumous Baptism
I read an article in the Lexington Herald recently that had a article entitled AJews halt to baptisms of the dead The article stated AResearchers say that Mormons have continued to posthumously baptize Jewish Holocaust victims into their faith despite a promise to discontinue the practice. Our Mormon friends are wrong in there teaching and practice. They have misused Paul's statement in I Cor.15:29, AElse 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? Paul is not talking about vicarious baptism, being baptized for one who is already dead. This would raise problems with other verses, and when you place an interpretation on a passage that will contradict other verses, you need to Ago back to the drawing board and take another look at your position. 2 Cor.5:10, AFor we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. We are going to be judged by what we have done in our body, not what somebody else does in their bodies, and claims it is for them, which is what is being talked about in the article. Then the question about faith and repentance coming before baptism, this comes in consideration. Do our Mormon friends believe vicariously, and by proxy for these dead people? Do they repent for the dead people also? Faith is essential, John 8:24; and repentance is essential, Luke 13:3. So what about the faith and repentance of these dead Jewish people? You see the problems with their interpretation of 1Cor.15:29?
What is Paul talking about in 1 Cor.15:29 then? He his not talking about proxy baptism, that is for sure. I would suggest that in context, why be baptized for remission of sins and in view of the of hope of a resurrection from the dead, if the dead are not going to be raised from the grave anyway? Why be baptized for the dead? Or another possible explanation, why be baptized into to Christ, when the sentence of death and martyrdom will befall many Christians if the dead are not going to be raised up from the grave? Why be baptized for the dead? AAnd why stand we in jeopardy every hour? vs.30. It makes no sense to risk your life for a religion that will not deliver the promise of a resurrection from the dead!
No beloved, our Mormon friends have erred in their wishful thinking about APosthumous Baptisms. Our destiny in eternity is determined by how we act and respond to God's love, and deal with our deadly problem of sin. Have you believed and obeyed the glorious gospel of the Son of God? Don't= count on someone else doing it for you, only you can choose.
