Baptism for the dead is a 2nd chance for some to hear the gospel

                                  Baptism for the Dead

Born again is only found 4 times in scripture.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God."

John 3:7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born again.'

1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be
born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,   (KJV says begotten us again in this verse)

1 Pet 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and
abiding word of God.

Born of water is only found once.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
of God.

None of these texts clearly connect baptism with being born again. There are writings where some of the early church fathers
did connect the conversation between Jesus and Nicodimus with baptism. In a similar fashion works are tied in with saving
faith as James points out in his letter. Still we are told that our works do not save us. This was covered under the subject
heading "Grace vs. Works." Our works is the fruit showing we are saved. Baptism is not a suggestion it is a command. The
true believer that has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit acts in obedience to this and identifies himself with Jesus Christ.
The believer is not saved merely because he has been dunked in water. It is an act of obedience that confesses he has been
regenerated and identifies with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There are examples in scripture of people being saved before baptism and apart from baptism. There are no examples of
anybody being saved without a change in heart. Furthermore the bible shows us that genuine faith will produce works. Yet it
clearly states that we are not saved by our works.

5. There is no second chance even for those who have not heard the gospel.
There is no second chance even for people that have not heard the Mormon gospel or the real gospel, after death comes the
judgment. There is no record in the entire bible of anyone receiving salvation after they had already died. Once they are judged
there is no record of an appeal like we have in our courts. (Judgment comes after death)

Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.

According to the first chapter in Romans people are held accountable for knowing there is a God, because of creation.
Creation itself tells us that God exist. Therefore Man is responsible for what he has done with this knowledge of knowing that
God exist.

Rom 1:16-23 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew
first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous
man shall live by faith." For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who
suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident
to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen,
being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did
not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of
corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

This accounts for those who have not heard the gospel. Creation itself testifies of God's existence. These people are held
accountable for what is done with that knowledge of God and as the text states "they are without excuse".

6. The context of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 is about the resurrection, not baptism.

Many Mormons have a testimony declaring that deceased people have appeared to them thanking them for being baptized on
their behalf. To this I must state that our experiences should be interpreted through the Bible. The Bible should not be
interpreted through our experiences. Baptism for the dead and its implications are in conflict with what the bible teaches.
Therefore it is not wise to accept even what a spirit may have told them concerning this. Demons have been around for a long
time and can easily deceive people by masquerading as a deceased person and help promote that which is contrary to the
word of God. (The Bible) We are in fact warned not to believe every spirit, 1 John 4:1, Galatians 1:8
Having said that we will now examine the context of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15.We will see that Paul is aware of some people
who practiced baptism for the dead. Paul argued that it was not logical for those people to believe in baptism for the dead and
then deny the resurrection.

The Scripture is from The New American Standard and I added my commentary in "bold" throughout the text.

The whole chapter in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 is on the resurrection. This chapter is not a teaching on baptism!

1 Corinthians Chapter 15
1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Verses 1-4 Paul tells us the gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was
buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen
asleep;
7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
8 and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of
them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen
asleep;
7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
8 and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of
them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

Verses 5- 10 Paul gives an account of the appearances of Jesus after he was resurrected

11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection
of the dead?

Verses 11-12 Paul brings up the fact that some among the Corinthians did not believe in the resurrection of the
dead.

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;
14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom
He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Verses 13-19 Paul declares that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then they are false witnesses and our faith is
worthless because we are still in our sins.

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,

Verses 21-23 We are told Jesus has indeed risen from the dead. Through Adam mankind receives death but
through Jesus we will live. Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection; those that belong to Jesus will be
resurrected at his return.

24 then come the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority
and power.
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that
He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.
28 And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to
Him, that God may be all in all.

Verses 24-28 After the return of the resurrected Christ and the resurrection of the saints the end will come. That is
the end of this age then Christ shall abolish all authority and he shall reign until all enemies are subject to him.
Jesus will conquer even death.

29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized
for them?
30 Why are we also in danger every hour?

Verse 29-30 Paul ask why certain people who he simply refers to as "they" do baptism for the dead if they do not
believe in the resurrection. He is pointing out that these two beliefs are inconsistent with each other.

Paul ask also why he and other Christians would stand in jeopardy? Since they were persecuted for teaching the
resurrection it would be inconsistent and irrational to also declare there was no resurrection.

Did you notice the contrast between verse 29 & 30? In verse 28 Paul refers to some people that he does not
include as being in unity with himself or other Christians. These people practice baptism for the dead and he refers
to them as "they"(KJV) or "they and those" (NAS).

Then in the next verse Paul includes himself with other Christians who proclaim the resurrection. Here in verse 30
Paul uses the word "we". The contrast is between "they" and "we". One group includes himself and others who
proclaim the resurrection ("we"). The other group of people Paul makes no connection with between himself and
other Christians. Paul simply states that "they" practice baptism for the dead.

In Acts 17:23-33 we see where Paul used an idol with the inscription of an unknown god to proclaim the true God
to them. Paul did not believe in their idol anymore than he believed in baptism for the dead here. Paul only pointed
to their own false belief as a reference they could relate to teach them about the truth of God and the resurrection.

31 I protest, brethren, by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and
drink, for tomorrow we die.
33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Verse 31-34      Paul declares that unless there is a resurrection there is no reason to undergo persecution for
proclaiming the resurrection. Without the resurrection he might as well adopt the heathen philosophy of "let us eat
and drink, for tomorrow we die." Paul then tells them not to be deceived by this teaching from those who have no
knowledge of God, thus denying the resurrection. This corrupt doctrine denying the resurrection promotes sin,
which they are to abstain from.

35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?"
36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;
37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.
38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and
40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is
another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body it is raised an imperishable body
43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.
47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.
49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the
imperishable.

Verse 35-50 Paul explains concerning the bodies of the resurrected dead

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we shall be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about
the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil
is not in vain in the Lord.
END OF CHAPTER

Verse 51-58 Paul explains concerning the bodies of the translated living.
One could certainly expound more on this chapter, but the main point is that from start to finish
1 Corinthians chapter 15 is about the resurrection.
The context of this chapter is not about baptism.