1 Corinthians 15:29-34 – The resurrection motivates right service & living

Verse 29 tells us that some Corinthians practised vicarious baptism. Because of this verse many are engaged in debating the issue without seeing the drift of Paul’s purpose. Baptism speaks of one’s belief and identification in the certainty of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Apparently, there were some believers in Corinth who died before being baptized. Family members would then be baptized as their proxies. Paul picked up their mistaken practice to remind them that they believed in the resurrection. It would be pointless to teach that there wouldn’t be a resurrection and then practise something that affirmed it. The apostle was not recommending this practice. He was urging believers there to examine what they were doing to make sure that one’s practice should tally with one’s teachings.

 

In verses 30-32, Paul went on to prove that if there was no resurrection, it would not make sense for someone to sacrifice his life. The resurrection gave early Christians a hope to anticipate. No Christian martyrs would give their lives if they didn’t believe that Christ rose from the dead. They boldly became martyrs because they firmly believed in Christ’s resurrection. Paul had to face extreme dangers in his ministry. He recalled situations in Ephesus where he had to confront the enemies of faith who behaved like ferocious wild beasts seeking to tear him up. He asked, “Why should he endure all that if there was no resurrection?” “What profit would it be to him?” It’s easy as to adopt the common philosophy of just eat and drink for tomorrow we die, if there were no life beyond this earthly existence. In all these Paul implied that he went through much because he believed in the historical certainty of resurrection.

 

In verses 33-34, Paul proves that the resurrection of Christ is important to Christian living. In verse 32, he was referring to the worldly philosophy of “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” It is easy to adopt such a mindset without the resurrection.  When such a mindset is adopted, character would be corrupted. People who do not believe in the resurrection are bad company. They teach that death ends everything and it won’t make any sense to change one’s life conducts. There won’t be any motivation to be better. But when we know that there would be a resurrection it would motivate us to change our life and direction here and now. So in verse 34, Paul urged the Corinthians to return to their senses and stop sinning. He was telling them to stop being influenced by those who have no true knowledge.  

 

The importance of the resurrection cannot be overemphasized. It concerns not only our future but our here and now. Disregarding this hope will cause us to adopt a second rate living. But focusing on Christ and His coming and the life beyond this life, we learn to look away from the mundane things here. It will motivate us to seek the power of His transforming Spirit to renew our mind, character and life.