146 CORINTHIANS, 1st, 15:29, C. H. Cayce “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?” 1 Cor. 15:30, “And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?”
In this chapter the apostle is treating upon the resurrection of the bodies of the saints. That is the main subject he considers in the entire chapter. In discussing that question he refers to baptism, in the language of the text referred to. As the doctrine of the resurrection of the bodies of the saints is true, then baptism representing this, it must be that it is performed by immersion or burial. As baptism was administered that way, we say in the act of baptism that we believe in the doctrine of the resurrection. If there is to be no resurrection, then why should we baptize? Why bury the persons in water and raise them out again in baptism, if the doctrine of the resurrection is not true? If one is true or right, so is the other. If one is wrong, so is the other. The Primitive Baptist, July 9, 1912.
C. H. Cayce To our mind this text teaches that baptism is a figure or representation of a burial and a resurrection. In baptism we say that we believe in the resurrection of the dead, because it is a representation of a burial and a resurrection. In this chapter the apostle is dwelling upon the doctrine of the resurrection of the bodies of the saints, and in this verse he points out the fact that baptism is a representation of a burial and a resurrection. Now why do we baptize that way, if the dead rise not?
The language, therefore, proves that baptism is a complete immersion— a burial— and it also proves the doctrine of the resurrection of the body. When one is baptized, he is serving God, or else he is serving Satan. If he is serving God, and God accepts the service, then he must be rendering that service from a principle of love. If he is rendering the service from a principle of love, then he has already been born of God, for “Every one that loveth is born of God.”— 1 John 4:7. When we baptize one, we baptize the body.
We do not baptize spirits. Then, if one is serving God in being baptized, and it is the body that is baptized, then the person baptized serves God in body. The body certainly engages in this service. We should be careful to avoid extremes. It is an easy matter to get into an extreme, or into an error. The Primitive Baptist, June 15, 1915.