“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)
The verse that Mormons take out of context in the Bible, more than any other, comes in 1 Corinthians 15, verse 29. It reads, “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 Corinthians 15:29) They believe that Paul was teaching the importance of baptisms for the dead, as well as the church practicing it also. How this teaching was lost over time. However, upon examining this verse, you can see some big problems with the Mormon interpretation. Paul refers to “they”, when it comes to baptisms for the dead. This is not referring to the church, but some other group of individuals. He then questions why they are baptizing for the dead. It cannot be any more plain than this. There is no doctrine being taught in this verse but an evil practice questioned. But we should ask ourselves the following. Have doctrines ever been taught through questions? The answer is No. And isn’t it true that “at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15)? So where is baptism for the dead taught in scripture? The answer. It doesn’t exist. Only in the feeble minds of Mormons.
Now, let’s look at the previous verse for some clarification of verse 29. It reads, “and when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:28) Here we see the Father giving his Son authority over all things, whom is utterly supreme over everything everywhere. Do people have the authority over people? No, only God. So do people have the right to say a person is unsaved and try to save them through baptism? No, only God can do this. But what do we see in the Mormon temples, we see the Mormon people, aka, “they” in 1 Corinthians 15:29. Mormons are acting just like the heretics did in the times of Paul the Apostle. So would he expose these evil works for the dead in today’s Mormon Temples? Of course, He would. And God has revealed to me to do the same. My friends, Mormons are baptizing in vain. People die, and their spirits go where they are supposed to, either paradise or hell. We cannot stop this, but only pray that in this life people receive Jesus. And if they didn’t have this chance, know that Jesus is a good God and knows where people should go. Only He knows our hearts. Amen.
