Baptized for the Dead? 1 Corinthians 15:29

A friend of mine from Colorado wrote this.  I would love to hear your comments and thoughts on it.  You can find more of his work at www.livinggodministries.net

When we begin to mature in our faith in Christ Jesus, our life becomes an adventure of discovery. One way we begin to discover what we now have, is by reading the Bible. When reading the Bible we often discover what our God has said and done in the past. When reading through the letters of the Apostle Paul, we occasionally discover passages that are difficult to understand. Peter recognized this challenge in his second letter, chapter 3:15,16. One of these difficult passages is found in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, 15:29, where he wrote, "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?" What is difficult, is that we recognize that a person cannot be baptized on behalf of someone else. Baptism is a personal and individual decision by those who undergo conversion. However, it appears that Paul is suggesting that we can undergo this sacrament of conversion on behalf of someone else who is already dead. How can this be without contradicting the rest of the Scriptures that specifically address personal responsibility with regards to salvation? Understanding this verse requires an understanding of the pharisaical doctrines of baptism and indwelling life. With an understanding of these doctrines, it will be easy to both understand and appreciate this statement to the church in Corinth.