What does it mean to be baptized for the dead? Should we be doing this?

1 Corinthians 15

1. The Gospel (1-4)

    The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again in triumph for us and that through faith we can have all the blessings this brings, chiefly the forgiveness of our sins.

2. The resurrection of Christ (5-11)

    Few events have more eye witnesses than the resurrection of Christ. It's reality is undeniable though many still try.

3. The resurrection of believers (12-53)

    The good news is that not only did Jesus resurrect from the dead, but he has promised to do the same for us.
    If Christ has not risen...
        1. Our faith is meaningless
        2. Our message is meaningless
        3. We are not and can not be saved
    If people who have placed their faith in Christ do not rise...
        1. Our loved ones who have passed will never be seen again.
        2. We are a pitiful people, because that means this life is it (what a rip off)
    I can not wait to get that new body!
    He mentioned the baptism for the dead in verse 29, what is that talking about? I am going to give you two explanations to think about.
        1. Perhaps this was a pagan custom that was practiced in that day. It is a pagan custom practiced today, specifically in the Mormon religion. They believe that if they are baptized as a proxy for their dead relatives they can save them from the condemnation of hell. Seemingly this pagan practice existed in the first century as well.
            Some would wonder if this was something that the Corinthians were practicing and then the next logical question would be, is this something we should practice. I do not know if the Corinthians were doing this or if it was just something that was going on around them in their culture. But Paul's mention of it does not make it an acceptable practice for us today. This is the only place it is mentioned in Scripture. It was not taught by Jesus, and it was not practiced in the book of Acts by the early churches. It is only mentioned here in a book that is full of rebuke for a church who had gone astray in many areas.
            Paul's argument is that if there is no resurrection then why would someone get baptized for the dead, in hopes they would resurrect. Perhaps he is saying, even though it is not scriptural, why do you practice this and then try to say there is no resurrection, pointing out their inconsistency. More likely, he is pointing out that it was going on around them and basically saying even the pagans believe there is a resurrection, because they get baptized for the dead. Notice he did say they and not we in the verse.
        2. He is saying this about Jesus. In other word's if Christ is not risen then why are people getting baptized for a dead man. If there is no resurrection, just like preaching, and our faith are in vain, so is baptism. If they don't believe in the resurrection they are getting baptized for a dead man, and the very picture that baptism is designed to paint is meaningless. Baptism would need to be preformed by standing in the water, and going under the water, but then never coming up, if there is not a resurrection.
    Now, I will let you choose which one you think is right, because the end result is the same.
        1. This is not a practice that we are being encouraged to do in our churches.
        2. The resurrection is real.

4. The victory of the resurrection (54-58)

    Through the resurrection we have victory. The ultimate victory, but also victory in this life, because his resurrection gives us purpose in life. Life is worth the living just because he lives.