BELIEVED IN VAIN
1Corinthians 15.1-2
1. "Now I make known to you brethren, the Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
2. by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
Here Paul made very interesting statement. He stated that by his teaching of the Gospel Corinthians are saved, but condition is "if you HOLD FAST the Word which I preached to you."
It means that those who are heard the Word of Gospel of Paul. but do not follow it and do not live according to his Word, "you believe in vain." How it even possible to believe in Gospel and at the same time believe in vain?
Actually, where are many reasons for that. False and wrong understanding of the Gospel and its wrong and false interpretation indeed make "believe" in Gospel "in vain." The fact is that wrong teachings and false doctrine lead exactly to the dead end in believing in Christ and in Faith.
It seems what some old false and wrong believes of certain sects penetrated and invaded the church of Corinth and spread false teaching "that there is no resurrection of the dead." (12). Similar false view hold and by Sadducees (Matthew 22.23-30) (Mark 12.18-25) (Luke 20.27-36) (Acts 23.6-8).
Paul quickly realized the seriousness of this problem, because it is not just immoral or a behavioral problem, it is a spiritual problem and deficiency of faith in Christ and His Gospel, So, what is the point to believe in Christ and in His Gospel if a person does not believe in resurrection of the dead? Such believe certainly in vain as Paul as so the entire Faith in Christ in such person (2).
Today is impossible to find any church or any believer who would not believe in Resurrection of Christ or the dead. But today churches have other problems of false doctrines, false teachings, and all sorts of false traditions, rituals, customs, and ceremonies what church leaders created for themselves and for their followers.
These numerous human doctrines and traditions which are not according to the Gospel and even do not mention in it, also lead many their " believe in vain" and such churches and it people are lost not only to the Gospel but to the Christ as well.
It is solemnly warned that nothing shall be added or taking from the Gospel of Christ, or such person will lose his/her salvation: Revelation of John 22. 18-19.
PROPHESY OF PAUL ABOUT FUTURE
1Corinthians 15.24-28
Just like John, the Apostle of Christ, prophesied for us in the Book of Revelation the future events, and so Paul done very much the same, prophesying to us the future event of coming of Christ and His Kingship. In verse 24 Paul wrote that Jesus Christ at His second coming will, "abolished all rule and all authority and power," on Earth.
The abolished rule it is the rule and law of humankind which people established from the days of Adam. Authority and power of humankind also will be abolished, and the kings and their armies will be powerless to change anything. This time Christ will come not like ordinary man submissive to power of the earthly authorities, but as the King of all Earth and the universe and will claim everything that belong to Him and His Father.
Christ will claim not only material physical Earth but also and spiritual things, Christ even will overpower Death, as the last enemy of humankind (54-55) (Psalms 49.7-9) (Isaiah 25.8) (Hosea 13.14).
Concerning verse 56, I already explained this subject before that the Law is not the sin but points to sin, and because of it the sin is empowered by the Law. If the Law is not exist, and so is the sin identified by the Law. In other words, there is no Law, there is no sin, and there is no sin, there is no Law.
Christ's Father will play essential role to put all, and even Death and the enemies of Christ in submission to his Son.
But the most apparent thing here that the Christ Himself will subject Himself to His Father Who subjected all things to His Son (28). There is nothing new in this submission of Christ to His Father. Jesus Himself numerous time repeated that He is sent by His Father, and He speaks not from Himself but from His Father, and He is obedient and submissive to His Father and does His Father's will. Father always higher and the head of his children on Earth, and so the same in Heaven, and this will never change.
BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD
1Corinthians 15.29
"Baptized for the dead," means, if people baptized into death of Christ, and obviously with Him to all the dead in Christ. This also means Baptism into Life of Christ, into Death of Christ, and into Resurrection of Christ.
Baptism also symbolizes the Death to this world, and the beginning of New Life in Christ, over which Death no longer has Power.
~ 29. Baptism in Death: (Romans 6.3-4) (Galatians 3.27) (Colossians 2.12-13) (Mark 10.38-39) (Luke 12.50, 20.37-38) (Matthew 11.11-12).
The Baptism of Christ is the Spiritual Baptism. Jesus Christ Baptize His people with Holy Spirit and Fire. With Holy Spirit because a Christian will have power of the Holy Spirit to withstand all the tribulations and suffering in the Name of Christ and fulfill his/her mission for Christ as the lifelong mission.
Paul even said that he is dying for Christ daily (31), saying by this that he is suffering and enduring many hardships and ready to die for Christ at every moment, in order to join Him not only in Death but also in Eternal Life as well.
In verse 32 Paul also mentioned, "I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus," What kind of wild beasts Paul meant by this statement, see Acts 19.32-41.