Many people earnestly seek for the baptism of fire as part of the salvation process. They read the statement of John the baptist who said Jesus would come and baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). They trust that this baptism of fire is synonymous with the reception of the Holy Spirit mentioned by Jesus and by Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38.(1)(2) I think they are terribly mistaken.
Here’s the entire passage:
I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Stopping here we might think that being baptized by fire is a good thing and much to be desired. But we cannot stop. As with all Bible study we must consider the full context of the passage.
In Matthew 3, “fire” is mentioned three times. We find it in Matthew 3:10, Matthew 3:11 and Matthew 3:12. In verses 10 and 12 the reference is undeniably to judgment or punishment. Verse 11, which is the key verse for our particular interest, is not so clear. At least not until you look at the other two verses.
Does it make sense that the middle occurrence of the word means something good when the other two immediately surrounding verses mean something else.
Jesus will judge his people (2 Timothy 4:1) and some will be cast into a lake of fire (Revelation 21:8; c.f. Revelation 20:10). There is far too much linkage between fire and judgment for this passage to mean something desirable.
There is a good study on this subject at www.layhands.com. I do not endorse everything on the site but his study is especially powerful as he is a pentecostal. Many who hold to the idea of the baptism of fire are pentecostal in their view.
Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment here on the blog._____
- c.f. Acts 2:3(↩)
- These two “receptions” of the Holy Spirit are not necessarily the same inasmuch as the measure of the Holy Spirit received by the apostles was far greater than that others would receive.(↩)
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purification of hard metals like gold is being done not by washing with water but with the use of fire. water baptism is symbolic of being cleanse with when we are purified with holy spirit our inner self has been purified and cleansed hence baptism by fire itself can be equate as baptism by holy spirit.
since sins in other religion are cleansed by water..but the sins in christian can be purified by the blood of christ.
Thanks for the visit. I’m glad you stopped by and left your comment. Baptism of fire is not a good thing. I think the article makes plain the reasons why. However you are correct that the holy spirit is essential in the Christian’s life. Water itself is not what cleanses sins in a literal way. It is a act of obedience – essential obedience – to God. You are also correct that we are cleansed by the blood of Christ. We must keep in mind that we can never say that one thing saves alone. God uses many things to bring us to salvation.
Yes, you are right. there are many ways of calling. Baptism with water has rather become symbolic..like acceptance of christ and christianity. But the words of God has to be chewed, eaten,digested like vitamins..it should run in our blood, enter in our brain through our ears in the notes of music. so that when any attacks come even when we aren’t aware it will automatically work by itself.. like the WBC activates/fight the bacterias attacking our body system..even while we are asleep. Many Hindus equate Baptism as their holy dips in Ganges river to wash away their sins. Baptism by holy spirit alone is the ultimate. “Baptism by fire” as many have pointed about the warning of hell may be true..but my view is that the literary meaning of “FIRE “may not be the same as we see. Those days the pharisees/seduccees hearts were hardened like metals..where only fire power might had been required to purify those hardened leaders…
It is accepted that a passage be interpreted in its plainest meaning unless something in the text requires a symbolic meaning. Here it does not. Would you offer an example of Holy Spirit baptism?
If I may, I will: the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or in my circles, the Holy Ghost is a complete in-filling of God, the Holy Spirit. Not that God is completely in you but, just that you are completely filled with Him. And, most importantly, you must be aware that if this happens, there is one sign that MUST happen. No matter how good you feel or what anybody tells you, this must happen. PLEASE study this! If you are filled, you will begin, while your praying for the in-filling, to pray in another tongue, another language. Baptism is complete immersion; once in water, once in Spirit, and once in fire; you won’t get out of that last one! but, you can get thru it, if you have the first two. Please get them both! Lord Bless You.
My God, My God! Why have you given me this cup of frustration? But, I thank you and desire to do your will! And to do His will this day is to warn you, all of you above, that you still don’t get it!!! I am about to post on my site, next month I think, a study of the Three Baptisms. Yes, I said three. I know about One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism and I fully agree but, that’s not in context with my study. Water, Spirit, Fire; those are the three and and most importantly it makes you aware of the third, Fire Baptism. But, for now, in brief, I must say that some of you missed it completely, some got it half right while speaking against the other half. The first two baptisms are ones of choice. The third one is NOT! Everyone on the planet will go thru the fire baptism! It’s not the Spirit, not the Holy Ghost, not trials, not anything other than actual flame burning FIRE! I will give you that it’s not a wood fire but, a fire created by God, so, You, nor I, can imagine the heat and feirseness(sp?) of the flame and pain!! Oh, I can’t wait to put up the whole study, I urge you to look for it, please! Anyway, the process is this, you WILL go thru the fire AND, if you have the first two baptisms, you will imerge from the fire into and finally reaching eternity in Heavin with God! But, if you do not have the first two, you shall not emerge. It’s both good and bad, the choice is yours! For you who think it’s one sided for bad, try to rember the verse that says – And WHEN you go thru the fire, not if, I will be with you. God ain’t goen’ to hell, again. Pray when you read your Bible, ask for knowledge that leads to wisdom. Never read your Bible without making a prayerful connection to God first, have the teacher in the room! I don’t mean to anger anyone it’s just that this was one of the first lesssons God gave me and told me to, commanded me, to get this lesson, among others, out to the people. I am human and have failed miserably but, I’m working on it. Lord Bless you all.
Lloyd,
Thanks for coming by. There are many things I am curious about from your post and I will read what you say. But I am always concerned when someone tells me that God gave them some sort of private revelation. I am anxious to see what you offer.
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