Why does God
Allow Evil? Click here: /Apologeticshtml/Why Does God Allow Evil 0908.htm
Should God’s
existence be proven? /Apologeticshtml/Should the Bible and God Be Proven
Fideism vs WCG.htm
What Are the Baptisms of Fire and of the Holy Spirit?
What
is the baptism of fire? What is the
baptism of the Holy Spirit? First,
Let’s first briefly review what baptism using water means, since that kind of
baptism is the most basic meaning for this word. When the Greek word translated baptism is translated into
English, not just transliterated, it means "immerse," such as of a
ship sinking in the ocean. If we are to follow in Jesus' footsteps as a
general principle (I John 2:6), then we should be baptized as Jesus was.
He got up out of the water of the Jordan after John the Baptist baptized Him
(Matt. 3:16): "After Jesus was baptized, he came directly out of the
water." Also, the comparison between Jesus' burial after His
crucifixion and our burial in baptism doesn't work so well if we think
sprinkling or pouring is enough for the symbolic water burial (Col.
2:12; Romans 6:3-5).
So
then, what is the baptism of fire?
Consider the context of Matt. 3:10-12, which helps to explain what is
the meaning of the baptism by fire. In
the immediate context (verses 7-9), John the Baptist was strongly denouncing
the Pharisees and Sadducees for their sins.
Then he said, “And the axe is already laid at the root of the
trees: every tree therefore that does
not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. As for me, I baptize you with water for
repentance, but He who is coming [i.e., Jesus] after me is mightier than I, and
I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
and fire. And His winnowing fork
is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will
gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable
fire.” Notice that since the verses
before and after verse 11 equate the symbol of fire with punishment, it’s very
unreasonable to conclude that “fire” in verse 11 doesn’t refer to punishment
also. In this case, it refers to the
ultimate destruction of non-immortal souls in the lake of fire pictured by the
book of Revelation (20:11-15; cf. Malachi 4:1, 3). Therefore, we shouldn’t assume that the baptism of fire is a
positive reference to baptism by the Holy Spirit when that kind of baptism also
is mentioned in the same verse (i.e., verse 11).
If
we know what the baptism of fire is, then what is the baptism of the Holy
Spirit? Notice the resurrected Jesus’
explanation in Acts 1:5: “For John
baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many
days from now.” In context, he was
obviously referring to the powerful descent of the Holy Spirit on the first
Christians that’s described as occurring on the Day of Pentecost in the next
chapter. Peter interpreted these words
the same way in Acts 11:15-17: “And as
I began to speak [to the gentiles, including Cornelius], the Holy Spirit fell
upon them, just as it did upon us at the beginning [i.e., on Pentecost, in Acts
2]. And I remembered the word of the
Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized
with the Holy Spirit.’ If God therefore
gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord
Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” Here Peter plainly equates baptism by the
Holy Spirit with receiving the Holy Spirit, not with fire. One is baptized by the Holy Spirit after one
is baptized by water and then receives the laying on of hands from an elder to
receive the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 8:12, 14-19; 19:16). So the baptism of the Holy Spirit is very
good, and to be sought, but the baptism of fire is very bad, and should be
avoided. In conclusion, the baptism of fire
is a spiritual punishment that costs one salvation and the baptism of the Holy
Spirit is what gives someone salvation.
Eric
V. Snow
Click here to access essays that defend Christianity: /apologetics.html
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teachings: /doctrinal.html
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Why does God
Allow Evil? Click here: /Apologeticshtml/Why
Does God Allow Evil 0908.htm
May Christians
work on Saturdays? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Protestant
Rhetoric vs Sabbath Refuted.htm
Should
Christians obey the Old Testament law? /doctrinalhtml/Does the
New Covenant Abolish the OT Law.htm
Do you have an
immortal soul? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Here and
Hereafter.htm
Does the
ministry have authority? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Is There
an Ordained Ministry vs Edwards.html
Is the United
States the Beast? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Are We
the Beast vs Collins.htm
Should you give
10% of your income to your church? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Does the
Argument from Silence Abolish the Old Testament Law of Tithing 0205 Mokarow
rebuttal.htm
Is Jesus God?
Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Is Jesus
God.htm
Will there be a
third resurrection? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Will
There Be a Third Resurrection.htm
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