THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 58 Fire And Holy Ghost Baptism

“10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:10-12, KJV).

Loved ones, in our Spiritual Battle much false teaching is available concerning baptism. The Scriptures tell us that John the baptizer came to prepare the way for the Lord. In other words, he went forth preaching repentance and baptism in water. Although Christ was perfect before God, He also came to John for baptism in order to fulfill all righteousness. Later, He would send His apostles out to preach, “16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).

In our above text, John explained the difference between himself and Christ. Now, what was John saying here? Let's take a closer look and see if we can understand these matters. Surely God wanted us to know, and surely we can know.

To begin with, John showed that Christ would be much greater than himself. He said that while he baptized with water unto repentance, Christ would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

There is a lot said in the denominational world about the baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire. Both are said to be practiced today.

"Holy Ghost baptism" is preached as being for believers in this current age, and it is claimed that those who have received this baptism have the power to perform miraculous deeds.

"Fire baptism" is said to be a cleansing process or a trying experience that a person endures at some stage in life. This would prepare that one, it is said, to be of greater service to the Lord. The question is, does the Bible teach these things or does it teach something else?

To understand the baptisms of the Holy Ghost and of fire, we must look at the context in which the statement was made. John pictured a farmer threshing his wheat, fanning the chaff away, and gathering up the good grain to save, but taking the chaff to burn. Then he said that Christ would deal with people in that way.

He would have the power to baptize some with the Holy Ghost, but the chaff, or those who are evil, will be taken out and burned up. In other words, they will be baptized with fire. John, then, was talking about two baptisms for two different groups of people, one for the righteous and one for the wicked.

As we go through the Scriptures, we see that Jesus promised to send the Comforter, or the Holy Spirit, to the apostles on His departure. Reading closely the 14th chapter of John, we see that only Christ had the power to administer this baptism and only the apostles were promised to receive it.

With that baptism, they would have the power to remember the things that Jesus had taught, to tell of things to come, to speak in other languages, and to perform miracles. Through this power they could convince people that God had sent them to proclaim His will.

We are told that after they received that power, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mark 16:20).

But how long did this continue? As long as the apostles lived, since they were the only ones that had been promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit. By that time the New Testament had been given in written form and there was no longer any need for signs and wonders to confirm the Word: it had already been confirmed in its completeness (READ Hebrews 2:1-4).

There are many who claim to have the baptism of the Holy Ghost today, but they contradict each other, they teach doctrines that are contrary to the Scriptures, they are members of churches that are NOT mentioned in the Scriptures, and they practice things that are in clear opposition to God's Word.

How, then, can they say that they have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, just as the apostles were, and that they are speaking by His guidance? The fact is, they haven't been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Such people are deceived and they deceive the hearts of many (cf. Romans 16:18).

It was through the power of Christ that the apostles on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, later, when Peter followed instructions to go to the household of Cornelius and to preach the Gospel to them, he was shocked when, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning” (Acts 10:44-46; 11:15).

You will notice that it was not through Peter's power that these first Gentile converts received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but as a direct working of God. Let this be a warning to us today when preachers command the Holy Spirit to fall on their "converts." Humans don't command the Spirit of God!

Notice, also, that even though this was several years after the Gospel was first preached on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, from Peter's statement in Acts we can be assured that not another person had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit during that interval of time. What was Peter's statement? That the Holy Spirit “fell on them, as on us at the beginning.”

Obviously, God used this outpouring as testimony that He would accept Gentile converts into the church, to prove that He was no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35), and to fulfill the prophecy of Joel that "all flesh" both Jews and Gentiles — would be blessed with salvation through Christ (Acts 2:16-21).

These are the only two instances recorded in Scripture of any humans receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The use for this special baptism, and the time for it, have passed. It is not the "one baptism" of Ephesians 4:5. Still, all souls, even today, have been blessed through that baptism since the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the truth and in giving the written Word (John 16:13).

But what about the other baptism, the baptism of fire? Christ would have the power to administer this one also, not to the righteous, but to the wicked. The Bible teaches that in the last day Christ will cast all of the disobedient into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14).

We read, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

That, then, is the baptism of fire that John had said Christ would administer. Let us pray and strive to be obedient so that we will not experience that baptism.

Baptism is a burial. In the case of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the apostles, or they were immersed in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). When the wicked shall be baptized with fire in the last day, they will be immersed or buried in the lake of fire.

Someone has said that we are too late for Holy Spirit baptism, too early for fire baptism, but we are just in time for water baptism, which is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

In Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul says, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

How many baptisms are there today? According to God's Word, there are as many baptisms as there are Gods — only one! We know, according to the Scriptures, that you have not been baptized with the Holy Ghost — and we know also that you have not received fire baptism since that baptism has not come yet, but is to be administered to the wicked in the last day. But the question is, have you been scripturally baptized in water for the remission of your sins? If not, why are you waiting? (Acts 22:16).

Through the free gift of God’s grace by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 2:8; Revelation 1:5) and your obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26), salvation is offered. If you have questions or wish to comment, please do so. Lord willing, a Bible answer will be provided for every Bible question.

Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).