Baptism in fire

In Matthew 3:11-12 John the Baptist spoke to the people about Jesus, whom he referred to as, “the one who is coming after me” and told them that while he baptized them in water for repentance, Jesus would baptize them “in the Holy Spirit and fire.” What is interesting is that, even though many churches are now willing to talk about and even pray for the baptism in the Holy Spirit there is, for the most part, little to nothing said about the baptism in fire that John referred to. Some people simply try to dismiss this statement altogether, but that is difficult to do once you read the account of Pentecost in Acts 2, particularly verse 3:

“And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.”

Obviously this verse corroborates John’s statement about Jesus baptizing in the Holy Spirit and fire. But unfortunately what this verse doesn’t do is explain what exactly this baptism in fire was or why John mentioned it in addition to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Most Christians simply ignore the “and in fire” portion of John’s statement, and focus only the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. But I believe there is a powerful revelation in this passage about the person, nature and work of God in our lives as Christians.

Isaiah 4:4 gives us more insight into this baptism “in fire” that John spoke of Jesus administering. In this verse God said that he would,

“Wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purge the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning.”

There are several verses in the Bible that refer to God as a “consuming fire.” (See the March 23^rd article, “The consuming fire”) This is because there are many similarities between certain aspects of God’s nature and fire. The “spirit of burning” mentioned in this verse refers to the fire-like aspect of God’s spirit which, like a refiner’s fire, burns away all the impurities from our lives.

Most Christians understand the baptism in the Holy Spirit as being empowered by God to bear the fruit of the kingdom. This is true, but the reality is that if we intend to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the works that Jesus did (John 14:12) then we will need to be baptized into the refining fire of God, so that we might be “a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

Another passage that sheds some light on the baptism “in fire” is Luke 12:49-50, where Jesus said, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!” The “fire” that Jesus was referring to was the spiritual fire that would be kindled at Pentecost, and the “baptism” he was referring to was the cross. In order for Jesus to be glorified, so he could pour out the “fire” of The Holy Spirit (John 7:39), he had to first be “baptized” into the experience of the cross.

In the same way, in order for us to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must be “baptized” into the refining fire of God. As we submit ourselves to be tried by this “baptism in fire” we are “fulfilling all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). And the result will be that, once we have been “approved” by this fire, we will “receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)