In Spirit and Fire

The Spirit of God descended on Jesus, equipping him for his Messianic mission. He baptizes his followers in the Holy Spirit and Fire.

John proclaimed a baptism in water “for the remission of sins,” and he announced the arrival of the “Coming One.” John was the Forerunner sent before the Messiah as promised in the Book of Isaiah - “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, to prepare your way….” Jesus is the King of Israel who baptizes his people “in Spirit and Fire.”

[Waterfall - Photo by Andrey Andreyev (Kiev) on Unsplash]

The baptism administered by John prepared the way for the arrival of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. The Baptist summoned the nation to repent. He also warned the religious leaders of Israel of the coming judgment that would befall them if they did not repent. The day will come when it is too late to repent and amend your ways, namely, the Day of the Lord - (Matthew 3:7-10).

• “I baptize you in water for repentance, but he that is coming after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He will baptize you in holy spirit and fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor. And he will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire” - (Matthew 3:11-12).

John’s baptism in water was preparatory, not final. He and Jesus baptized penitent men and women. However, the Messiah would “immerse” or ‘baptize’ his people “in holy spirit and fire.”

The Gift of the Spirit was an expectation of the Last Days. It was foundational to the New Covenant promised in the books of Ezekiel and Jeremiah. By His Spirit, God would circumcise the hearts of His people and write His laws in their hearts - (Isaiah 44:1-4, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:38-39).

The phrase “in Holy Spirit and fire” indicates two aspects of Christ’s one Spirit baptism. In the Greek clause, “spirit and fire” are not two separate events or baptisms. Only one preposition governs both nouns, namely, “in” (‘en’ - εν).

In the passage from Matthew, spirit-and-fire together form the direct object of the verb “baptize,” which is in the singular number, and both fire and spirit characterize the Baptism of the Spirit administered by Jesus.

FIRE

The term “fire” refers to judgment in this context, whether for purgation or destruction, or both, and for the individual and the whole nation. John’s description of “spirit and fire” was part of his response to the Pharisees and Sadducees, who appealed to their biological relationship with Abraham as justification rather than undertaking the repentance and works of righteousness called for by the Baptist.

Those members of the nation who do not respond to John’s message with repentance and submission to water baptism will be cut down by the axe of Divine Judgment, like the fruitless trees that some of them are.

The “fire” points to the burning of the “chaff” by the Messiah. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but the wicked and unrepentant he will consume like straw, and with the unquenchable fires of judgment.

The comparison of the unrighteous to chaff that will be destroyed has scriptural precedents. For example:

• “The lawless are not so. They are as chaff driven about by the wind. For this cause, the lawless will not rise in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For Yahweh acknowledges the way of the righteous, but the way of the lawless man will disappear” – (Psalm 1:4-6).

All men and women will experience this messianic baptism. For those who respond to the Gospel positively, it will be a baptism of the Spirit. Jesus has absorbed the fires of judgment on their behalf through his sufferings and death.

• “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is accomplished!” – (Luke 12:49-50).

• “But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” – (Mark 10:38).

For those who do not repent and submit to the Messiah and all that he may require of them, it will be a baptism of fire, of judgment, whether for purgation or destruction.

• “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he is coming, says Yahweh of hosts. But who can abide the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap. And he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they will offer unto Yahweh offerings in righteousness” – (Malachi 3:1-3).

• “As therefore the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so will it be in the end of the age. The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and he will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then will the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears, let him hear” – (Matthew 13:40-43).

John’s warning applied to individual Israelites and to the entire Jewish nation. If the People of Israel rejected the Anointed One sent by God, they would experience his baptism of judgment rather than the joys and life of His Spirit and Kingdom.

• “Jesus saith to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner; this was from the Lord, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruits. And he that falls on this stone will be broken to pieces. But on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust” – (Matthew 21:42-44).

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SEE ALSO:

• Anointed by the Spirit - (Jesus is the anointed Son of God whose life and ministry were characterized by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit)

• The Voice in the Wilderness - (John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah’s arrival, the herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8)

• The  Beginning of the Good News - (The promised Kingdom of God arrived in the ministry of Jesus the Messiah, commencing with his baptism – Mark 1:1-3)

• The Promise of the Father - (With the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the blessings for all nations promised to Abraham commenced)