Christ's Baptism With the Holy Spirit and With Fire. Mat_3:11-12; Luk_3:16-17. Mark and ...
Christ's Baptism With the Holy Spirit and With Fire. Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17. Mark and John Record Only the Baptizing With the Holy Spirit.
It is interesting to note the differences in the accounts given by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John concerning John the Baptist. When John preached, there was a multitude of sincere people who came trusting Christ and were baptized. On the other hand, there were the self righteous who came, known as the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Their purpose for coming was not that of sincerity, but to mock and cause trouble. They were claiming Abraham as their father, not Christ, and John knew them well when he addressed them in Matthew 3:9...
"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to (as) our father..."
He addressed the true character of this group; even though "veneered" by religious attire, he called them "vipers"!
"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of VIPERS, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" - Matthew 3:7 When addressing those present as "vipers," he also made mention that they would be judged by the Christ they rejected. This is the "baptism of fire" spoken of in Matthew 3:11.
"...he (Christ) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." In Mark we have no record of these "vipers," only those who came in sincerity (Mark 1:5); therefore no mention of judgment (baptism with fire), only the baptism of the Holy Spirit...
"I indeed have baptized you with water: but he (Christ) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." - Mark 1:8 The same is true with the account of Luke and John. In Matthew, we have the mention of "vipers" (3:7); therefore, both baptisms are mentioned, that of the Holy Spirit and that of fire (judgment). John records no "vipers"; therefore, no baptism of fire, only that of the Holy Spirit (John 1:33).
Christ's Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist was the first to mention anything about Christ baptizing with the Holy Spirit. This would be elaborated upon later by our Lord, Himself, as the Gospels bear record. John also spoke of many other things to the people, in preparing the way of the Lord, which are not recorded. Later in Christ's ministry, He would reveal more fully these great truths that John had briefly touched on by way of introduction. After John had just spoken of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire, it is recorded in Luke 3:18 that...
"And many other things in his (John the Baptist's) exhortation preached he unto the people."
It is imperative to understand the difference between the working of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and that of the New Testament. It is equally important to realize that the Gospels are, basically, Old Testament Books; only after the Resurrection are we on new Testament ground. Under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit never permanently indwelt believers. Christ, in His ministry, revealed a new working of the Holy Spirit, which was to be manifested after His return to Glory. In preparing His disciples for the Cross, He assures them that He will not leave them comfortless...
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another (Gr. ALLOS, "another like Himself") Comforter, that he (the Holy Spirit) may abide with you FOREVER; (16) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth WITH YOU, and shall be IN YOU." - John 14:16-17
Christ is telling them that the Holy Spirit within them would take the place of the Savior beside them. He then informs His disciples as to the general time the Holy Spirit would come as promised, this being after His ascension to Heaven.
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I DEPART, I will send him unto you." - John 16:7
Until the Cross, they knew only the general time that the Holy Spirit would come in fulfillment of His promise. It was not until after Christ's Resurrection and His forty days walk with them (Acts 1:3); that He then told the Apostles the more specific time of the Holy Ghost's coming...
"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father (coming of the Holy Spirit), which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (4) For John truly baptized with (in) water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." - Acts 1:4-5 This was to be fulfilled in ten days, on the Day of Pentecost, which ushered in a new dispensation under the New Covenant made on Calvary. The Holy Spirit would now indwell believers, permanently, throughout the Church Age. Every believer would also be baptized, spiritually, into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). We believe Pentecost was the "birthday" of the Church Age, which fulfilled Christ's promise of the Holy Spirit's coming. This is evidenced by Acts 2:1-2 where the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit's coming is recorded.
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind (Gr. PNEUMA, "Spirit"), and it filled all the house where they were sitting." The initial fulfillment of Christ's baptizing with the Holy Spirit became a reality on the Day of Pentecost. Each believer has been added to the Spiritual Body of Christ ever since. When a person comes to Christ; they are indwelt permanently with the Holy Spirit and baptized into His Body.
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into (partake of) one Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12:13 Christ's Baptism with Fire. Matthew 3:11-12; also Matthew 13:24-30
"...he (Christ) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and WITH FIRE: Whose fan is in his hand, and he (Christ) will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." The "baptism of fire" in Matthew 3:11 is explained in Matthew 3:12. The "wheat" is in reference to the saved; as the "chaff" is speaking of the lost. The "garner" is the storehouse and is in reference to God's Kingdom. Christ will render this judgment when he returns at the end of the 7-Year Tribulation Period to institute the glorious Kingdom Age for 1,000 years. The word "baptism" in Matthew 3:11 is the Greek "BAPTIZO"; which means "identification" and "to dip or immerse." It is used, metaphorically, of divine judgment upon the lost for rejecting Christ as Saviour. This is the same as the Judgment of The Nations; where Christ will identify the saved, and immerse the lost in fire. Christ illustrated this judgment just prior to the Cross. Here is the record in Matthew 25:31-32.
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (31) And before him (Christ) shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." To the saved, "the wheat," will echo the sweetest words they have heard in this life, spoken by the Lord, Himself, in Matthew 25:34.
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD." To the lost, "the chaff," the Lord will proclaim the most devastating words they have ever encountered in their life! These have been separated from the saved and placed on the left hand, as He pronounces their judgment in Matthew 25:41.
"Then shall he (Christ) say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, INTO EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS."
Yes, these have rejected Christ as their Savior, while on the earth; now, our Lord honors their decision by rejecting them for all eternity. Also speaking of this same judgment, are the words of our Lord in Matthew 24:40-41.
"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left."
It should be noted that these two verses are NOT speaking of the Rapture of the Church, which takes place 7 years earlier. In fact, just the opposite of the Rapture takes place here. May we point out that, at the Rapture, the saved are taken (1 Thessalonians 4:17); and the lost are left to begin the Tribulation judgment. Here in Matthew, at the judgment of the Nations, the lost are taken into judgment while the saved are left to enter the Kingdom.
Remember, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John knew nothing about the Rapture of the Church. This was a mystery revealed later to the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Every mention of Christ's Second Coming, in the Gospels, is in reference to His judgment and setting up of the Kingdom at the end of the Tribulation Period. This is what is spoken of by John the Baptist, when he declares Christ's baptism by fire.