What is baptism by fire?

January 28, 2023 open line hour 2

Listener:

I have this question out of the book of Matthew chapter 3 in the account of John the Baptist when he was baptizing, he said it in verse 11: that I am baptizing with water but there's one who comes after me who is greater than I whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. And I want to know how does that fire comes in?

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Well, it's saying the Lord Jesus will be the one who baptizes believers with the Spirit. We are baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus is the one who sends the Holy Spirit. He says he will send you another comforter. When we believe, we are immersed with the body of Christ with the Holy Spirit but the Lord Jesus is the one who sent Him but He also will baptize with fire. That means He will immerse people who don't believe in Him with judgement. The reason I say that is when you read the next verse, his winnowing shovel is in his hand, He will clear his threshing floor gathered his wheat in the barn but the chaff he will burn up with fire that never goes out. So, the point is the Lord Jesus has the authority to place us in the body by the power of the Holy Spirit into the body, that's the baptism of the Holy Spirit that began at Pentecost. It's every believer or we will be baptized with fire, the judgement that we face if we don't believe in Him. How much better to appreciate being put in the body of Christ, we live with the Lord Jesus forever. That's the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That's what happens to any person who will believe in the Lord Jesus. Hope you will put your trust in the Lord Jesus who died for you and rose again and experience baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3

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. -kjv

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” -nkjv

11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming 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. 12 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.” -nasb

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” -niv