Baptism Of Fire

Matthew 3:1-12 

This week we will consider the second in a series of difficult passages.  As I have said, many of these passages are not really hard to understand but they have been misapplied by so many for so long the true meaning has been clouded.  The difficult part of this passage is John’s reference to Jesus baptizing with fire.

Have you ever seen a sign designating a church as a “Fire Baptism” church?  I have and I wondered what they thought fire baptism was.  A little investigation revealed that certain religious groups understand fire baptism to be something like the baptism with the Holy Spirit the apostles received in Acts 2.  They will say that the “tongues as of fire” that appeared and rested on the apostles was the first fire baptism.  In their view baptism of fire is something that happens to true believers.  Can this be right?  If it is, how do we know who has been baptized in fire?  Where are the tongues of fire that is supposed to accompany this?

There is another view that the baptism of fire is metaphoric for personal spiritual trials that all true believers must endure.  This is something similar to the way the phrase is used in the military to describe a new soldier’s first combat experience.  While the idea of personal trials is certainly scriptural, if we look at the context we will see that this is not what John had reference to.

John is addressing two groups of people: those who were coming to him confessing their sins and being baptized for repentance (those who would later be chosen as apostles by Jesus were in this group) and Pharisees and Sadducees who he called a “brood of vipers.”  John is speaking of baptism, which was by immersion.  He states clearly that the baptism he was administering was water baptism.  Then, speaking of Jesus, he said one would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

When we read verse twelve we see how John says the baptism of fire will be carried out; Jesus will gather His wheat and then he will “burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Baptism with fire is not something to be desired.  It is not meant for Christians but for those who reject Christ as the Pharisees and Sadducees did.  We read about this baptism in Revelation 20:11-15 where those whose names are not written in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. 

Looking forward to Sunday,

Thomas Sneed

Pond Church of Christ