What does baptism by fire mean?

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What does baptism by fire mean? There are a lot of Christians who use this term. Is it good? Is it bad? What exactly does it mean? Let’s dig into scripture to see what it actually means. I’ll let you work it out for yourselves. You may not like what you read, so be warned.

I challenge you to read God’s word, and as you read it, ask God to help you understand the scriptures. – Going thru the Bible

— goingthruthebible (@goingthruthebi2) October 5, 2022

The scripture baptism of fire

Moses’ brother Aaron had two sons, Nadab and Abihu; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and because of their wickedness, fire came out from before the Lord and consumed Aaron’s sons. They died before the Lord – Leviticus 10. A man named Ahaziah reigned over Israel for two years, and you guessed it, he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. This guy had an accident and lay sick, so he sent messengers to inquire from a statue named baal-zebub, a false god. The God of the heavens and the earth, the only God, had Elijah, the prophet, go and intercept Ahaziah’s crew. It didn’t end well for Ahaziah’s messengers as God sent fire down from heaven and consumed over 100 guards and 2 captains, all because of the evil that was done – 2 Kings chapter 1.

In these verses, we see that fire from heaven has to do with judgment. But why do many Christians equate fire from heaven and fire from God as a holy blessing? Before we answer this question, let’s go to a few more verses on the fire of judgment. If you read the prophet Isaiah, you will come across chapter 66. Look more closely at verses 15 to 16, the Lord says, “For behold, the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire will the Lord enter into judgment and by his sword, with all flesh; and those slain by the Lord shall be many.”

The above verse clearly shows us the Lord’s anger and will judge with fire.

Now, the famous passage, baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire

The famous passage that a lot of Christians take out of context is Matthew 3:11, which says, “I baptize you with water (John the Baptist is talking) for repentance, but he (Jesus) 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.” This is where a lot of Christians stop reading, but you must keep reading to get the proper context. Verse 12 “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat (those who have the Holy Spirit) into the barn, but the chaff (those who do not have the Holy Spirit) he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

When John says, Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit, he is making a statement of one or the other. Not both, receiving the Holy Spirit saves us from an eternity of punishment of fire.

Jesus is separating those who believe and follow him and those who do not believe and do not follow him. Those who have the Holy Spirit and those who do not have the Holy Spirit. How do you know if you have the Holy Spirit? 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:38. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” – Ephesians 1:13

Let me give you one more bible reference: Revelation 20: 7-10. These verses talk about what happens after the 1000-year reign of Jesus on the earth. Jesus lets satan out of prison for the last battle, and all who are against Jesus are surrounding the camp of the Saints, Gods protected children. However, fire came down from heaven and consumed them (those against God’s children), and the devil was thrown into the lake of fire forever. Fire equals judgment.

Have you ever asked Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God to give you fire, bring fire on you? I just want more fire. Let the fire from heaven rain down on us.  It’s really ignorance of the scripture. If all you are doing is listening to others who do not have a good grasp of scripture and you are not reading your Bible, you will never really understand what God’s word says. I challenge you to read God’s word, and as you read it, ask God to help you understand the scriptures. You will be pleasantly surprised because the Holy Spirit will give you illumination of the scriptures.

 Fire burns. Fire equals judgment.

Thank you for reading.