Matthew: Baptism by Water & Fire

Holy Spirit Come, Patrick Mayberry

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Psalm 2 NIV

1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. 8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” 10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. 12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

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Opening Hymn

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New Sunday school subject starting a good time to start

Isaiah 42:1–4 NIV

1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

Worship Set

Acts 2:1–4 NIV

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Prayer Chorus

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Worship through the Word

Baptism By Water & Fire

I read a quote this week that said, “ The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”

Richard L. Evans, Bits & Pieces, March 4, 1993, p. 2

That is not more truer that it relates to the Christian life. Many professed Christians fall short of really experiencing the full reality of the Christian life. Many will be baptized by water, but far fewer experience the baptism of fire that Jesus taught and provided.

Today, as we continue to look at the life of Jesus, we will zero in on how this passage shows us that both kinds of baptism are important.

As you are able, please stand for the reading of the Word.

Matthew 3:1–17 NIV

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 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.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

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Matthew: Baptism By Water & Fire

This passage focuses on two people and one people group. First, we are introduced to John the Baptist, then we find the Pharisees and Sadducees, and then it zeroes in on Jesus. To begin today, I want us to take time to examine each of these, but then we will zero in on the subjects of baptism.

By looking at these three subjects, we are setting up the scene and the conflict that will follow Jesus throughout His ministry. By looking at the subjects of baptism we will find the root purpose of Jesus coming.

To begin, let us look at...

I. A Line is Draw (3:1-12)

A. Enter John the Baptist (3:1-6)

Now you need to keep in mind that there have been no prophets since Malachi, some 400 years. The last recording was Malachi 4. Let us look at that passage.

Malachi 4 NIV

1 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

So, for 400 years, the Jews have been watching for the return of Elijah. Then enters, John the Baptist. He is dressed like Elijah. He is living out in the wilderness, like Elijah. He obviously stirs up the curiosity of the people.

John was the son of a priest. John could have very well stepped into his father’s shoes and been a temple priest, but instead of priestly garb (beautiful cloths and gems), John chooses the clothing of mourning and judgement. Instead of eating the fine sacrifices provided the priests as the temple, he eats locust and honey. Instead of ministering in the beautiful temple, he ministers in the dry, hot desert.

However, that is not the only difference between John and the temple priests. Where the priest encourage people to bring their sacrifices, John encourages the people to repent.

Now repentance was not a new subject to Israel. The understanding of repentance goes all the way back to the Old Testament. God often called his people to repent. Repentance was the message of all the prophets of old. Deuteronomy 28 and 30 describe how repentance brings forgiveness and blessings from God where unrepentance brings God’s curse upon them.

The Jewish people held to the promise of God in 2 Chr 7:14.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

They understood that to repent was to turn from evil and sin and to follow God and to obey Him.

But John has initiated something new. Baptism as an act of repentance. They were familiar with baptism. If a Gentile wanted to become a Jew, they would be baptized demonstrating a cleansing of their evil ways and their gods to follow and obey the God of Israel. But the idea of a Jew being baptized was not heard of. After all, they were the children of Abraham and they had been taught that Abraham’s righteousness covered them all. They understood that they needed to obey God to receive His blessing, but they also thought that in the end they were covered and God would not turn them away since they were Abraham’s children. This is especially true of the Pharisees and Sadducees as we will see shortly and throughout this series.

When John comes out in prophets garb, preaching outside the city away from the temple, he is disassociating himself from the hypocritical religion that is being carried on there. It used to be that God came to His people from the temple, but it is so far from righteous in these days, that God comes to His people away from the city and the temple.

The people are so hungry for a true action of God that they flock to John and are baptized.

Matthew 3:5–6 NIV

5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

They are spiritually hungry and eager to find God. But who are these that are responding? The same people we will see on the mountainside listening to Jesus’ sermon on the mount. The poor, the hungry, the disavowed. The everyday average person fighting to make a living. Who are missing from this act of baptism and this search for God?

Well that brings us to our next subject.

B. Enter the Pharisees and the Sadducees (3:7-12)

Now you may feel like John the Baptist was harsh with his words when they arrived, but he knew them. He understood that they did not come to repent but to challenge him. To test him. Remember, he was one of them but everything he has done has been to disassociate with them. They will not be happy that he has taken a ministry outside the temple nor that he is calling for something as demeaning as baptism. That was for aliens, not children of Abraham.

John knows exactly why they are there. He knows them for the hypocrites they are as we will see more in a couple weeks. These are men who seek attention when fasting, who cry out in loud prayers to appear meek while advertising how righteous they believe they are. The Sadducees are even worse. They are the priests and yet they are more interested in political gain and prosperity. They defraud and steal from the people in order to pad their own pockets.

John calls them on it when he calls them vipers. One commentary said it is the imagery of snakes and vipers that crawl away fast when a fire is rushing through the brush. In this part of the desert, the grass was short and dry. When fires came it quickly spread finding fuel in this dry brush, and ahead of the fire vipers would come rushing out to flee the trouble. These Pharisees and Sadducees see John’s ministry as a problem. They have come to try to put a stop to it, and John draws a line in the sand. They need to repent. It is not enough to be children of Abraham. Abraham was saved because of his love for God and his desire to obey God. That is what God wants from Abraham’s children as well. It is not enough just to be Abraham’s children as God can raise more up if He so desires.

This is our first introduction to the classes of Jew that will be behind the crucifixion of Jesus. They have no desire to truly humble themselves. After all, they are children of Abraham. Most of them will continue to reject both John and Jesus throughout their earthly lifetimes.

Then John fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, which Matthew quotes. He is making the people ready for the coming of the Messiah, even pointing out who He is.

C. Enter Jesus (3:13-17)

Jesus is quickly contrasted to both. Unlike John who was a “voice calling out” like a prophet or evangelist, Jesus comes in the quiet voice of a teacher. He does not declare His identity but allows John and God the Father to provide that for Him.

John is also contrasted against the Pharisees and Sadducees. Where they felt they were good enough not to need to be baptized, John is perfectly willing to be baptized by Jesus. In fact, he professes himself unworthy to be even a servant to Jesus, let alone to be the one to be baptized.

And Jesus is contrasted to the Pharisees and Sadducees because where they are unwilling to be baptized, Jesus, Son of God without sin, is willing to be baptized by someone far less worthy than Himself.

When John asks why, Jesus gives His response.

Matthew 3:15 NIV

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

There is a lot of discussion on why Jesus felt it important to be baptized when He had no sin. He had nothing to repent of. There are three reasons that I believe are valid for His doing so.

1. He was identifying Himself with us. (Isaiah 53:5)

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

This does not mean that we do not have to be baptized. If anything, it demonstrates for us that baptism is important.

2. It was a picture of the salvation that was to come. (Romans 6:3-4)

Romans 6:3–4 NIV

3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

When we are baptized, we are identifying with Jesus death and the cleansing it brings to us. Is there anything better than that? I am so thankful for what Jesus did by dying on the cross for me that I gladly choose to identify with Him through baptism.

3. It fulfills prophecy (Matthew 2 & 3)

Jesus came and lived life as one of us. He experienced all the same things we experience. His participation in this act of baptism puts His stamp of approval on the practice.

He was “fulfilling all righteousness” as He said. This was the right thing to do. He was showing His submission to God the Father.

I want you to step back for a moment and think about something. Picture Jesus as a young man around 30. He lives with His family. He is working as a carpenter, probably daily going to Sepphoris to do the construction work there. He knows God has a plan but He does not know for sure when He is to step forward into it. Like anyone who has been called of God, He is just waiting for the sign that the time is now. Then He hears it. Stories coming from Judea of a prophet out in the desert calling people to come and be baptized. They need to repent for the kingdom of heaven is near. That is is sign. God had said so through the prophet Isaiah 40:3.

Isaiah 40:3 NIV

3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

In obedience He lays down His tools. He goes to His mother and says, it is time. I must go. And he sets out for the Judean desert. There He sees John baptizing people and God says, go forward My Son and do likewise. So, Jesus does so. Then God confirms His appointment by anointing Him with the Spirit. The Spirit of God descends like a dove and lights on Him confirming to John and those around that He is the one. And Jesus hears those words we all look forward to hearing someday.

Matthew 3:17 NIV

17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Jesus did what was asked of Him. He was God’s Son. He was pure and sinless, yet He humbled Himself to be baptized as any sinner should.

All this signals that a change is coming. John points to it in Matthew 3:12

Matthew 3:12 NIV

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.”

The Jews are about to go through a time of separation. Jesus’ ministry will divide the earnest follower of God from those just going through motions with no real heart for God. It is a time of judgement. No longer will it be good enough to just be a child of Abraham. Now they need to demonstrate the heart of Abraham in serving God.

This is an incredible event but we so often observe the event without catching an incredibly important fact and it is what I will call...

II. The Doctrine of Baptism (3:11)

Most people are familiar with John’s baptism, but many do not comprehend Jesus’ baptism of fire and the fact that it is something we all need. Look with me again at this key verse.

Matthew 3:11 NIV

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.

To better understand these two different baptisms. We will look first at...

A. John’s Baptism by Water (Matthew 3:6)

The Greek word for baptism is baptizo. The root bapto means to dip or to dye. The emphasis was not so much on the procedure but the results of the procedure. It had to do with the dying of cloth. They would first dip the cloth in bleach to cleanse its appearance and then they would dip it in dye to change the appearance of it.

When applied to the idea of a person being baptized, it was a metaphoric idea meaning a “change of identity, to change appearance, or to change relationships.” That is why when a Gentile proselyte changed to Judaism, they were baptized by water to relate this idea of this kind of change of identity, appearance, and relationship.

For the Jew, the idea of both cleansing and consecration related the idea of a new identity or relationship.

In the Jewish practice this could be done through sprinkling, pouring, or dunking. That is why the Nazarene’s recognize all forms even though some denominations only recognize that of dunking.

John’s baptism of repentance related the idea of heart cleansing. The Pharisees and Sadducees practiced outward cleansing, but God was calling people to a cleansing of their heart. He was calling them to a new identity. They were to move from the outward practice of the law to an inward devotion to God.

John’s baptism of water was preparatory for what Jesus came to do in bringing salvation. It demonstrated a desire for God and preparation for salvation.

It was never intended to stop there. They were now prepared for the baptism that Jesus came to provide.

B. Jesus’ Baptism by Fire (Acts 1:4, 5; 2:1-4)

Baptism by water was nothing new, but baptism by fire was never heard of. How could someone be baptized by fire and live? John’s statement in Matthew 3:11 if prophetic. No one could have ever imagined what he meant by this. I am sure that John did not fully understand himself. However, John’s prophecy of Jesus bringing baptism by fire was also spoken of by Jesus.

Acts 1:4–5 NIV

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus had previously told them that the Spirit could not come until after He left.

John 16:7 NIV

7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Then the day came. Jesus had returned to the Father, His disciples (all disciples not just the 12), were in an upper room waiting as Jesus had instructed and the moment came.

Acts 2:1–4 NIV

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

This was not just spoken of by Jesus but God had promised this outpouring of His Spirit through His prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Joel. This was yet another fulfillment of prophecy but it was not just for that day. It is expected of all believers to experience this baptism of fire.

This baptism serves a very different purpose. The first baptism is an action we take. The second baptism is an action we receive. However, it is does not happen automatically. It is something we have to want. It is something we ask God for and He does so when we are ready for it. It really only requires a desire for it.

To understand this, let us look at the actions of the Spirit and the value of fire.

1. The Actions of the Spirit

There are several actions that the Spirit takes in our lives.

a. The Promise of Life

The Hebrew and Greek (Ruach/pneuma) words for spirit mean breath. We equate breath of life. So the promise of the Spirit is a promise of life. Once we are baptized with the Spirit, we no longer question our salvation. We have full confidence of our salvation.

Romans 8:16 NIV

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

b. The Promise of Power

This is not “power” as we see men seek after to control others. This is a different kind of power. Think wind power. The same word that means breath in Hebrew also means wind. It is the word used for the winds you find in a storm. Or like the scripture found in Acts “a mighty rushing wind.”

I like what William Barclay had to say about this kind of power.

“When the Spirit of God enters into a man, his weakness is clad with the power of God. He is enabled to do the undoable, and to face the unfaceable, and to bear the unbearable. Frustration is banished; victory arrives” (The Gospel of Matthew, Vol 1, pg 49).

c. The Promise of Order

The Spirit was a part of creation. In creation chaos was brought into order and that is exactly what He does in our lives. He takes are disheveled, uncontrolled actions and attitudes and molds them to be in harmony with God bringing order to our lives.

I was watching an interview with a man who had been in the movie “The Mighty Ducks.” He became an addict was on the streets of Hollywood after his stardom. Now he is celebrating 3 years of sobriety. The before and after pictures are amazing. You would not recognize him as the same person. He says his success was that he realized he had no control over his life and he needed God’s help. Once he surrendered to God, he found the strength to quit and God restored sanity to his life.

d. The Promise of Truth

The Spirit provides us with the ability to see and understand truth. Truth resides in God and through His Spirit, our eyes are opened to it as well. We are no longer blind or in darkness.

Now, before we close, I want us to very quickly look at...

2. The Value of Fire

I am going to go through these quickly.

a. Illumination

Fire brings illumination. When you approach a dark room, you hesitate. It is not so inviting. However, a room well lit is inviting. We can see and know what is there in the room with us.

b. Warmth

There is nothing like a room that is lit with a bright fire that puts off the cold. The warmth envelopes you and you just relax and are comforted. Fire brings a sense of warmth and wellbeing.

c. Purification

Fire is also equated with purification. Precious metals are purified in fire. It separates the impurities from the metal so they can be removed.

Baptism by fire is a baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does all of these things in our life.

This Baptism by fire was not just something that happened in that upper room at Pentecost. It is something we are all to experience.

The disciples and Paul prayed for others who had put their faith in Christ to be sanctified demonstrating that this was a further action that was needed after salvation. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians to be sanctified.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NIV

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When I pray for people, I pray not only for their salvation but their sanctification.

Too often this Baptism of Fire has been neglected in our preaching and our teaching. It is what we as Nazarene’s refer to as Sanctification. Others call it being filled with the Spirit. Either way, it is the baptism of fire that John the Baptist said Jesus would bring and so He did.

There are many people in our nation who call themselves Christian. Many live lives that are completely indistinguishable from any other person on this earth. However, there are others who profess to be Christian that live lives that are different. They stand out from the crowd because their attitudes, their actions, they way they live their lives is different.

Have you experienced this baptism of fire? If not, perhaps today is the day. Start now to ask God to give you this baptism of His Spirit. It is not something to fear but something to yearn for. Seek it and God will not disappoint you. It is His desire for you to know the fulness of joy that is found through His Spirit.

Pray/Altar time

Holy Spirit

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