Baptism of Fire

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Baptism of Fire

Central to the message of John the Baptist was the teaching that the Messiah whose coming he announced would also baptize but in a manner that superceded John’s baptism. The Messiah would baptize “with [or “in”; the Greek can be translated either way] the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16) and fire” (Matt. 3:11; Luke 3:16). The fact that there is only one Greek article governing the two nouns, “Spirit” and “fire” indicates that only one baptism is in view and the addition of “and fire” further defines the character of the Messiah’s baptism. Whereas water temporarily cleanses the outside, fire permanently purifies the whole.

Baptism by fire is a phrase commonly used to describe a person or employee who is learning something the hard way through a challenge or difficulty. In many cases, someone who starts a new job must undergo a baptism by fire, meaning they must immediately deal with one or more difficult situations.

Isaiah 4:4 (NIV): The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.

Numbers 31:21–24 (NIV): Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what is required by the law that the Lord gave Moses: 22 Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead 23 and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp.”

Fire can hurt and purify, but fire can also melt to mold...

The Bible says we are clay in the potter s hands

For us to be conformed into the person that God wishes us to be, we have to be moldable or pliable. And more often than not, it usually comes only after fire...