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Doctrine of Baptisms by J-me (Part 6) 9/21/2009 6:20:46 AM
What does the Baptism in Fire mean to the believer? Jesus indicates that not only does he partake of the baptism in fire, but every believer also must partake of a baptism in fire.
• Luke 3:16, "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water, but one mightier that I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"
Does every Christian have to be baptized in fire? Absolutely!
• Hebrews 12:6-8, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."
God chastises his people because he loves them.
What does the baptism in fire accomplish for the believer? Jesus baptizes them in fire to make them holy.
• Hebrews 12:9-10, "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."
• I Peter 4:1-2, "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."
The baptism in fire also allows the believer to receive rewards and to be partaker in Christ's glory.
• Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
• I Peter 4:12-14, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
• Romans 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
It is here, in the baptism in fire, the great crucible of suffering, that the flesh is destroyed and the spiritual man grows. It is here that true fellowship with Christ begins. And it is here that the believer realizes that I AM CHRIST'S AND HE IS MINE AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
• Philippians 3:8, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"
Finally, suffering with Christ is the highest calling for any believer. May God give us grace to be counted worthy to suffer for Jesus's name.
• Acts 5:40-41, "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
