Good thread....I've always heard that being baptized with fire is a good thing. So usually as soon as I read that scripture about Jesus baptizing with the Holy Ghost and fire... my mind automatically goes to the scriptures on Pentecost and/or the refining fire. Not so sure about that now.
Guess, that is something I need to think about more. Anyways, good thread and posts.
John said this
“John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you
with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand,
and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”
Luke 3:16-17 KJV
John is talking about two things the baptism of fire isn’t a reference to the end and the lake of fire as it is on the parable Jesus told John says he would baptize them with the Holy Ghost and fire
if he’s referring to the lake of fire , he’s saying they would be given the Holy Ghost and then sent to hellfire that doesn’t make any sense .
But then John says and he will thoroughly purge his floor and then begins associating to the parable Jesus spoke about the end
the group baptized by the Holy Ghost and fire are those who receive the Holy Spirit and continue for the in Jesus refining fire of the word. The fire that purifies the heart , when it is rejected leads one to eternal
Fire
we can have the baptism of refiners fire or experience the fire in the end based upon his word and our response
We can stand in the fire now and be cleansed or reject that and be judged by the exact same word
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
John 12:48-50 KJV
To believe the gospel forces repentance and repentance isn’t always pleasant and the pressure grows as we abide in his word eventually we will break and repent or we will break and lose faith the fire can save throu refining or condemn in the end