Baptism of fire

I have heard numerous people over the years say they have received the "baptism of fire." The Bible describes what the baptism of fire is and it is not the same thing as the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit baptism is the one we want. The baptism of fire is a reference to hellfire and we do not want that.

Verses often cited for what the baptism of fire is reveal a context that describes useless dead trees and chaff thrown into an unquenchable fire.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for 'wheat' which is just figurative language used to describe those who are saved. Jesus will gather His wheat into His barn.

Those who receive the baptism of fire is not what people sometimes think it is; again, it is a reference to hellfire.

(Underlines added by me)
Matthew 3:10-12 (KJV)
10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

baptism of fire is not the same as being cast into the fire brother

consider that John didn’t baptize with the spirit but with water for remission and he’s saying Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

what that reference actually is brother is a reference to the refiners fire of the gospel

John the Baptist and Jesus in a prophecy

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:

and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭

to hear the gospel and believe becomes a refiners fire and fullers soap it works to purify the heart and mind in Christ which purifies the actions . The fire in that reference is the truth of the word of God through Christ

When a believer faces the gospel that Jesus preached and taught it becomes a fire that destroys the strongholds in our hearts that lead us to sin . His word is able to burn up the problem that leads us to obey sin

this is where his fire works in us

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

so we need this in our heart of faith to correct that issue

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

to believe Jesus word becomes a fire that refines our heart and mind in Christ

baptism of fire is not the same as being cast into the fire brother

consider that John didn’t baptize with the spirit but with water for remission and he’s saying Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

what that reference actually is brother is a reference to the refiners fire of the gospel

John the Baptist and Jesus in a prophecy

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:

and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭

to hear the gospel and believe becomes a refiners fire and fullers soap it works to purify the heart and mind in Christ which purifies the actions . The fire in that reference is the truth of the word of God through Christ

When a believer faces the gospel that Jesus preached and taught it becomes a fire that destroys the strongholds in our hearts that lead us to sin . His word is able to burn up the problem that leads us to obey sin

this is where his fire works in us

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

so we need this in our heart of faith to correct that issue

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

to believe Jesus word becomes a fire that refines our heart and mind in Christ

Here are some other verses that refer to fire in scripture.

1 Corinthians 3:13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.

2 Thes. 1:7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

Exodus 24: 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.

If the same person baptized in the Holy Spirit is also baptized in fire and it is not the fire of the Bema Seat, and not the fire of the chaff and bad branches, then what fire is it?

I have heard numerous people over the years say they have received the "baptism of fire." The Bible describes what the baptism of fire is and it is not the same thing as the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit baptism is the one we want. The baptism of fire is a reference to hellfire and we do not want that.

Verses often cited for what the baptism of fire is reveal a context that describes useless dead trees and chaff thrown into an unquenchable fire.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for 'wheat' which is just figurative language used to describe those who are saved. Jesus will gather His wheat into His barn.

Those who receive the baptism of fire is not what people sometimes think it is; again, it is a reference to hellfire.

(Underlines added by me)
Matthew 3:10-12 (KJV)
10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Those who receive the baptism of fire is not what people sometimes think it is; again, it is a reference to hellfire.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a supernatural immersion into the spiritual body of Christ. It is distinctly separate from water baptism and fire baptism.

There are other verses on this, but I provided a concise list for your convenience:
Galatians 3:27
Romans 6:1-4

Jesus reiterates this same point in the Parable of the Wheat and Tares:

Matthew 13:24-30
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.


Again, the same exact language is being used here to describe two distinct things. Chaff will receive a baptism fire. Wheat are those who will go into Jesus' barn and be saved. Those who are saved have the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

That is correct, and the context supports this interpretation. John the Baptist was presenting two baptisms and two outcome -- one for salvation and one for damnation.

The Greek words in verse 11 are referring to the same person being baptized in both the Holy Spirit and fire which is why those with expert knowledge in Koine Greek are so persuaded that he was talking about a spiritual fire that comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This interpretation has lasted all these centuries not because people were complete idiots and did not notice the fire in the context about the branches or the chaff. It was the way that the Greek specifically says that Jesus will baptize YOU with the Holy Spirit and Fire. Then we have that exact prophecy fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit and some sort of spiritual fire was manifested upon each of them. This is why people believe this, not because they are bufoons and can't read and not because they don't agree with considering context but because of the Greek structure of verse 11 and the fulfilment included tongues of flame like as of fire on the day of Pentecost when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. It should not come as a shock to you that people think that this is a more accurate interpretation.

It is not one of those obvious mistakes of interpretation that we have two views. An obvious mistake of interpretation would be like when people say that "as a man thinketh in his heart so is he" or when they shorten it to "as a man thinketh...so is he" and teach that the Bible says that if you think you are successful you will become successful when we look at the context of that verse it is talking about someone thinking ill of you in their heart but pretending to be nice, and means "who they really are is what they are thinking in their heart" and has nothting to do with the way it is used in popular preaching.

This baptism in fire text is not as cut and dry a mistake as you might think it is.

What do I think? I am leaning toward a spiritual fire because of the manifestation when the prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. I cannot ignore those cloven tongues "like as fire" that seem to be for the sole purpose of demonstrating this prophesy was being fulfilled. I also have witnessed first hand for 40 years (I was baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1981) how those how have experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues have become powerful soul winners and preachers and live in a power of God that we often like to call "on fire for God" as this really is a great description of their attitude and burning desire to live 24x7 doing the work of the ministry of evangelism. It is real and it is available to every believer who seeks Him as they did in the upper room.

The Holy Spirit baptism is the one we want.

I took that into account. I understand that the way the sentence is structured that it sounds like it is speaking to an individual. In fact, John the Baptist is speaking to a group of people:

Matthew 3:7
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

John is generalizing to his audience of many Pharisees and Sadducees: "he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire"

Someone cannot simultaneous be a dead tree/weeds destined for the fire pit while also being wheat ready for the store house. There isn't a neat way to mesh this scripture with logic without making the fire baptism and Holy Spirit baptism two distinct judgements that God will deal out to individuals.

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

what that reference actually is brother is a reference to the refiners fire of the gospel

There is a way to make them one, when we look at the fulfillment on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 those cloven tongues of fire appear to be there for the sole purpose of making it manifest that this very prophecy was being fulfilled. It is difficult to completely discount that idea. It is not unreasonable to think that this is a direct reference to this prophesy.

I have heard of this also...

Hebrews
12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
12:9 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?
12:10 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.
12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Fire as a symbol is applied to a lot of different subjects in the Bible. I believe there is a scripture that says the Holy Spirit can be quenched, that God is an all-consuming fire, then there is the fire imagery of Acts 2 in the upper room on Pentecost, then there is hell fire: they are not all related even if they are used in the same sentence sometimes.

So I am of the interpretation that saying there is a Holy Spirit baptism and a fire baptism could be easily interpreted as either being the same thing or two parts to a single process, but, The explanation of what happens to wheat and what happens to dead trees is enough to settle it for me.

I think the parable of the wheat and the tares supplements the narrative of the Holy Spirit baptism and fire baptism being two different things. What do you think after looking at Matthew 13:24-30?

Someone cannot simultaneous be a dead tree/weeds destined for the fire pit while also being wheat ready for the store house. There isn't a neat way to mesh this scripture with logic without making the fire baptism and Holy Spirit baptism two distinct judgements that God will deal out to individuals.

Fire as a symbol is applied to a lot of different subjects in the Bible. I believe there is a scripture that says the Holy Spirit can be quenched, that God is an all-consuming fire, then there is the fire imagery of Acts 2 in the upper room on Pentecost, then there is hell fire: they are not all related even if they are used in the same sentence sometimes.

So I am of the interpretation that saying there is a Holy Spirit baptism and a fire baptism could be easily interpreted as either being the same thing or two parts to a single process, but, The explanation of what happens to wheat and what happens to dead trees is enough to settle it for me.

I think the parable of the wheat and the tares supplements the narrative of the Holy Spirit baptism and fire baptism being two different things. What do you think after looking at Matthew 13:24-30?

I do not see how this interpretation would be necessarily true. Had the phrasing been "Holy Spirit OR fire" I might agree, but this is not what was written.