In Matthew 3:7 we read of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming as John was baptizing. John told them that he would baptize them with water unto repentance, but that Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire.
We see later in Acts 19:1-5 when Paul came to Ephesus that he asked some of the disciples, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Then Paul asked them into what they had been baptized and they told him, ‘John’s baptism.’ Then Paul explained that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, but that they should believe on Jesus. Verse 5, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Paul then laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit and were able to speak in different languages and prophesy.
Do we receive this same measure of the Holy Spirit today? In I Corinthians chapter 12 we read of various gifts that were given to those in the early church. In I Corinthians 13 we learn that no matter what gift one may have had, if love didn’t rule in their lives these gifts were of no avail.
At this time the Word of God, the Bible, was incomplete, thus the need for these spiritual gifts. I Cor. 13:8-10 says, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”
Those Christians only knew “in part” because they didn’t have the Bible. This “part” was what they knew through spiritual gifts. But, these would be done away with when “that which is perfect (complete) has come.” What is “that which is perfect? The Bible. James 1:25 refers to those who look into the perfect law of liberty. Notice also the prior verses 21-24. The implanted word is referred to, being doers of the word is referred to, being a hearer of the word and not a doer is mentioned. And, finally in verse 25, those who looked into the perfect law of liberty would be blessed.
Today when we are baptized for the remission of our sins, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). This is what John meant when he said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:26-27). The Bible came through the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21). It gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:2-3). Thus, the Holy Spirit is not something miraculous that Christians today receive.
When John makes the statement in Matthew 3:11 that Jesus would baptize with the “Holy Spirit and fire” he is referring to two separate baptisms. We’ve just discussed the Holy Spirit baptism.
Notice the context of this passage, verses 7-12. John knew that the Pharisees and Sadducees were insincere. They thought they were righteous just because they were the descendants of Abraham. In verse 10 John also reminds them that those who aren’t bearing good fruit will be thrown into the fire. Verse 12 speaks of the separation of the righteous and the unrighteous. When John told the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus would baptize them with fire, he meant “eternal destruction.” Those in sin will have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).
I cannot put a close on this short study unless I also mention the baptism of the Holy Spirit that was meant only for the apostles. In Acts 1:1-5, 8 Jesus had told the apostles not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father. He told them that John had baptized with water, but that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. When did the apostles receive this Holy Spirit baptism? In Acts chapter 2 on the Day of Pentecost (verses 1-4). Why did the apostles receive this Holy Spirit baptism? In order for them to be able to teach the thousands of people in Jerusalem. They were able to speak in such a way that these people from all nations could hear in their own language (vs. 6). Peter preached the very first gospel sermon, many were baptized for the remission of their sins (vs. 38), and they were added to the church (vs. 41, 47). This was the beginning of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ!
–Becky Honeycutt
NOTE: Prior to this article some readers expressed a desire for something like a textual study for at least part of Paul’s discussion about love and spiritual gifts in 1 Cor. 13. Because of these requests we have added an excerpt from a Bible commentary on 1 Cor. 13 to our “deeper insights” section.