John the Baptist generated a lot of interest from the Jews, but he made it clear that he was not the anticipated Messiah (John 1:6-8, 19-20). His mission was to prepare the people for the Messiah who was coming after him.

In his preaching, John said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:11-12).

John’s baptism was preparatory. It served its purpose (see Acts 19:3-4). We are familiar with the Lord’s command for us to be baptized in water for the remission of our sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38), but what are we to make of this baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire?

To baptize means to immerse. It is a burial (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12). Unlike the Lord’s command of water baptism for salvation, the baptisms of the Holy Spirit and fire are promises.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit was accomplished in Acts chapter two when Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit upon the apostles (see verses 1-4, 33). This baptism equipped them to do their unique work as apostles (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).

The baptism with fire is a promise to immerse with or in fire. John described this baptism when he spoke of the Lord thoroughly cleaning His threshing floor on the Last Day. There will be a separation of all mankind. The wheat (saved) will be gathered into the barn (Heaven) and the chaff (lost) will be burned up with unquenchable fire (Hell).

In the apostle John’s vision of final judgment, he spoke of a lake of fire. “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14-15). This is the promised baptism with fire.

The promise of baptism with the Holy Spirit was accomplished. We benefit from it (from the work done by the apostles), but we will not personally experience it. The promise of baptism with fire is real. It is the fate that awaits those who are lost. Now is the time to be baptized in water for the remission of your sins.