Q. What is the baptism of fire, spoken of in. Matt. 3:11 and Luke 3:16? L.R.
A. I understand it to be that unsparing divine judgment which the Lord at His appearing is to execute on fill evil, from which the righteous are forever separated. John the Baptist presented the work of Messiah as a whole. The cross severed the two baptisms: that which followed His first advent when He ascended on high, baptizing in the power of the Spirit; and that which awaits His second advent, as detailed in the verse that follows in both Gospels. The Gospels of Mark and John speak only of that power which in virtue of the cross. severs the Christian from the evil condemned therein. So in the Acts, we hear nothing of baptism in fire: this is to be when the Lord returns.