Question: What do we learn from the cloven tongues of fire that sat upon each of the disciples when the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost? (Acts 2:3). Is that the baptism of fire spoken of in Matthew 3:11?
Answer: The baptism of the Holy Ghost was at Pentecost; the baptism of fire is when the Lord returns with His saints to judge the world, beginning with the unbelieving Jews: then He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
In Matthew 3:16, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove lighting on Him, and the Father’s voice says, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” “Him hath God the Father sealed.” (John 6:27). The Holy Spirit came upon Him in this form, because of the lowly character He took, “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed, shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench” (Matt. 12:19-20). Here all is different. He has finished the work given Him to do, and rejected and crucified on earth, risen and glorified in heaven, and received of the Father the Holy Spirit to send down to earth as His witness (John 15:26-27).
The tongues of fire, divided into more than two (the word means “several”), gives us the thought of the power of God in testimony in the Word which was like consuming fire, judging all that comes before it—brings blessing to the believers, and judgment to the unbelievers.
The Lord at Babel (Gen. 11:6-9) confounded the language to scatter the people. He was not their center. When the gospel began, He sent it so that every one could hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. This message, if received, gathers those who receive it into one with Christ as their Head and Center. Babel was to shut God out. The gospel brings God in, and brings us to God.
Question: What does Romans 10:6-7 mean?
Answer: This chapter begins by showing the foolishness of those who labor to produce a righteousness of their own, who do not therefore submit themselves to the righteousness of God, for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes. Then it shows how the gospel has come right to us, to our hearts; no laboring, no efforts, only resting on God’s precious Word. This is the way Deuteronomy 30:12-14 is used here. The word was nigh them, in their mouth, and in their hearts. How blessed and precious the good news of God is!
Question: Please explain Matthew 16:16-18.
Answer: It was on Peter confessing that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, that the Lord expresses His intention to build His church (assembly) on that foundation (see 1 Cor. 3:11).
“Peter” means “a stone,” and it was upon Christ (this rock) that the assembly was to be built. Peter as a stone, was built upon it with the rest of the living stones (1 Peter 2:5). “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” means that the power of death can not destroy the assembly. Individuals die, and are “absent from the body and present with the Lord”; the assembly never dies. The Lord will come and take it up to meet Him in the air to be forever with Him.
“I will build” shows His intention. It was still future. At Pentecost it began. The Lord in glory received the Holy Spirit to send Him down to dwell in all believers (Acts 2:33; 1 Cor. 6:19; 12:12-13). This is the first time the assembly is mentioned in Scripture.