“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: whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” — Matthew 3:11, 12.
NOTHING could emphasize our Lord’s deity more than John’s declaration regarding Him and this twofold baptism. Imagine a creature baptizing in the Holy Spirit. Only One who is Himself divine could do this. And on Pentecost Peter unhesitatingly declares it was He who sent the Spirit (Acts 2:33). He it is who will consign the impenitent to the fire of everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:41). This is not to be confounded with the cleansing efficacy of the Holy Spirit, nor with the tongues “like as of fire” which appeared at Pentecost. “He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” is placed in direct contrast with gathering the “wheat into the garner” (Matt. 3:12). By the Spirit-baptism believers are now united in one Body and empowered for service.
The Holy Ghost is here.
Where saints in prayer agree:
As Jesus’ parting gift—is near
Each pleading company.
Not far away is He.
To be by prayer brought nigh,
But here in present majesty,
As in His courts on high.
He dwells within our soul.
An ever-welcome guest:
He reigns with absolute control,
As monarch in the breast.
Our bodies are His shrine,
And He th’ in-dwelling Lord:
All hail, Thou Comforter divine,
Be evermore adored!”
―Chas. H. Spurgeon.