LUKE 3:9, 16, 17.
And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.... John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you in water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire: whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
JOHN 1:33.
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.
John is preaching to a mixed mult.i.tude composed of those who would accept his teaching and baptism, and of those who would accept neither.
Many the former would become disciples of Jesus and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit to qualify them to take up the work of the Master and carry it on until the church would be established and the gospel fully revealed to men. The baptism of the Spirit, a purely supernatural thing, was necessary to qualify them for this work. Others would "reject for themselves the counsel of G.o.d, being not baptized of him." These should at last "have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone." That such a division was meant by John becomes evident if we examine the context carefully. In the above parallel columns the reader will observe that Matthew and Luke use the expression "in the Holy Spirit and in fire." They both use two ill.u.s.trations to show what is meant by "in fire." One of the ill.u.s.trations immediately precedes and the other immediately follows the expression "in the Holy Spirit and in fire," seemingly for the specific purpose of guarding against a failure to understand the expression "in fire." The ill.u.s.tration that precedes in both instances is: "Therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." The ill.u.s.tration that follows in each instance is: "He will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire." With these forcible ill.u.s.trations to guard the pa.s.sage, can any one fail to understand what is meant by the baptism in fire? The reader will also observe that neither Mark nor John refers to the baptism in fire, and neither uses any ill.u.s.tration to explain it, because no ill.u.s.tration is necessary. Where the baptism of fire is used there was always something destroyed by fire. This interpretation harmonizes with the universal use of the word "fire" in the New Testament. (1) _In not a single instance is it used to denote a spiritual blessing conferred upon the good_. (2) _In not a single instance does it refer to the work of the Holy Spirit in purifying sinners_. It is connected with judgments, punishments, fiery indignation, devouring adversaries, consuming, and even with h.e.l.l itself; but in no case does it refer to the power of G.o.d in the scheme of redemption to convert and save men.
Neither does the baptism of the Holy Spirit refer to cleansing men from sin and saving them. _It was not given for that purpose_. This is a foolish dream born out of the castaway doctrine of the total depravity of man and his total disability to hear, believe and obey the truth.
Those who claim the baptism of the Holy Spirit to-day claim that it is the regenerating, converting, purifying power of G.o.d. _But the Bible does not so teach_. In every instance in which the word "purify" is found in the New Testament it is an act of personal volition--_something a man must do for himself._ John 11:55: "Now the pa.s.sover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the pa.s.sover, to purify themselves."
Acts 21:24: "These take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads; and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law."
Acts 21:26: "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them."
Jas. 4:8: "Draw nigh to G.o.d, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded."
1 Pet. 1:22: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently."
1 John 3:3: "And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
"Men must cleanse themselves from wrong in thought, word and deed, and purify their souls in obeying the truth. The Bible teaches that this is G.o.d"s way of purifying sinners" (_H.R. Pritchard, "Addresses,"_ p. 323).
From this chapter the reader will obtain the following Scripture facts:
1. The Holy Spirit rested on John the Baptist from his mother"s womb.
2. The Holy Spirit filled his father Zacharias so that he prophesied.
3. The Holy Spirit bore witness to Jesus by descending and abiding upon him, enabling John to identify him.
4. John promised a baptism in the Holy Spirit to some of his auditors and threatened others with a baptism in fire.
1 Pet. 1:11, 12: "Searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven: which things angels desire to look into."
V
THE SPIRIT AND JESUS
The relation sustained by the Holy Spirit to Jesus Christ is a twofold one. First: He predicted by the holy prophets the great facts in the life of the coming one. Second: He a.s.sociated himself with that one after he came.
1. THE TIME OF HIS COMING WAS CLEARLY FORETOLD. He was to come "in the last days," or in the end of the Jewish Dispensation. "And it shall come to pa.s.s in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah"s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isa. 2:2).
2. HE WAS TO COME WHILE THE SECOND TEMPLE WAS IN EXISTENCE. "Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come _to his temple_; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts"
(Mal. 3:1).
3. THE PLACE OF HIS NATIVITY WAS A MATTER OF PROPHECY. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting" (Mic.
5:2).
4. HIS LINEAGE WAS DECLARED IN THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES.
(1) _He was to be a descendant of Abraham._ "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12:3). "For verily not of angels doth he take hold, but he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham" (Heb.
2:16).
(2) _He was to be of the tribe of Judah._ "For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests" (Heb. 7:14).
(3) _He was to be of the house of David._ "And it shall come to pa.s.s in that day, that the root of Jesse, which standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious" (Isa. 11:10).
5. HIS CHARACTER WAS MINUTELY DESCRIBED BY THE PROPHETS.
(1) _His wisdom_. "And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah" (Isa. 11:2).
(2) _His obedience_. "For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38).
(3) _His love of righteousness_. "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: Therefore G.o.d, thy G.o.d, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Ps. 45:7).
(4) _His gentleness and tenderness._ "He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth" (Isa. 42:2, 3).
(5) _His compa.s.sion_. "The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound"
(Isa. 61:1).
6. HIS BETRAYAL AND TRIAL. As we approach the closing scenes of Christ"s life the prophecies become more minute and remarkable.
(1) _The betrayal_. "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver. And Jehovah said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of Jehovah" (Zech.
11:12, 13).
(2) _His demeanor when on trial_. "He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not His mouth" (Isa. 53:7).
(3) _When crucified, the soldiers were to part his garments among them and cast lots for his vesture_. "They part my garments among them, And upon my vesture do they cast lots" (Ps. 22:18).
(4) _He was to be numbered with the transgressors._ "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isa. 53:12).
(5) _He was to perish amid cruel mockings._ "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, Commit thyself unto Jehovah; let him deliver him: let him rescue him, seeing he delighted in him" (Ps. 22:6-8).
7. HIS RESURRECTION AND CORONATION.
(1) _He was to rise from the dead_. "For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption" (Ps.
16:10).