Foundation Stones

Stone #6:Baptism of Fire

www.Study2Go.org

Hebrews 6:1-3 (NIV)

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the

foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

And God permitting, we will do so.

1. Repent2. Faith power3. Saving faith

4. Water baptism5. Spirit baptism

6. Baptism of fire7. Lay on hands to bless

8. Healing by laying on hands9. Lay hands to give the Spirit

10. Spirits resurrected11. Bodies resurrected12. Eternal judgment

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Preview Foundation Stone #6: Baptism of Fire

1. We want to build a fireproof house to spend eternity in.

2. The baptism of fire is a time of overwhelming loss.

3. We should want the baptism of fire to purify our lives.

4. One thing that needs to be burned away are fleshly works.

5. Burning dead, useless things is a common Bible image.

6. Sometimes the baptism of fire comes as persecution.

7. God doesn’t force us to go through a baptism of fire.

8. When ready to purge, we welcome the baptism of fire

9. The more refinement we need, the more fire we need.

10. Times of burning remind us that the world has bad things.

11. One day the whole earth will be destroyed by fire.

12. The normal troubles of life are not the baptism of fire.

Q1:

Why are we studying the Foundations of Christianity?

Q1: Why are we studying the Foundations of Christianity?

A1: To build a fireproof spiritual house. The main point of this course is to build a solid house for our spirits to live in: A house with a solid foundation that will never be moved, no matter how bad the storms of life. It can't be destroyed by fire because its materials can't be burned, like gold and diamonds.

R1: I Corinthians 3:10-16

I Corinthians 3:10-16 As an expert builder using the grace that God gave me, I laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that is Jesus Christ. Whether a person builds on this foundation with gold, silver, expensive stones, wood, hay, or straw, the workmanship of each person will become evident, for the day will show what it is, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what a person has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If his work is burned up, he will suffer loss. However, he himself will be saved, but it will be like going through fire. You know that you are God's sanctuary and that God's Spirit lives in you, don't you?

Q2:

What does baptism of fire mean and who does it?

Q2: What does baptism of fire mean and who does it?

A2: Baptism is a time of being overwhelmed, of losing control. The baptism of fire is a special time of being overwhelmed by an intense experience of pain and loss that has the effect of removing things from our lives that are preventing us from fully serving God. It is only for a limited time and it has a valuable purpose. John the Baptist told us that Jesus would baptize us with fire.

R2: Luke 3:16-17

Luke 3:16 John replied to all of them, "I am baptizing you with water, but the one who is stronger than I am is coming, and I am not worthy to untie his sandal straps. It is he who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor. He will gather the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire."

Q3:

Do we want the baptism of fire?

Q3: Do we want the baptism of fire?

A3: True believers in Jesus Christ desire every experience that our Father has for us. We crucified our flesh in water baptism and we submitted to total control of our lives to the Holy Spirit in the baptism of the Spirit. The baptism of fire is an event which can make us more pure, more holy, more useful to God.

R3: Revelation 3:15-19

Revelation 3:15-19 'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. Since you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I am rich. I have become wealthy. I don't need anything." Yet you don't realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore, I advise you to buy from me gold purified in fire so that you may be rich, white clothes to wear so that you may keep the shame of your nakedness from showing, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. I correct and discipline those whom I love, so be serious and repent!

Q4:

What are some examples of things that might be burned away in the baptism of fire?

Q4: What are some examples of things

that might be burned away in the baptism of fire?

A4: The works of the flesh.R4: I Corinthians 3:15 and Hebrews 6:7,8

I Corinthians 3:15 If his work is burned up, he will suffer loss. However, he himself will be saved, but it will be like going through fire.

Hebrews 6:7,8 For when the ground soaks up rain that often falls on it and continues producing vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated, it receives a blessing from God. However, if it continues to produce thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be burned.

Q5:

What are some images of God purifying the people He loves?

Q5: What are some images of God purifying the people He loves?

A5: Jesus and the prophets spoke of: Gold and silver purified in a hot furnace. Grain separated from chaff which is then burned. Unfruitful grape vines pruned off and thrown into the fire. Clay fired in a kiln.

R5: I Peter 1:5-7 and John 15:5,6

I Peter 1:5-7 Through faith you are being protected by God's power for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have to suffer various kinds of trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when it is tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

John 15:5-6 I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Unless a person abides in me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up. People gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Q6:

Who in the Bible are examples of people being baptized by fire?

Q6: Who in the Bible are examples of people being baptized by fire?

A6: Job suffered every loss but death to demonstrate his faithfulness to God. The Good Samaritan sacrificed his time and money to help a stranger. The Early Church was harshly persecuted so cause it to spread to other nations. The most significant one is Jesus' own death on the cross, which bought eternal salvation for the world. We follow Jesus' example.

R6: James 5:10-11, Luke 10:31-37, I Thessalonians 1:6,7, and Luke 12:49,50 and Hebrews 2:10

James 5:10,11 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord. We consider those who endured to be blessed. You have heard about Job's endurance and have seen the purpose of the Lord-that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

I Thessalonians 1:6,7 You became imitators of us and of the Lord. In spite of a great deal of suffering, you welcomed the word with the joy that the Holy Spirit produces. As a result, you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Luke 10:30-37 After careful consideration, Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of bandits. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went by on the other side. Similarly, a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he also went by on the other side. But as he was traveling along, a Samaritan came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll repay you when I come back.' "Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the bandits?" He said, "The one who showed mercy to him." Jesus told him, "Go and do what he did.”

Luke 12:49,50 "I have come to bring fire on earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and what stress I am under until it is completed!

Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many children to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer (Jesus) of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Q7:

Will the baptism of fire come unexpectedly or do believers know that the fire is coming?

Q7: Will the baptism of fire come unexpectedly or do believers know that

the fire is coming?

A7: Like water and Spirit baptisms, fire baptism comes at our request. God, in love, has given everyone free will. He doesn't impose anything on us against our will. (Bad things that happen are from what bad people do to each other and what Satan, the great murderer, thief and destroyer, does.) So, when we pray for Jesus to burn away all that makes us impure, He will.

R7: Mark 10:29,30

Mark 10:29 Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the gospel who will not receive a hundred times as much here in this world-homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, along with persecutions - as well as eternal life in the age to come.

Q8:

When should we ask God for the baptism of fire?

Q8: When should we ask God for the baptism of fire?

A8: When we're ready to more seriously dedicate our lives to His service. When we're tired of the things in our lives preventing us from going to better places in God.

R8: Matthew 5:43-45

Matthew 5:43-45 "You have heard that it was said, 'You must love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and he lets rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Q9:

How many times will a believer be baptized by fire?

Q9: How many times will a believer be baptized by fire?

A9: It depends on how much refinement is needed and how hopeful the refiner is that the refining will be beneficial. In other words, if the refiner sees that the refining isn't working, he may give stop trying.

R9: II Timothy 3:10-12

II Timothy 3:10-12 But you have observed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, and my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Q10:

The baptism of fire sounds painful and destructive. Doesn't Jesus only bring love, mercy and forgiveness?

Q10: The baptism of fire sounds painful and destructive. Doesn't Jesus only bring love, mercy and forgiveness?

A10: Yes, God made a perfect world of love, but man, led by the devil's, makes the world worse and worse. In a dangerous world, love must be strong enough to stand against terrible enemies. Love means disciplining children who want to play in the streets, to prevent them from getting hurt. "Tough love" is unpleasant at the time, but precious after safety is achieved.

R10: I John 4:10,11,16,17 and Romans 9:19-23

I John 4:10,11 This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love one another.

I John 4:16,17 We have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us. God is love, and the person who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. This is how love has been perfected among us: we will have confidence on the day of judgment because, while we are in this world, we are just like him.

Romans 9:19-23 You may ask me, "Then why does God still find fault with anybody? For who can resist his will?" On the contrary, who are you-mere man that you are-to talk back to God? Can an object that was molded say to the one who molded it, "Why did you make me like this?" A potter has the right to do what he wants to with his clay, doesn't he? He can make something for a special occasion or something for ordinary use from the same lump. Now if God wants to demonstrate his wrath and reveal his power, can't he be extremely patient with the objects of his wrath that are made for destruction? Can't he also reveal his glorious riches to the objects of his mercy that he has prepared ahead of time for glory.

Q11:

What will happen when Jesus returns?

Q11: What will happen when Jesus returns?

A11: The whole world with suddenly be baptized with fire. At the end of this life, everything will be put through a fire to destroy the bad and purify the good.

R11: Matthew 13:37-43, Revelation 8:7, 16:8-9 and II Peter 3:5-7

Matthew 13:37-43 He answered, "The person who sowed good seed is the Son of Man, while the field is the world. The good seed are those who belong to the kingdom, while the weeds are those who belong to the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Just as weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes others to sin and those who practice lawlessness and they will throw them into a blazing furnace. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Let the person who has ears listen!”

Revelation 8:7 When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire were mixed with blood and thrown on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned up, one-third of the trees was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Revelation 16:8,9 The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun. It was allowed to burn people with fire, and they were burned by the fierce heat. They cursed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

II Peter 3:5-7 But they deliberately ignore the fact that long ago the heavens existed and the earth was formed by God's word out of water and with water, by which the world at that time was deluged with water and destroyed. Now by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire and are being kept for the day when ungodly people will be judged and destroyed.

Q12:

Do Christians face normal troubles in life, which aren't baptisms of fire?

Q12: Do Christians face normal troubles in life, which aren't baptisms of fire?

A12: Absolutely. The world is a messy place. Life is short. Everyone alive faces troubles. And, if you live in a tent in the wilderness, a storm can destroy everything you have. However, if you live in a strong, solid house, a storm has little effect. The troubles of life should be considered valuable, though. Everyone anywhere can develop a good character and honor by facing the troubles of life with the right response. For example, soldiers and athletes accept a lot of painful training in order to make themselves stronger than their competition. Effective training is always painful.

R12: Romans 5:3,4

Romans 5:3,4 Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

1. Repent2. Faith power3. Saving faith

4. Water baptism5. Spirit baptism6. Baptism of fire

7. Lay on hands to bless8. Healing by laying on hands9. Lay hands to give the Spirit

10. Spirits resurrected11. Bodies resurrected12. Eternal judgment

12

3

45

6

7

8

9

1011 12

www.Study2Go.org

Hebrews 6:1-3 (NIV)

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the

foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

And God permitting, we will do so.