"...for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children of Abraham.
And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which does not bear fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Matt. 3:9-11
John the Baptist was the greatest of all prophets, Jesus tells us (Luke 7:28), even greater than Elijah, Moses, and Isaiah? Yes, he was.
John preaches repentance, and he speaks of Christ, and how this Person will be sovereign. He shall bring the wheat into His house, but will judge "the chaff with unquenchable fire".
Many of the people when they heard the Word of God preched by John, repented. Even "the publicans, justified God, being baptized" by John (Luke 7:29).
But the Pharisees and lawyers "rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him", that is John the Baptist. John called them vipers, and didn't sugarcoat it. I believe even some of these hard hearts were softened by God's truth. I have to believe that, for I was one of these. The Apsotle Paul was one of these, and in truth all mankind have hard and proud hearts. Nevertheless, the people humbled themselves, and the religious leaders rejected the truth.
When the people heard that the ax is at the root, and trees without fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Luke 3:9), they cried out to John, "What shall we do then?" John then exhorts them to live righteously, and do what is right. He also says, "..one mightier than I comes, the straps of whose shoes I am unworthy to stoop down and unloose, and even carry for Him: He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire." Here was God's grace working on the hearts of His people, to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah.
I truly believe the work of the Spirit, in all that He does,-- baptizing us, filling us, comforting us, empowering us, convicting us, interceding for us, sealing us, gifting us, and whatever else He does--, is for the purpose of taking our hearts, and making them fixed on Jesus.
The Baptism of the Spirit is all about Christ.
It's not about us.
We don't deserve to have the Holy Spirit of God abiding with us, and in us. Christ made this possible by going to Calvary, and being made a curse for us. We were the cursed ones; He was the Holy & Righteous One of God. He took our curse on the Cross, and He in return imputes to us His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).
He is our great Savior, and He will save His elect. He will baptize His loved ones with His precious Spirit of love and truth. "Why would He do this!", should be our hearts cry?
Jesus says to us, His elect, "For the glory of My Father, and because I love you."
The Father says, "For the glory of My Son, and because I love you."
If you are genuinly born anew in your spirit, and your heart has affectionate love for Jesus Christ, (the same Jesus proclaimed to be Lord and God by Thomas the apsotle), then you have the true faith, and you have been baptized in His Spirit, and have been added to the Body of Christ. That's the promise of God's Word to us. Our faith, His grace, the Gospel, Christ's sovereignty, and the baptism in God's Spirit are all connected in His most awesome and gracious salvation.
What a great Savior and God we have! Bless His holy name.
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