It is said of Jesus: “he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). Baptism by the Spirit and by fire is a specific experience of the believer completely separate from regeneration (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 2:38; 10:45-47; 19:1-6). This baptism is two-fold: by the Spirit and by fire. Everyone who has received the baptism by the Holy Spirit knows this as it is accompanied by “signs following”
The Lord baptizes His Church in the Holy Spirit to endow her with gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11: the gift of the word of wisdom, the gift of the word of knowledge, the gift of faith, the gift of healing, the gift of working miracles, the gift of prophecy, the gift of the discerning of spirits, the gift of various tongues, the gift of interpretation of tongues.
The Lord baptizes by fire to purify us from every sin already here on earth (1 John 3:6,9), and so that we would attain perfect love (1 John 4:18), without which, possessing all spiritual gifts does not bring any profit (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Therefore, we believe in and preach full sanctification of our body, spirit, and soul (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)
