10在〔马太三章十一节〕约翰似乎说,“我来用水给你们施浸,把你们了结,把你们埋葬。但那在我以后来的,能力比我更大,祂要用圣灵与火给你们施浸。……你们若悔改,祂就要把你们浸入圣灵里。但你们若仍是毒蛇之种,祂就必定要把你们浸在火湖里。”根据上下文,这里的火不是行传二章三节的火,那里的火与圣灵有关;马太三章十一节的火和十、十二节的火一样,是火湖的火(启二十15)。不信的人要在火湖里遭受永远的沉沦。……主在圣灵里的浸,引进了诸天的国,把信祂的人带进诸天的国里;祂在火里的浸,要结束诸天的国,把不信的人丢在火湖里。因此,主在圣灵里的浸,基于祂的救赎,是诸天之国的开始;主在火里的浸,基于祂的审判,是诸天之国的结束。所以,马太三章十一节有三种浸:在水里的浸、在灵里的浸和在火里的浸。约翰在水里的浸,引人进入诸天的国。主耶稣在灵里的浸,在五旬节那天,开始并建立诸天的国,且要使其延续,在这世代的末了达到完成。主在火里的浸,照着白色大宝座前的审判(启二十11~15),要结束诸天的国。 10In Matthew 3:11 John seemed to be saying, “I have come to baptize you with water, to terminate you, to bury you. But the One who comes after me is stronger than I. He will baptize you in the Spirit and fire…If you repent, He will put you into the Spirit. But if you continue to be the offspring of vipers, He will certainly baptize you in the lake of fire.” According to the context, “fire” here is not the fire in Acts 2:3, which is related to the Holy Spirit, but is the same fire as in Matthew 3:10 and 12, the fire in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15), where the unbelievers will suffer eternal perdition… The Lord’s baptism in the Holy Spirit initiated the kingdom of the heavens, bringing His believers into the kingdom of the heavens, whereas His baptism in fire will terminate the kingdom of the heavens, putting the unbelievers into the lake of fire. Hence, the Lord’s baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is based on His redemption, is the beginning of the kingdom of the heavens, whereas His baptism in fire, which is based on His judgment, is the ending of that kingdom. Thus, in Matthew 3:11 there are three kinds of baptisms: the baptism in water, the baptism in the Spirit, and the baptism in fire. The baptism in water by John introduced people to the kingdom of the heavens. The baptism in the Spirit by the Lord Jesus commenced and established the kingdom of the heavens on the day of Pentecost and will carry it on to its consummation at the end of this age. The baptism in fire by the Lord, according to the judgment at the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-15), will conclude the kingdom of the heavens.