Church of the Eternal God
Church of the Eternal God Question and Answer
Q: What did John the Baptist mean by the phrase, "baptism with fire," as mentioned in Matthew 3:11?
Published: July 8th, 2005
Notice what exactly John said in Matthew 3:11: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me ... will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
As a part of his ministry, John was baptizing "with water unto repentance" (verse 11). He required that we must "bear fruits worthy of repentance" (verse 8). In comparison, Christ would be coming to also baptize, not just unto repentance, but also, with the Holy Spirit and with fire!
Q: Would you please explain 1 Corinthians 15:29, speaking of "baptism for the dead." Are we to be baptized for those who have already died?
Published: August 25th, 2006
Certainly not. Our free booklet, "Baptism--A Requirement for Salvation," explains in detail that only adult LIVING persons are to be baptized, after they repent of their sins and believe in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. A person who has died, cannot repent and believe in anything, as long as he is dead. The reason is that a dead person knows nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5). Our free booklet, "Do We Have an Immortal Soul?," explains that a person who dies is without consciousness--he or his soul does not go to heaven or hell, because he--the person--IS the soul. As long as he is alive, he is a living soul, and when he dies, he has become a dead
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
-Matthew 5:14
"And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
-Matthew 24:14