Fire can be a very fearful and destructive thing. Yet, we use fire to bring light into darkness, heat into the cold, and to dispose of trash. Fire is also used to purify and strengthen metals like steel, silver, and gold. While fire has many destructive traits it also has many beneficial features.
More often than not, we are taught that fire is to be dreaded, feared, and avoided. What does Scripture say about the fire that comes from God? Does God’s fire destroy or purify?
Fire In Scripture
Scripture occasionally notes fire came from heaven (the sky above). Lightning strikes were often considered to be God’s judgement. This is observed in the fire that came down to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] When Elijah came forward to promote the Almighty God, a fire came from above and consumed the sacrifice, the wood and stones. (b)
While fire is a natural element that is a reaction to cause, scripture speaks of fire as a spiritual element that comes from God. As God spoke to Moses from a fiery bush, it did not burn. (c) Fire was provided in the wilderness at night, so the Israelites could see during movement. (d) When God appeared to Moses and the Elders, He spoke out of a fire and wrote the Ten Commandants on stone. (e)
God even announced He would cross over Canaan “as a consuming fire,” to create fear about the approaching Israelites, so the Canaanites “may be driven out…quickly.” (f) David wrote about the fire that comes from God, saying “He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind; He makes the winds His messengers, flaming fire His ministers.” (g)
When David recalled God’s guidance in the wilderness, He said “We went through fire and through water, yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.” (h) The wilderness was more than a natural journey; it was also a spiritual experience. The prophet Isaiah also spoke of fire as a spiritual factor: “The light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame.” (i)
The last book in the Old Testament declared, “And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His Temple…the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight…For He is like a refiner’s fire and a fuller’s soap. And He will sit as a smelter and purifier and He will purify the sons of Levi.” (j)
Scripture speaks of fire as a spiritual element that comes from God.
Immersing With Fire
The last note about fire in the Old Testament, as a spiritual factor that cleanses and purifies, is continued in the New Testament. While John the Baptist immersed people in water as a washing act of repentance, he declared Jesus would “baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (k) The Greek word translated “baptize” means “immerse.” Jesus was to immerse people in God’s presence and initiate a fiery effect that would bring cleansing and purifying adjustments in their lives.
Jesus even announced, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth.” (l) After his death, resurrection, and ascension out of natural sight, Jesus returned just as they saw him go away, as a spiritual presence. His return immersed people in the anointing presence of God’s Holy Spirit. The initial immersion in God’s presence appeared visually ‘upon’ the disciples as “tongues of fire.” (m)
Since those New Testament times, God-in-Christ 
(God’s anointing) has continued to work in people’s life as a cleansing, purifying, and refining presence. The Apostle Paul verified this as: “It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (n) Our agreeing response to God’s presence of Spirit transforms us into more mature expressions of God’s image and likeness.
It is the activity of the presence of the Holy Spirit that produces the cleansing and purifying effect of fire. For, “each man’s work will become evident…because it is to be revealed (exposed) with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.” (o) Jesus declared everyone will eventually know the improving effects of God’s fire in our lives; “For everyone will be salted with fire.” (p)
Fire clearly represents a cleansing and refining element that comes from God. “The proof (evidence) of your faith…even though tested (as proven) by fire…obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your soul (what we reason, feel, and believe).” (q) The Holy Spirit is the presence of God coming to abide with us as a fiery and cleansing factor. His presence helps us adjust our mistaken attitude, refine our bad behavior, and purify the dross (ill effects) of our errors.
It is the activity of the presence of the Holy Spirit that produces the cleansing and purifying effect of fire.
The Tree of Life and The Lake of Fire
Do you know why there was an angel placed at the entrance of the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword “to guard the way to the Tree of Life?” (r) Scripture reveals the Garden of God’s presence and the Tree of Life are kept for repentant people. (s) It was not to keep us out, but to assist our entrance.
Repentance is much more than admitting error; it includes our efforts to improve and become better people. (t) The angel with a flaming sword illustrates God’s provision for repentant people. The sword helps us by cutting away our entanglements and the fire brings a cleansing effect. Repentance is what enables us to enter the Garden-like-fellowship of God’s presence.
John’s book of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” (u) describes the cleansing and refining process that comes on those who refuse to willingly repent and change. They experience the “lake of fire and brimstone.” (v) A lake speaks of a restricted area while brimstone (Greek – fire-salt) is a purifying and whitening effect that improves appearance and flavor. The Lake of Fire brings improving refinement!
God does not destroy His offspring. The lake of fire is the refining process provided for deceivers (called the devil), bad rulers (called beasts), and mistaken ideologies (called a false prophet). (w) The agents of error and those captivated by deception apparently will be cleansed and refined by salt-fire. (x) Even the perception that death and the grave is our end is included in this refining process.
The “first death” came upon mankind when our first parents chose to ignore God’s guidance. Their action brought a deathly separation. (y) This first death caused mankind to be more carnally minded than spiritual. The lake of fire “which is the second death,” (z) is God’s refining process to destroy and purify what is unlike Him. The second death reverses the effects of the first death to help us become more spiritually minded people. (aa)
God comes to offer enlightening guidance and to assist our maturing development. The cleansing and purifying effect of His presence seeks to rid us of impurities and destroy the rubbish in our lives. Let us accept the fire of God’s cleansing and purifying process “for our God is a consuming fire.” (bb)
Repentance is what enables us to enter the Garden-like-fellowship of God’s presence.
a) Genesis 19:24; b) 1 Kings 18:38; c) Exodus 3:2; d) Exodus 13:21; e) Deuteronomy 5:22-24; f) Deuteronomy 9:3; g) Psalms 104:3-4; h) Psalm 66:12; i) Isaiah 10:17; j) Malachi 3:1-3; Numbers 8:5-11; k) Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; l) Luke 12:49; m) Acts 2:3; n) Philippians 2:13; o) I Corinthians 3:13, 15; p) Mark 9:49; q) 1 Peter 1:7, 9; r) Genesis 3:24; s) Mathew 3:2; Acts 3:19; Romans 6:22; t) Luke 24:47; Acts 20:21; u) Revelation 1:1; v) Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8; w) Revelation 20:10; 21:8; x) 1 Peter 4:12;. y) Genesis 2:17; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Romans 6:23; z) Revelation 20:14; aa) Romans 8:1-14; bb) Hebrews 12:29
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder