Mark 9:49

For every one shall be salted with fire-salted with salt; for the right understanding of this verse, the following particulars should be noted: first, the whole verse is better taken as a comparison, thus: For every one shall be salted with fire, as every sacrifice shall be salted with salt; secondly, the introductory word "for," as well as the terms used, shows that there is a reference backward to a salting with the fire of hell; thirdly, the words immediately following, "salt is good," "have salt in yourselves," make it clear that the present verse includes also the salting of God's Spirit. The meaning, then seems to be this: Allow yourselves to be salted with the fire of God's Spirit, which includes the fire of affliction and severe self-denial, or you will be salted with the fire of hell. In the former case men are living sacrifices, acceptable to God, seasoned with the salt of divine grace, as the Levitical sacrifices were seasoned with literal salt, Leviticus 2:13; in the latter case, they are sacrifices to God's wrath. Men must, by the Holy Spirit, through trials, the discipline of Providence, and the word of truth, be purified from sin in this world, or remain under its power, and suffer its consequences for ever in the world to come. Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 22:10-15.