Matthew 3:11 He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:

There are several passages where fire is used by God in chastening His children, and is described as a purification, such as removing impurities from gold. It is this fire to which John makes reference in this passage. John makes reference to two possible outcomes for the children of God. If they believe and are obedient, they will receive the Holy Ghost as a reward, and with it the earnest of thier eternal inheritance, which is life and salvation in this present world. If however, they choose not to be obedient, they will be chastened with fire.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Because He first loved us, and bestowed this love upon us by grace, we are first made children by adoption (Ephesians 1:4,5) at regeneration. Then if we love Him in return, putting our faith in this glorious and wonderful good news (Ephesians 1:13,14), converting from our worldly ways, we complete the circle of the reciprocal relationship.

A person must be BOTH, born of the water of regeneration and born of the Spirit to complete the perfect reciprocal relationship.

Romans 5:10 - For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

 
Related passages:
John 3:5
Romans 5:10

Romans 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

For those, His chosen people, whom He DID choose, He also DID predetermine that they would be washed by the water of regeneration, and to be conformed to the image of His Son. In addition to this, those whom He DID regenerate, to be conformed in the image of His Son, He also extended the liberty of becoming sons of God (John 1:12-13): and to those whom He gave the liberty to become the Sons of God, He also declared to be as they ought to be (on the straight and narrow path for instance); those whom He rendered to be righteous, He also adorned with glory (2 Thessalonians 1:12). Note: the word "DID" means to execute, accomplish, finish, complete.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Verses 10 and 11 teach that although He created the world, the world outside of Israel, did not know of Him. Even still, although they were looking for a Messiah, even His own did not recieve Him as being the Son of God.

Here John teaches that to each one who did accept His position as the Christ, and especially to those who put their trust and faith in His authority, He extended the liberty of becoming children of God. To clarify, this is referring to the free will choice made by the person. Those who accepted Him as being the Son of God had all that was needed to convert and become a new creature, living and walking after the Spirit. This is especially true concerning those believers who did just that. Having already been adopted by God and made children by regeneration, they have now become children of God from their own perspective, knowing God as their Father. The Greek word translated "sons" is "the name transferred to that intimate and reciprocal relationship formed between men by the bonds of love, friendship, trust, just as between parents and children".

These were made children, not by the offering of sacrifice, nor by the inclination of the human nature, nor by the choice of moral excellence, but of God.

This means that God had written His laws in their heart. In Thayers’ Lexicon, the following quote is found, "If one teaches the son of his neighbor the law, the Scripture reckons this the same as though he had begotten him". As explained in Ephesians 1:13, when a person trusts in the gospel and believes in Christ, the Holy Spirit is given and thus the prophecy is fulfilled: "After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people".

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Knowing this, that our old man, the natural man, is subjugated, brought under control, conquered, and made subservient – with Christ, that the sinful nature might be subdued, that we should no longer obey or submit to it.
At regeneration, the power, which the natural man had, is loosed and the new man is established. It has been made subservient to the new man. This however, does not mean that the new man has become the ruling authority in the persons life. It also does not mean that the old man has been vanquished. However, if the person chooses to subdue the old man, he now has the ability to do so by exercising the new man. As we exercise the new man the new man subdues the old man. In Romans 8:7, Paul tells us that the carnal mind is enmity against God and is referring to the old mans way of thinking. In this passage, we are also informed that this old man is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. It holds hostility that quickly results in active resistance and opposition to God. The old carnal man will not submit to God in obedience, and as affirmed here, cannot in any capacity. Those who are regenerated are able, through the Spirit, to subdue this carnal man. Choosing to walk after the Spirit, we subdue the carnal man, being filled with the Holy Spirit and renewing ourselves with the mind of Christ and submitting to the righteousness of God.
On the other hand, if we choose to allow the old man to rule our lives, it does not, nor is capable of, subduing the new man, since it has been conquered. In this instance, as we choose to allow the old man to enslave us once again, the new man retreats in accordance with our desires, but not without warning. This is the grieving of the Spirit, warning us that we are heading in the wrong direction, and if we do not heed these warnings, we can eventually quench the Spirit to the point that the warnings are no longer given.

If salvation is not in some manner based on works, what motive do you have to work?

I believe in works and works are no doubt taught in scripture, but a proper perspective concerning works must be understood.
If I work to earn my right to be a child of God, then it cannot be by grace. This would mean that God gave it to me out of debt. Instead, I work because I am a child, it is my duty. But even more so, I work, in a vain attempt, to repay God for what He already did for me. I don’t owe Him anything, because He did not require anything of me, it was given by grace. But knowing what He did for me, I want to be a good and faithful servant, doing all I can to show Him how much I appreciate what He did.

If a person works to earn his salvation, then he is in bondage to the law. He is always trying to fulfill the law and will always fall short. True faith is knowing that Christ fulfilled the law and set the person free. The person who works because he has been freed, is the person who does so out of love for Christ.

Consider a child who lives at home. If this child was always doing his chores, going to school, and being obedient to his parents out of fear of being cast out of the home, this child would never be able to find peace or rest. But the child that performs these duties out of reverance for his parents, can find peace and rest. This is the child that knows if he does not complete them to standard, he will simply be chastened and will have to do them over until they are performed in an acceptable manner. This is how God deals with His children. We are given duties that we must perform. If we choose to be disobedient, then we will be chastened. If we do not perform them to an acceptable standard, we will be chastened. And if we choose to be obedient, we are blessed. We do not have to worry about being cast out of the family or home.

Yes, I work and I work hard. I do not work to earn His love, but instead out of love for Him, for having shed His love on me.

Therefore, my motive is LOVE.