Is Baptism Just for You?

November 19th, 2025
by Mentone Communications

Is Baptism Just for You? The "Pay It Forward" Meaning of Your Public Declaration

The act of baptism, as recounted in Scripture, holds a curious detail: Jesus himself never personally performed the rite (John 4:1-3). This wasn't an oversight, but a profound choice. Perhaps Jesus understood that if the Son of God had administered the act, it might create an impression of hierarchy, focusing attention on the person doing the immersing rather than the One who makes salvation possible. Instead, He entrusted this powerful, public act to His followers, making baptism a community-driven commitment from day one. This makes the ordinance not merely a personal decision, but an evangelistic, "pay-it-forward" declaration that brings joy to the entire body of believers.

The true significance of baptism lies in its ripple effect. When Sarah was recently baptized, she didn't just stand up out of the water; she turned and embraced her friend, Mark, who had guided her journey into faith. Mark, struggling with his own crisis of faith, felt an instant, powerful renewal. Sarah’s public witness to the forgiveness she had received was the very thing that re-ignited Mark's commitment to Christ. This simple act confirms the core truth: Jesus’s service—His command to baptize and His ultimate sacrifice—leads to the confirmation of God’s truth and the fulfillment of promises because those who are forgiven are charged to welcome others into that same life.

This is why the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:19-20, is a command to go and make disciples, baptizing them. The entire community is given the incredible privilege of inviting and welcoming fellow sinners into the joy of the Kingdom. Baptism publicly enacts the promise that we were "buried with him through baptism into death in order to that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4). When we embrace this call to share the grace we’ve been given, we stop trying to carry our burdens alone and start growing the joy of God's fulfilled promises.

Credit: -Shawn Boonstra-