Why Do We Baptize? A Quick Review

Why do we baptize? What is baptism? Sunday, April 12 is Baptism Sunday, so let’s review what baptism means and why we do it.

“Why do you want to get baptized?” My husband asked my six-year-old from within the waters of the baptismal tank in our church. Her feet were swirling through the water as he held her up in his arms. She was too tiny to keep her head above the deep water. Before that moment, there were a hundred moments with her—sharing the gospel in many ways, reading the Bible with her regularly, praying with her and for her continually, and the ultimate moment when she realized she was a sinner and in need of Jesus to be her Savior and Lord.  

Why do we want people to be baptized? As a Southern Baptist for nearly thirty years, I can confidently say that it’s not because we want to look good on the Annual Church Profile (ACP). However, the ACP takes a snapshot of the health of SBC churches each year, and from 1999 to 2018, Southern Baptists saw declining baptism rates, an indicator of stifled evangelism efforts.  

Baptism Sunday

Part of the response to this decline was a motion at the 2018 SBC annual meeting to begin Baptism Sunday. Baptism Sunday is a time each April when all Southern Baptist churches would plan to baptize their new believers, celebrating the beginning of their new life in Christ.  

Since then, Southern Baptists have seen a major rebound in baptism rates. From 2022 to 2023, baptisms increased by 26% nationwide.¹ Baptisms increased over 30% in places like California, Arizona, and New York, and up to 64% in Wyoming alone!² In my work at Gateway Seminary, I get the privilege to hear from the Western State Executives every year. Even in early 2026, many of these leaders reported that this upward trend of increased baptisms continues in their states. Take a second to praise Jesus for his amazing work in our churches!  

Why Do We Baptize?

As we approach Baptism Sunday 2026, it’s appropriate to ask that question once again, just as my husband asked my daughter in the baptismal tank earlier this year. Why baptize? We know that baptism itself does not save someone from his or her sin or give him or her favor with God. Even with “Baptist” in our name, Southern Baptists are clear that salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ. However, we do see several compelling reasons to shepherd our new believers to take that immediate next step of faith.

1. Baptism was modeled: Jesus was baptized.

All four Gospels record Jesus being baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:29-34), who was a little more than uncomfortable doing so. To quell his insecurities, Jesus tells John that it must happen so as to “Fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Jesus was perfectly obedient, including the act of baptism. Even for the perfect Son of God, baptism was fitting. He modeled the importance of baptism. 

2. Baptism was commanded: Jesus commanded people be baptized.

Jesus wasn’t just all show and no tell. In his final days with his disciples before ascending into heaven, Jesus commissioned and commanded his disciples to make disciples and baptize them. In the Great Commission, we learn that making a disciple is more than just communicating the message of salvation. It’s discipling them to take the first step of obedience by being baptized and then teaching them all of what it means to obey Jesus. Baptism isn’t just modeled as a good thing to do. Baptism is commanded as a first step of obedience for a new disciple. 

3. Baptism was practiced: The early church baptized new believers.

We also see throughout the book of Acts that as the gospel message is shared, people believe and are baptized. This two-fold pattern – they believed and were baptized – is found:

• At Pentecost (2:38-41)
• With the Samaritans (8:12)
• With the Ethiopian Eunuch (8:36-38)
• When Saul/Paul believed (10:44-48)
• With Lydia (16:14-15)
• With the Philippian jailer and his family (16:30-33)
• and many others.

If we are to pattern our own church practice after the early church, as led by the Apostles, then the structure is very clear. When people hear the gospel and believe, then they are baptized. There is no period of testing and waiting. It’s even within the same day in some of these instances!  

4. Baptism is a proclamation: Baptism is a sign to the believer and the world.

Finally, baptism is not merely an act of obedience. It is a deeply theological reality lived out for the world to see. Romans 6:3-4 teaches that in our baptism we demonstrate our unity with Christ both in his death and resurrection. Colossians 2:11-12 reiterates this idea and adds that our faith is what ushers the reality symbolized in the act of baptism. Not only do we have unity with Christ, but our baptism also indicates our unity with the whole body of believers who also were baptized (1 Corinthians 12:13). The reality of Jesus’ substitutionary atonement in his death and resurrection is acted out when a believer goes down into the water (death) and comes back up (new life). As others watch this sign, we proclaim the gospel in a vivid picture of salvation.  

So, why do we baptize?

“Why do you want to get baptized?” he asked her as he held her in his arms. “Because I am a Christian, and God tells me to,” was her reply. A simple and faithful response was given an amen by the congregation, who understood that’s all that was needed.

On this upcoming Baptism Sunday, may we #fillthetank once again as we help our new believers take that first step of obedience, modeled by Jesus and the early church, to proclaim to the watching world that Jesus saves.  

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For further learning, read how to explain baptism to a child.

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Works Cited

1. Aaron Earls, “Southern Baptist Membership Decline Slows, Baptisms and Attendance Grow,” Lifeway Research, May 7, 2024, ttps://research.lifeway.com/2024/05/07/southern-baptist-membership-decline-slows-baptisms-and-attendance-grow/.
2. On Mission, North American Mission Board, Winter 2026 edition, https://cdn.namb.net/files/onmission/OMM_Winter2026_spreads.pdf.

About Kristen Ferguson