BAPTISM FOLLOWS SALVATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST!

My Understanding of ACTS 8:26-40

The Ethiopian Eunuch was a Jew.

       And the Angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert."  And he arose and went:  and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot, read (Isaiah) the Prophet.  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot."  And Philip ran to him, and heard him read the Prophet (Isaiah), and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"  And he said, "How can I, except someone guide me?"  And he desired that Philip would come up and sit with him.

Isaiah's Prophecy Foretells of the Death of Jesus.

       The place of the Scripture which he read was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  in his humiliation his judgment was taken away:  and who shall declare his generation?  For his life is taken from the earth."  And the eunuch said to Philip,  "I pray you tell me of whom did the prophet speak?  Of himself, or of some other man?"  Then Philip spoke beginning at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (the Gospel - Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).

Faith in Jesus Precedes Believer's Baptism!

       And as they went on their way, they came unto an oasis:  and the eunuch said, "See, here is water; what does hinder me from being baptized?"  And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may."  And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."  And he commanded the chariot stop:  and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more:  and he went on his way rejoicing.  But Philip was found at Azotus:  and passing through, he preached in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

What Does Our Observation of the Ordinances Tell Others? 

       There are two ordinances which the Church observes:  Baptism, and the Lord's Supper.  Baptism pictures the believer's identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12); and the partaking of the Lord's Supper declares one's faith in Christ's death and Second Coming (1 Cor. 11:23-26)!  Each publicly proclaims faith in Jesus Christ; each is a confession of one's faith in the Lord Jesus (Rom. 10:8-13)!

Romans 10:9 (My Version)

If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus,

and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,

you will be saved!