Huntington Church of Christ

Again, let's emphasize the importance of this question. It deals with our eternal destiny. Every reader should be asking themselves WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? Do you care? In the eighth chapter of Acts, Philip encountered an Ethiopian nobleman reading from the prophet Isaiah. When asked if he understood what he was reading, the Ethiopian replied, "How can I, except some one shall guide me?" (vs. 31). The nobleman was asking for help.

Verse 35 records, "Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on the way, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Without a doubt, this passage teaches that the preaching of Jesus includes commands and directions of Christ (John 3:16; 8:24; Luke 13:3,13; Matthew 10:32,33; Mark 16:16). The Ethiopian, upon hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, believed and desired to obey (Romans 10:17). Wouldn't you agree, he wanted to be saved?

Teaching Jesus does not include baptism as a means for "joining a denomination". These men were on a deserted road in the middle of the wilderness. Nor does the preaching of Christ teach that baptism is an "outward sign of a inward salvation". The nobleman exhibited no characteristics of joy until after he was baptized for the remission of his sins. The New Testament teaches the very thing the Ethiopian heard and obeyed, "...after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward god..." (1 Peter 3:20.21)

Please note Philip's response to the nobleman's question, "If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest (be baptized)." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." The chariot was stopped and "they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him." The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized and saved the very moment that his faith motivated him to obey the teachings of Christ. HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN OF CHRIST?

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ