Choosing to believe the gospel by placing our faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Christ’s finished work of redemption as the all sufficient means of our salvation is not a work that merits our salvation. Through believing, we are completely trusting in "Another's work," (Christ's finished work of redemption).
Repentance is not a work that merits our salvation either. We must first repent "change our mind" before we can believe the gospel and become saved. Through repentance/faith, Christ is still the object of our complete trust in receiving salvation.
Baptism is a work which follows saving faith in Christ and if it's necessary for salvation, that would add merit on our part to receiving salvation because then we would be saved based on Christ's finished work of redemption “plus our baptism.”
So if baptism is not a work, what is it? Just a nothing? No work at all is accomplished when one is water baptized? Water baptism is a work of righteousness (Matthew 3:13-15) and we are not saved by works of righteousness which we have done (Titus 3:5) but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).
Repentance is not a work that merits our salvation either. We must first repent "change our mind" before we can believe the gospel and become saved. Through repentance/faith, Christ is still the object of our complete trust in receiving salvation.
Baptism is a work which follows saving faith in Christ and if it's necessary for salvation, that would add merit on our part to receiving salvation because then we would be saved based on Christ's finished work of redemption “plus our baptism.”
So if baptism is not a work, what is it? Just a nothing? No work at all is accomplished when one is water baptized? Water baptism is a work of righteousness (Matthew 3:13-15) and we are not saved by works of righteousness which we have done (Titus 3:5) but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).
Repentance, faith and baptism are not works that merit our salvation. Through repentance/faith/baptism, Christ is still the object of our complete trust in receiving salvation. Many of the new age groups have turned the acceptance of faith alone regeneration theology into a work and hence have become modern day Pharisees.
Submitting to baptism is a pledge of a clear conscience toward God (1st Peter 3:21), it is not a work of righteousness or a "plus". It is the necessary and ordained moment of the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). There are no necessary "works" after the forgiveness of sins.