You are right we are not saved by faith alone and we must be water baptized for it is part of salvation.
Many people go by what their Church denomination lays down as a blueprint.
This does not come from AI but this is my understanding which is clear in scripture.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Charity, love in action, works, is greater than faith.
And faith works by love.
If a person does not have love then their faith is no good.
Because they do not have the proper perspective of God's kingdom that it is love.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Paul said he could have all faith so that he could remove mountains but if he did not have charity he is nothing.
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor and needy, and love is the fulfilling of the law.
Anyone that loves money above their needs it is not love and has erred from the faith.
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James said without charity their faith is dead.
Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
John said without charity the love of God does not dwell in them.
And do not love in word only but in deed, works.
For love is valid if it is done in works.
That is why James said a person is justified by works, love, and not faith alone.
For love is greater than faith.
We are saved by faith, and not by works, when we first confess Christ for that is all we can do.
But when we have the Spirit we have to have works of love for our faith to be valid.
Paul and James say the same thing that people who do not have charity their faith is no good.
They misinterpret Paul when he said we are not saved by works and want to carry that throughout their walk with Christ.
But it means when we first confess Christ for we are still in flesh and those works will not cause us to be saved so we are saved by faith.
And then we have to have works of love or we will not be saved.
Millions of people say faith alone but they love money believing the prosperity Gospel
But that is not love then their faith is no good.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are titles not names and name is singular.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Jews were baptized in the name of Jesus.
Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Samaritans were baptized in the name of Jesus.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Gentiles were baptized in the name of Jesus and those baptized by John were baptized in the name of Jesus.
Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
It appears Jesus is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Everything we do in word or deed is to be done in Jesus' name including baptism.
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Some people believe baptism is for Church admission, or showing faith.
But the Bible says we are baptized in to Jesus' death and if we do that we shall rise to newness of life with Him.
We have to identify with the man Christ Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, by repenting, being water baptized, and being led by the Holy Spirit.
You cannot cut out the middle man or look at it in a different way for it is part of the salvation plan of God.
The Bible says baptism does now save us which is water baptism for it is comparing it the flood which eight souls were saved and says it is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh speaking of water cleansing the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
