I think we all need to understand that works are necessary for salvation. Many today believe that the fact that works won't save us means they are not necessary for salvation. This is not true. In order for us to be able to earn our salvation we would have to be able to repay all of what it cost to save us. Nothing we can do could ever possibly come close to repaying God for the life of His Son. Our obedience to God will never bring Jesus down off the cross.

whether baptism is a work or not makes not one shred of difference in the scheme of redemption. It is an act of obedience in submitting to it.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Confession is a work of righteousness, an act of obedience to the will of God. Paul said:

Romans 10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Confession is a work that is absolutely necessary if one wants to be saved. Repentance is the same thing. Consider Luke 13:3. Jesus says if we don't repent, we'll perish. That's the hardest of all the works to obey yet there is no dispute over it. And repentance is a work of righteousness in obedience to God's will.

Works cannot be separated from our salvation. They will never be sufficient to earn or merit our salvation, but they are still required of us nonetheless.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, but never ever forget that you are still unprofitable and unworthy. Salvation is still a gift because we can't earn it. This does not excuse us from them. Strive to enter in at the strait gate, Labor for the meat that endureth unto salvation, reach for the prize, persevere to the end.

Once we all realize that works of righteousness through obedience to the will of God are required for salvation but will never completely earn it, we can move foreward towards unity of thought on baptism.

Luke 17:9-10
Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'
NKJV

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"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." 1 John 3:18-19

The church of Christ at Granby