"But baptism is a 'work'"

"But baptism is a 'work' and we are not saved by works…we are saved by faith alone."
First, we must consider what the definition of a "work" is as we use it here.

If a person defines baptism a "work" then we must also label believing a "work". We must also label repenting a "work". 

Believing and repenting are both things we must DO as a prerequisite to salvation. They are both things that require human action. 
Baptism (submission to it) is merely the last part of that equation.

James tells us he will show us his faith by what he does.
"Even so faith, if it has no works,
is dead in itself." - James 2:17

It must be remembered that although baptism is something we must do (like believing and repenting), baptism is an act of faith, not a "work." 

It must also be noted that the one at "work" when we are baptized is God, not us.

Colossians 2:11-12 reads, "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." (NKJV)

Just as we must report to the hospital before a surgeon can operate on us, so too, we must "report to God" in the waters of baptism, submitting to God and claiming His promise so that our sins will be forgiven. 

Just as it is the surgeon who is the one who is at work when we are operated on, so too, it is God who is the one who is at work when we undergo baptism.

Baptism is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It is our birth into Christ when done properly.
(John 3:3-5) 

Baptism is not an on going process such as feeding the poor, or clothing the homeless or offering sacrifices as they did under the Old Covenant. 

Doing good deeds cannot earn us eternal life.
Baptism is a manifestation of an individual's faith. It is not Man who is at work in baptism; it is God. Baptism is not a "work of righteousness." 

On the contrary, if anything, it should be considered a work of UNrighteousness. We are baptized because we are corrupt, unrighteous and spiritually dead in sin. 

This is why we are buried with HIM into DEATH as explained in Romans 6. It is the DEAD that are buried, not the living.

But God has always measured faith by our actions, as James 2:17-26 tells us:

"Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. But, someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder. But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith apart from works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Do you see how faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend of God. You see, then, that out of works is man declared righteous, and not out of faith only; And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? For as the body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

(IS WORKS WITHOUT FAITH OF ANY VALUE?)

Did you catch that? There are many who teach a person is saved by "faith alone," but there is only one place in the bible where the phrase "faith alone" is found, James 2:24.

And it states very plainly we are NOT saved by faith alone!!!

James says plainly, "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."

It is faith (or belief) that causes us to respond to God's Word--THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. 

It is faith in God's Word that tells us Christ died in our place and rose again, that causes us to believe. 

It is our belief in God's Word that causes us to turn from our sins and repent. It is our belief in God's Word that causes us to go into the water in repentance for the purpose of having our sins forgiven and "washed away." 

And it is in this manner that it can be said we are saved by faith. If we believe God's Word about His salvation plan and respond accordingly, only then can it be said we are saved by our faith.

Because it is faith that acts as the catalyst to our response (repentance and baptism). If we do not believe, then we will not repent (DESIRE TO CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOR), nor will we go down into the water for the purpose of having our sins forgiven.

Even Martin Luther, who coined the phrase "salvation by faith only", understood that salvation by grace through faith did not preclude the necessity of baptism:

In answer to the question, What does Baptism give? What good is it? Luther replied in his Small Catechism,

"It gives the forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the Devil, gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, just as God's Words and promises declare."

It must always be emphasized that baptism is an act in which God works, not Man. This happens through faith in God's Word—His Son. 

In baptism we, the dead, are joined with Christ into His death. Then, being united with Him together in this death and burial, (Romans 6) just as Christ arose from the dead, so too, He brings us up, still unified as one, with Him to resurrected life.

Those that have been misled into thinking baptism is a "work" and an individual only need say a prayer to be saved, must realize that baptism is no more a "work" than is saying the man-made "sinner's prayer" or "praying Jesus into your heart."

Even more, it must be clarified what is meant by the term, "work". And we must define the phrase-- "not saved by works" if we are going to debate it. 

Few would argue the work of the cross saves us. However, no work of ourselves can save us. 

Only the work of God can do that. So in the argument –"we are not saved by works…" it must be clarified that what is really meant is-- "we are not saved by works of ourselves". 

But the Word of God does not ascribe baptism to that as being a work of man. The Scriptures credit baptism to that as being the work of God. 

Accordingly, we ARE saved by works—it's just that the "work" isn't ours; It's the work of God!

Again Colossians 2:12;
"and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead."

We will pick this study up next time. God bless as you serve our Great and Glorious God!