How To Get To Heaven

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There is no where in the bible to indicate that those are NOT works. There is plenty in the bible to indicate that it is by FAITH alone that we are saved. You are adding to salvation.

Ga 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Ga 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. {with him: or, with me}

In general, Frodo, people quote verses from Scripture to support their positions - not simply verses which could condemn either of the individuals arguing a point. The verses you quote above do not, in any way, support your position. They dont support any position, actually. They simply say that there is a genuine gospel message and that there are consequences for not proclaiming it truthfully. In no way do those verses indicate that your allegation above has any merit whatsoever.
You may not realize, but those of us who are paying attention remember all these logical and incoherent demonstrations by you and rightfully remain suspicious of anything you purport to be true. Your failure to acknowledge your shortcomings and outright bias testifies to your lack of trustworthiness with respect to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ accurately. And just so we are clear, I am not claiming that you intentionally distort the Gospel and thereby condemn yourself. Rather, I simply think you lack the intellectual capacity to recognize your errors.
It is the gospel that saves, not baptism. There is a distinction:
 
Where is baptism mentioned here?

Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Where is baptism mentioned here?

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

It says it is by grace through faith, not baptism.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(KJV)

It says whosoever believeth in Him. Where is baptism meantioned here?

If baptism were necessary for salvation surely it would have been mentioned in these important passages.

You cannot possess the Holy Ghost unless you are saved right?

Ac 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

They were already saved and possessed the Holy Ghost and they had not been baptized yet.

Ga 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Where is baptism mentioned here?

Mr 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

I believe that some of those verses that you believe are talking about water baptism are actually talking about being baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Ro 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

scborromeo.org/ccc.htm.

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The Door is Jesus Christ. We enter in by accepting Him.

Re 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

We open the door by receiving Him, what He did on the cross for us to pay for our sins. Baptism is an act of obedience. It is a public profession of faith.

Lu 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

This theif couldn’t be baptized and Jesus Christ told him what? Today thou shalt be with me in paradise. Because He asked Jesus to save him. He received what Jesus did for Him.

Ac 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

What was the requirement for Him to be baptized? He has to believe. Baptism is for believer’s only. Believer’s are already Saved.

1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

If believing means that you know that you have eternal life, where is baptism mentioned here?

It is very clear that baptism is NOT for salvation but an act of obedience. It is an ordinaince just as communion is.
Well instead of just copy and pasting bible quotes to fit you…maybe you should use the whole Bible. And yes baptism mentioned here.
drbo.org/
As well since the Bible is a Catholic book. To better understand what it all means. And what the Catholic Church really teaches…what we Catholic’s really believe (since you do not seem to take our word on this) I suggest you go here.
scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Hope this helps. 👍

Oh one more little thing…Catholic’s are both/and thinkers/believers not either/or…
 
I didn’t say that genuine faith doesn’t result in works.
Well, actually, you did. Here is your quote:
I am not saying that genuine faith MUST result in works…
I said you could be saved, yet not execute things such as baptism, communion, ect. You are doing the same thing with my posts that you do with the bible. You ignore the 99% and focus on the 1% that fits what YOU WANT to be true. This is how cain was. Cain tried to please God CAIN’S way, not God’s way. God did NOT accept Cain’s sacrifice, because it wasn’t what God asked for.

Thanks frodo, the Cain analogy is very powerful - especially coming from you. :rolleyes:
You now say that your claim is that “you can be saved without baptism, communion, etc” Fine. I’ll give you the same response: Can you show me one person who was saved without any of these things? Please refrain from any OT or pre-crucifixion events as they are irrelevent to the topic at hand. You will again be silenced. Like you were from the works approach, which you carefully dodged, again.

And for the record - I dont ignore what you say - I carefully scrutinize it and recognize much of it for what it is: intellectually sloppy, Scripturally incomplete, historically unsupportable and logically erroneous. This thread has gone on long enough without someone being perfectly honest with you.
 
It says if we sin willfully after recieving the KNOWLEDGE of the truth. The person was never saved in the first place. They had knowledge, but didn’t let Jesus Christ in their heart. Second, it says nothing about being sancified in that verse. Only believers are sanctified.
Just out of curosity then how would you intrepret these verses?

Mat 13:18 “Listen, then, and learn what the parable of the sower means.
Mat 13:19 Those who hear the message about the Kingdom but do not understand it are like the seeds that fell along the path. The Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in them.
Mat 13:20 The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who receive the message gladly as soon as they hear it.
Mat 13:21 But it does not sink deep into them, and they don’t last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once.
Mat 13:22 The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear the message; but the worries about this life and the love for riches choke the message, and they don’t bear fruit.
Mat 13:23 And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as one hundred, others sixty, and others thirty.”
 
Where is baptism mentioned here?

Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Where is baptism mentioned here?
Where is faith mentioned there? Confessing? Believing?
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frodo:
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
It says it is by grace through faith, not baptism.

Baptism is an act of faith frodo. How many times do we need to say this? Baptism is a part of faith in Jesus.
 
It’t not just works of the law, we are not saved by any works whatsoever. It’s by grace through faith alone.

Not by works of righteousness (the law isn’t meantioned here):

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Not by works of the law:
You like romans 3 better? Here you go?

Ro 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Not by any works at all (the law isn’t meantioned here):

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Therefore we can conclude that again you are wrong in your false doctrine. It is not by works of righteousness, works of the law, or works in general that we are saved. It is by faith in Jesus Christ alone and His sacrifice for yours and my sins that saves us. Just as the sacrifices in the old testiment covered their sins, Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

He put away sins by His sacrifice, not by our good deeds, not by going to a church, not by our merits but by HIS.
If what you say is true, then what does St. Paul mean by:

Php 2:12 So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation

Why did the Philippians obey St. Paul?

Why should they continue to?

Why should they “Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your (their) salvation”?
 
Where is faith mentioned there? Confessing? Believing?

Baptism is an act of faith frodo. How many times do we need to say this? Baptism is a part of faith in Jesus.

Then what does NOT of works mean?

3 ways it says not of works.

NOT of:

works of the law

works of righteousness

works in general

Please explain what these works are with biblical proof to back up your arguement.

The word translated Works:
  1. ergon ergon, er’-gon
    Search for 2041 in KJV
from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act:–deed, doing, labour, work.

Is baptism a deed? Yes. Is communion a deed? Yes. Is good works a deed? Yes. Is faith a deed? No, it is a state of mind and heart toward God.

Look in this same verse it says that we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH and then it says NOT OF WORKS. Works don’t save, faith does. Therefore, faith is NOT a work.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
 
Then what does NOT of works mean?

3 ways it says not of works.

NOT of:

works of the law

works of righteousness

works in general

Please explain what these works are with biblical proof to back up your arguement.

The word translated Works:
  1. ergon ergon, er’-gon
    Search for 2041 in KJV
from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act:–deed, doing, labour, work.

Is baptism a deed? Yes. Is communion a deed? Yes. Is good works a deed? Yes. Is faith a deed? No, it is a state of mind and heart toward God.

Look in this same verse it says that we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH and then it says NOT OF WORKS. Works don’t save, faith does. Therefore, faith is NOT a work.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Everyone here agrees that works cannot save us. Nobody can do enough good deeds to wash away even one mortal sin. Only Jesus’ shed blood does that. If we’re in a state of sin, we cannot work our way to a state of grace. But once in a state of grace, we can choose to disobey God and return to the state of sin. Your notion that we are saved by a “state of mind” regardless of our actions is a hair’s breadth away from occultic gnosticism, a belief that we are saved by receiving some kind of mystical knowledge. That rules out salvation for babies, toddlers, mentally inform and senile people. It also contradicts Jesus’ warning that not everyone who says to Him “Lord, Lord” shall be saved, but he who DOES the will of His Father.

Sacraments are received gifts. Jesus is the only one Who “works” in a sacrament. We receive His free, undeserved grace in every sacrament. That’s the whole point — free, undeserved grace. Our efforts have nothing to do with it.
 
There is no where in the bible to indicate that those are NOT works. There is plenty in the bible to indicate that it is by FAITH alone that we are saved. You are adding to salvation.
**There is plenty of verses in the bible that say we are saved by faith but not faith alone.

we dont deny that we are saved by faith the bible does say we are saved by faith but the bible also says that only faith working threw love counts for anything

(Gal 5:6) “Only faith working through love counts for anything.” That is how we put faith in action, WORKING through love. Faith has to work to count for anything; it cannot be by itself.

You realize the JWs use passage like you they quote all the passages about Jesus being true man. And use those to prove Jessu was not God. Why cant they take those passages that say he is man as well as God why cant he be both as scripture says?

YOU take passages that say we are saved by faith but dismiss the passages that say works count.

so I have to ask you why cant it be both?

also you have a real problem with a verse you like to egnore

so I have to ask again do you think you have any credibiblity comeing here when you deliberatly skip passages that contradict you?

What are you doing here when you know you deliberatly skip passages that I ask you to explain you cant honestly think you have any credibility do you? Do you like hearing yourself talk?

all I can do is ask agin**
Frodo are those in Heb Ch 10 sanctified or not?

YOU say no scripture says yes

Read Hebrews 10:29 again. It says that the person was “sanctified” (NIV, RSV, KJV) or “consecrated” (NAB) by the blood of the [new] covenant.

Why cant you answer the question?

:coffeeread: :juggle: :coffeeread: :juggle: :coffeeread: :juggle: :sleep: :sleep:
 
Wrong. We access this grace through FAITH.
“For **by grace **are ye saved through FAITH…”

By grace through faith, by grace through faith…can you say that with me and think about what it says?

We are saved BY GRACE and access it THROUGH FAITH…Nothing else is added here.

Eph 2:8 For **by grace **are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.So…then why is it that you cannot see the sacraments for exactly what they are, expressions of the very faith that you make such an issue of?

Consider:“Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, & James 2:23) Yet, just exactly how was Abraham’s faith expressed?

Genesis 22:[1] After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.”
[2] He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori’ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”…

[9] When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
[10] Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

Rahab the prostitute: How was her faith expressed?
Hebrews 11:31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace.

James 2:25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?

Even though it was their faith that saved them, what was the expression of that faith? Go ahead, say it…The Word of God does. It was what they did.
Ro 11:6 And if by grace
, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But** if it be of works, then is it no more grace**: otherwise work is no more work.

Communion is works. Good deeds are works. Baptism is works. The only thing is says to do is trust Him for salvation by FAITH.So then, why do you deny what the apostle St. James clearly writes about, and what Our Lord plainly tells us about how we will all be judged in Matthew 25:31-46?

You are propounding the errant teachings of men, and in fact that constitutes a different gospel.

The fact is that the very Word of God that you tell us is your sole authority teaches that faith that doesn’t express itself by works is not saving faith at all.

Can a person confess Christ with their mouth (as you harp upon from the scriptures) and still not be saved? Oh wait! You tell me that I must confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead in order to be saved, (to which a faithful Catholic will say AMEN! ALLELUIA! but confessing Him like that is a work isn’t it? And my participation in the sacraments, what is that? A faith induced work that merits the more grace to feed the “breeder reactor” of love for Our Lord that is me.

No xFBx, your gospel is different from the one I find in the Bible and the one the Catholic Church preaches lines up perfectly with both the Bible and the writings of the early church all down through the 2,000 years of Christian history.
 
There is no where in the bible to indicate that those are NOT works. There is plenty in the bible to indicate that it is by FAITH alone that we are saved. You are adding to salvation.
** Ga 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.**Here… lemme be sure that you see that passage so that it stays in your mind and heart. I’ve been praying for you and trying to make sure that you see this warning because of the different gospel of men that you keep putting forth.

Remember…you’ve seen it. That means that you no longer have an excuse doesn’t it?
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. {with him: or, with me}
And every faithful Catholic cries out AMEN! ALLELUIA!

But as I have shown you several times and you have now posted the specific passage that I was driving at (under the direction and guidance the Holy Spirit), that different gospel of men may be very dangerous. 😦
It is the gospel that saves, not baptism. There is a distinction:
1Co 1:17 ¶ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. {words: or, speech}So then the apostles preached a different gospel on the day of Pentecost under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit when St. Peter preached, "[38] And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2)

And then St. Paul was led astray when he was preached the following by the man sent to him by the Holy Spirit? “[16] And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” (Acts 22)

How can that be?

It cannot, can it? Therefore, in a contradiction between any given interpretation of men and the Word of God, that makes the men in error, correct?
Communion is works. Good deeds are works. Baptism is works. The only thing is says to do is trust Him for salvation by FAITH.
Does it? I think we’ve shown many times over that this is only a errant teaching of men and that what you have been taught and continue to teach is just more of that same error.

If you cannot resolve that then perhaps you need to prayerfully begin to carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2nd Timothy 2:15)
 
Baptism does NOT save.

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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

This verse doesn’t say that baptism saves. Look at the explanation of the verse. That which is born of flesh is flesh (water represents fleshly birth, the mother’s womb contains water), that which is born of Spirit is spirit (Spiritual birth)

Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. {for: or, unto}

Lu 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

As far as baptism saving you, it is the baptism of repentence that saves, not water baptism. The baptism is an outward showing of what happens when you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. It is NOT salvation, nor is it part of it. It is a believer’s act of obedience.

Mr 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
(KJV)

Look at this verse. At first glance it appears as though baptism saves. But it says “He that believeth not shall be damned.” He is not damned for not being baptized.

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:
(KJV)

The baptism being talked about is a good concience toward God not water baptism. It says “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh” but what? “a good conscience toward God”

Here are verses regarding Salvation:

Ac 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Where is baptism mentioned here for Salvation?

1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. {words: or, speech}
(KJV)

What did it just say?

Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Is confession not a work? 🤷 You have told us that it is when we talk of the sacrament of confession, but this is even more simple. This confession os better known as a profession of faith.
 
Well instead of just copy and pasting bible quotes to fit you…maybe you should use the whole Bible. And yes baptism mentioned here.
drbo.org/
As well since the Bible is a Catholic book. To better understand what it all means. And what the Catholic Church really teaches…what we Catholic’s really believe (since you do not seem to take our word on this) I suggest you go here.
scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Hope this helps. 👍

Oh one more little thing…Catholic’s are both/and thinkers/believers not either/or…
👍
 
Let’s let the bible define faith.

Heb 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

It has nothing to do with sacriments, it has to to with hope. According to this passage, faith is hope, saving faith is placing your hope in Jesus Christ as what HE DID on the cross alone to pay for your sins.
 
Let’s let the bible define faith.
One of the problems with this is that the Bible does not contain the whole deposit of faith from Jesus.
Heb 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

It has nothing to do with sacriments, it has to to with hope. According to this passage, faith is hope, saving faith is placing your hope in Jesus Christ as what HE DID on the cross alone to pay for your sins.
It is spelled sacrament. Sacraments have EVERYTHING to do with faith and hope. Sacraments are methods that are used to assist people in placing their faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and what he did on the cross. He was not alone, though. His mother and his beloved disciple remained with Him through the end. The sacraments enable us to enter into His death and resurrection.

Statements like you made above make it clear that you don’t understand sacraments.
 
According to this passage, faith is hope, saving faith is placing your hope in Jesus Christ as what HE DID on the cross alone to pay for your sins.
According to this passage? Just to make sure we’re on the same page, I read the whole of Hebrews 11 and there’s nothing in that passage, implicitly or explicitly, that even alludes to what you say. In short, you only come to that conclusion inspite of what’s written there.
 
Let’s let the bible define faith.
Next post:
This link to the southern baptist statement of faith will help you clearly understand how I beleve:
See the problem here? The Southern Baptist statement of faith isn’t the Bible. It’s a man-made interpretation of the Bible. You start a point by claiming we should turn to the Bible, then promptly argue things that aren’t in the Bible but are taught to you by preachers or fellow Baptists. You then conclude that Catholics disagree with the Bible, when really Catholics just disagree with Southern Baptists.

We know what faith is. “Alone” is where we disagree. Nowhere does the Bible say we are saved by “faith alone.” James 2:24 says, “So you see a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

Some Scripture verses say we need faith. Some Scripture verses say we need baptism. Some Scripture verses say we need works. You can’t just choose the verses which mention faith and say, “Look, this one doesn’t mention baptism or works!” Not everything the Bible has to say is contained in each individual sentence.
 
Hello frodo-

Before I address your next series of objections flowing from yet another demonstration of your insufficient grasp of analytical reasoning and basic logic I will point out what you missed from my post.
You had attempted to demonstrate that baptism and other elements of faith (what you are calling works) were not part of salvation by listing a number of verses which discuss salvation without mentioning baptism, communion, etc. Yet some of those very same verses fail to mention the things that you preach as being singularly salvific: confessing Jesus, believing, etc. If we are to accept that our position is wrong by your demonstration (and we dont, of course) then logic would compell us to reject your position as well because the very standard which you hold us accountable to(absense of the term in a verse describing salvation) condemns you as well. For example, Romans 10:13 says that calling on the name of the Lord results salvation; no need to “confess” Jesus as Lord and no requirement to “believe”. And so the standard you attempt to use for us condemns you as well. This is very, very basic logic. I dont expect you to understand but this may help others see what is happening on this thread.
BTW - you would do well to actively develop your vocabulary; your inability to articulate accurately reflects an inability to think critically and accurately as well. And please dont respond that you are posting too much - such an excuse is simply a result of your inability to focus the discussion which should flow from carefully expressed, focused thoughts. That hasnt happened yet on this thread. Just my 2 cents.
 
Then what does NOT of works mean?
“NOT of works” means, quite simply, anything that is “of ourselves” from the very same verse. Anything we do apart from God’s grace. In this particular verse Paul is commenting on what prompted God to save us; what moved Him to provide a means for our salvation. And he is specifically excluding anything that anyone had done (ie not of yourselves) up to that point as having prompted God to save us; as having obligated God in any way; as having earned salvation in any way. That is what “not of works” means in that context. To the audience hearing it from a former Jew, it most likely carried the distinct notion of the Works of the Law. Please note, that the discussion of “How we get to Heaven” or how we become saved is a fundamentally different discussion than the discussion of what prompted God to save us in the first place (Mercy). Paul was discussing the latter. If you fail to recognize the two separate concepts, and then attempt to blend the two issues (what prompted God vs how we are saved) - as you do - it results in error, confusion and apparent biblical inconsistency - all of which has been profusely demonstrated.
Taking all of this in, hopefully it is easy to see that although Baptism is something we act upon, it is not “of ourselves”. It is something that God has provided to us that we cooperate with *in faith. *It is faith in action as required by God. That is not, in the strictest sense(certainly not in the sense Paul was intending) a “work”.
Not let’s hear you respond in a thoughtful, complete, clear manner specifically addressing the issues I have taken the time to carefully comment on.
 
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