is water baptism a "work" ?

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Schmuel wrote:
> Shalom Higher-Fire,
>      Has anyone got a nice write-up in response to the
> "water baptism=work" concept...
> 
>      One point I have touched on is how in Ephesians 2:9
> >"not by works, so that no one can boast. "
> that while we may boast of feeding the hungry, there is
> nothing in baptism we can boast of, as the active
> agent is the Ruach ha Kodesh, which does the only
> "work", remission of sins.... (Divine Work :-)

 I don't know if you could classify this as a "good write-up", but I do
have a response.
When Ephesians 2:9 speaks of *works*, it must be understood that it
obviously means *OUR* works, since Jesus paid the price for our
salvation. *HE* did the work...and since His death, burial, and
resurrection were parts of HIS work, it would follow that our
repentance, baptism, and yielding to the control of the spirit is not
*OUR* work, but a response to his command.
 In John ch.14, Jesus said, "if you love me, keep my commandments". In
other words; obey. To say that baptism is a *work* of *OUR* work, is to
say that obedience is unnecessary. You can not play both sides. If
obedience to the command given is not required, we have no need of our
Bibles. Just believe! 
 I can *believe* I am a world-class gymnast. I can tell you that I am a
world-class gymnast. You may not learn the truth until the *test*. If
you saw me compete in floor exercises, after you were able to speak from
laughing so hard, you would know without a doubt; I am no world-class
gymnast. I have never learned, nor followed the discipline necessary to
become a gymnast. To learn any "discipline"(which comes from the same
root as the word disciple) we must be taught to follow instructions. The
disciples *learned* from Jesus, who then taught those who were willing
to learn.
 Peter answered the question in Acts ch.2, "men and brethren, what must
we do"? by instructing them to "repent and be baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sin, and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost".
It goes on to say that they who "gladly received his words were
baptized". Obviously, there were those who decided not to obey. for
whatever reason, they decided not to bother "obeying" what Peter told
them.
 In Acts ch.10, after Cornelius and his group of believers had received
the Holy Ghost, Peter *commanded* that they be baptized in Jesus name. 
 We can, therefore, conclude that baptism is no more *OUR* works, than
any other acts of obedience, which are commanded by scripture.