Is water baptism a "work" ?

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Schmuel says:
>The issue was *raised* in a thread on another forum between
>skeptics and believers who have a "saved by faith" theology ....
>The skeptics (one who is, as I remember, a former pastor in Church of Christ,


Dave:
Though I am not Church Of Christ, they do read the Bible. But why would a person
want to even talk to an individual who used to believe in the Bible and then
become a "skeptic."? Aren't we supposed to avoid such individuals who fall into
"apostasy"? I realize that there is a vast difference between Church Of Christ
and Apostolic, but I'd avoid engaging in a dialogue with anyone who has abandoned
the Bible and then later want to debate its authenticity. No way. I'd rather
talk to a lost soul who is hungry for salvation. I won't waste my valuable time
on such a person who has abandoned Christianity and the Word of God as their
source of truth.
>
Schmuel:
>One skeptic even accepted that "calling on the Name of the Lord" is
>shown in Acts 22:16 to have a strong connection with baptism and
>dropped the contention that there was a contradiction with the scriptures
>in Romans 10:13 quoting Joel 2:32 and water baptism !
>That surprised even me. :-)

Dave:
It would surprise me that any Christian would even entertain a person who believes
a delusion rather than the Bible...namely, a skeptic. I won't even waste my
time on such an individual who once believed the Bible. I can deal with a backslider...but
a person who has become a "skeptic", in my opinion, has become an atheist.

Schmuel:
>Plus it has given an opportunity to talk to the skeptics from an *internal*

>perspective of scriptural harmonies, rather than their normal "prove to
>me externally" attitude...

Dave:
Why even bother...why cast your pearl before swine? This is exactly what Jesus
meant.

Schmuel:
>So the "works" question is the principle remaining skeptical attempt
>to show scriptural contradiction, very weak of course but requiring a
>sound response .....

Dave:
The day we can give credit for a skeptic making a good point is the day we can
throw our Bibles away. No thanks. The skeptic is wrong as a $3 bill...

Sorry, but that's how strong the Bible teaches this. See Romans 16:17