The verses clearly state salvation is not of ourselves. The only action required is to believe the gospel, Ephesians 1: 12-14. Anything else is works
Let’s start with the fact that we cannot take a single verse and build a doctrine on it. We must look at every passage that has something to say about a subject; in this case salvation. If one verse says “believe” and nothing else John 3:16), is that the end of the story? No, because there are other passages (Rom 10:9-10, Acts 3:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, etc.) that say something other than belief leads to salvation. Now which is is? Are these other passages not Scripture? Or are they in error, making God a liar? Or must they be included in our doctrine on salvation as required actions and change our understanding of Eph 2:8-9 accordingly?
Romans 5: 9 says we are justified by faith in His blood. That's Jesus's blood, Jesus's work. He was delivered over for our offenses and raised to secure our justification Romans 4: 25. Just as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness; righteousness shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead Romans 4: 21-24
We are justified by FAITH, not just idle belief. Abraham did not just believe, he acted on that belief, and that is what James calls faith (James 2:22-26); belief in action. And without that action faith is dead, like a body without a soul.
Romans 4: 4-5 - if we do anything other than exercise faith in Christ and we are merited on that, then God owes us salvation
Yes, if we art trying to earn our way to Heaven through “good works” or “works of the Law”, then if we were able to perform them perfectly, every second of every day for our entire life without fail, God would owe us salvation. That man has not lived (other than our Messiah, Jesus).
Yes, the equivalent of unwrapping the present is to exercise faith.
Exactly, and that is what repentance, confession of His name, and baptism are: the exercise of faith in obedience to His will.
Yes, I believe that.
Do you not find it interesting though that Romans 11:6 states that you cannot mix grace and works together? That It has to be one or the other.
Not really. Again, he is not saying no action whatsoever. He is saying we can’t be good enough, be righteous enough, walk enough old ladies across the street, care for enough orphans, etc.
Repentance says, I was wrong and need forgiveness.
Confession of His name says, I am not my own master, God please be my master.
Baptism says, I surrender my life to Your will. Let me die like my Master and be united with His resurrection.
These are not “good works” to “earn” salvation. They are acts of surrender to God’s will.
What about the thief on the cross? He wasn't baptized. He is with the Lord in Heaven now.
He also did not live under the New Covenant. Jesus, as the testator, had the right and ability to change His will up until the moment of His death (Heb 9:16-23), and the power to forgive sin on Earth (Matt 9:6). Before His death He forgave the thief, and promised him paradise, so that is what happened, and has no bearing on us today.