SALVATION
“Baptism is the intersection of faith and works. Sola fide, which means “faith alone,” is the heart of the Christian good news or gospel. We come to Jesus by faith alone in Christ alone to receive God’s grace, his unmerited favor. Through our simple act of faith, God justifies us. He declares us innocent of every sin we have ever committed. For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. (Ephesians 2:8-9 | AMP) We stand in the shadow of the righteousness of Jesus. There is no “admission charge” to be saved. Jesus becomes our savior through faith. And God graciously provides that, too. Jesus said no one comes to him unless his Father draws them (John 6:44a). He becomes our lord when we fully surrender our will to his. Following Jesus is more like enlisting in the US Marines Corps than entering a free concert. The Marines do not ask for any “payment,” but they do require a pledge on your part to let them turn you into a combat-ready Marine. Faith in Jesus, likewise, remakes us. We are “born again.” This is how the apostle Paul described it, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 | NLT)
OBEDIENCE
Once God’s gift of grace is accepted, Jesus commands his disciples to do what he says, to be perfect and enter by the narrow door/gate. Obedience is a necessary component of sanctification, living God’s way in his kingdom. We obey because we are saved, not so we can be saved. Obedience demonstrates Jesus is both our lord and savior. His burden is only “light,” and his yoke is only “easy” if you have received his Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, in many evangelical congregations, the gospel ends with a “sinner’s prayer.” They leave new believers with Jesus as “savior,” but gloss over the “lord” part to avoid charges of legalism. As a result, novice believers often do not experience the life in abundance Jesus promises. (John 10:10) To accept a relationship in which Jesus is your “lord” means accepting a relationship in which he is now your master, which of course means you are his obedient slave. Jesus expects you to obey his teaching. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 | ESV) To those for whom he is only savior, he asks, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46 | ESV) 
To “believe in Jesus” or “have faith in Jesus” is invalid if your belief/faith is limited to him bearing away your sins on a Roman cross. You cannot “believe in Jesus” unless you believe and do what Jesus said. You must accept that all his commands and teachings are true and binding upon you. If Jesus is not both lord and savior, he is not your savior at all.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
There is a big difference between the way the earliest churches taught, wrote, and lived and the way many Christians are taught today. The ancients were just as specific as Jesus was regarding what to believe and how to live. If you are not manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit, (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23 | NIV) you may be mistaken in believing you have received his Spirit. You might have missed a “work” or two. You are expected to do two things before asking God to fill you with the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Here is how the apostle Peter outlined it at the birth of the New Testament Church. 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 will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 | ESV)
REPENTANCE
Repentance, turning from following the ways of the world to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, is an essential part of “accepting Jesus” or “believing the Gospel.” The first example of this is Zacchaeus, a hated tax collector who came to faith in Jesus. Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.” 9 Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham.10 The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.” (Luke 19:8-9 | CEV) It ought to be clear that recognizing our corruption and turning away from it does not “earn” us anything. It is merely a part of recognizing and openly acknowledging that we are sinners who need a savior. Repentance is clearly a requirement for salvation. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 | NLT)
BAPTISM
So, what about the baptism Peter mentioned? There is considerable disagreement as to the role baptism plays in salvation. Most evangelicals interpret Peter’s word at Pentecost as meaning we are baptized because we are saved–not so that we may be saved. But then he turns around and says it again when teaching about Noah. “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . .” (1 Peter 3:21 | CSB) It is the pledge part, accepting Jesus as lord and savior, that saves us. Baptism is an act of post-salvation obedience. Ananias asked the apostle Paul, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16 | NIV) Jesus, who did not need to be saved, submitted to water baptism to “fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15) Jesus’s followers are expected to exhibit righteousness exceeding the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). So, if Jesus did it and we are expected to be like him, baptism is not optional. The ancient churches also faithfully taught baptism’s importance the way Peter did. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15 | ESV)
GOOD WORKS
Faith, repentance, and baptism are the first of the “good works” believers are expected to accomplish. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].(Ephesians 2:10 | Amp) Here is what James, the half-brother of Jesus had to say on the topic of faith and works. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; (James 2:18-22 | ESV) Unless you are like the thief on the cross and cannot be baptized, repentance and baptism are both expected of those who call themselves Jesus-followers. Please don’t leave either undone.