Faith is not a work is it. And God has placed a condition on salvation correct? That condition is faith in Christ Jesus, correct?
We see the conditional salvation from the beginning with Abraham.
Gen 15:6
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Abraham's faith was not a work but it was something that he had to do. God did not do it for him did He.
In the NT we see this same righteousness can be ours through faith.
Rom 3:22
even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
Now lest you think that I am talking about some form of works/merit for salvation let us look at
Gal 2:16
nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Paul tells us in plain language that those that trust in Christ Jesus will be saved
Rom 10:13
for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
But you may ask why would they call on the Lord but Paul anticipated that question and provided the answer
Rom 10:14
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
So we see that the order of salvation is clearly shown in scripture.
Hearing → Believing → Calling → Salvation
Faith is not a work it is not merit it does not even save us but it is the condition of our salvation. We are saved by Gods' grace because of our faith in Christ Jesus. Salvation is God gift to us and we praise Him for it.
Eph 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;[/QUOTE
Faith is not a work? Using your brain is not work? Writers, preachers and teachers and students disagree.
Or are you saying that faith is not something that one “does”? I only know of one way to “call upon” the Lord: Acts 22:16. Where else do you read of “calling upon” the Lord in the New Testament? In light of faith not being work, explain Acts 16…” 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,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.”
The jailer asked “What must I ‘do’…?” And he was told “believe”. So belief was that thing which the jailer was told to “do”. According to my Baptist friends and brothers, “anything” you “do” is work. But…of course…they…like yourself…redefine “work” to exclude “thinking”.