Is believing a work?

I believe that salvation is purely by grace through faith with the exclusion of all works such as water baptism, public confession, joining a church, and praying the "sinner's prayer".

The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again three days later (1 Cor. 15:1-4, 1 Thes. 4:14, Col. 1:14, Eph. 1:7, Acts 20:28, 2 Cor. 5:14-6:2, etc.).

According to Ephesians 1:13, anyone who will trust Christ believing that gospel will be saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit until the redemption of the body (the rapture).

Ephesians 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 4:30-32 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

(Note: "day of redemption" and "redemption of the purchased possession" are referring to the redemption of the physical body of the believer according to Romans 8:18-24, 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, 15:51-58, Philippians 3:20-21. The soul of the believer is already redeemed according to Romans 3:24, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:12, and Ephesians 1:7.)

Salvation is a "free gift", which means you do not have to do any works to get it.

Romans 5:
[15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
[16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
[17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
[18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Salvation is by grace, which excludes all works....

Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Anyone who thinks that their works can earn them salvation are greatly mistaken, for it is impossible for a lost man to do good works. Unsaved people cannot please God by their works, every "good work" they try to do is denying God because they are doing it in the flesh rather than the Spirit.

Titus 2:15-16  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Romans 8:
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Works cannot earn us salvation and we cannot perform good works if we are lost.

In response to this doctrine of scripture, some people have told me that believing (faith) is a work itself. Is that true? NO! The Bible plainly states that believing is the exact opposite of working!

Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Ephesians 2:8-9 plainly states that faith is the opposite works!

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 3:27 plainly states that the law of works is the opposite of the law of faith. "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith."

Romans 10:4-5 says that the righteousness of the law was by DOING things while the end of the law was by BELIEVING on Christ. Obviously a contrast between works and faith. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them."

However, Steve Finnell of "A Christian View" has told me that believing is a work. Why did he tell me that? Because of John 6:29, "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Why did the Lord say that the "work" of God was that ye "believe"? Obviously this contradicts the rest of the Bible, which plainly said that believing was not working. The answer to this problems lies in the CONTEXT of the passage.

John 6:
[28] Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
[29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Jesus was simply answering the unbelieving Jews with their own terminology! Jesus didn't coin the phrase "This is the work of God, that ye believe", He was just answering the question with the same terminology, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"

Believing is NOT a work (Rom. 3:27, 4:4-5, 10:4-5, Eph. 2:8-9).

Water baptism is a work (Matthew 3:8, 15)

We are not saved by works, we are saved by grace (Eph. 1:7, 1:13, 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, 2 Tim. 1:9, Acts 13:38-39, Gal. 2:16-3:28, Rom. 4:4-5). You cannot be saved by grace and works (Rom. 11:6).

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED (ACTS 16:31)

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

John 1:29 "....Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

--Eli Caldwell