Acts 2:38, Col 2:11,12, Acts 22:16, Mark 16:16 and others would like to receive the same treatment.
Eph 2:8,9 Clearly teaches that MANS work does not save him. Your statement of, "not by works of any kind, including baptism", has two errors in it. 1) as Zuriel pointed out "including baptism" is not in the text. 2) It is clear that the work of God is not to be excluded.We are saved by the work of God. Now I know that is obvious and I'm not trying to say you meant God's work should be excluded. But, a careful reading of Col 2:11,12 shows that baptism is in fact a work of God.
Col 2:11,12In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God , who hath raised him from the dead. KJV
11. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12. buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. NKJV
11. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12. having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. NIV
It is clear that baptism is that connection to faith, and by ones faith, in the work of God to do what He promised He would do at baptism. Forgive sin. Acts 2:38 It's not just "any work", it's GOD'S work. Baptism does not wash away the filth of the flesh, it washes away the sin Acts 22:16, or in context of Col 2 it is where God cuts the sin away.
As for Cornelius. As Zuiel pointed out Peter commands Cornelius to be baptized. Act 10:48 One has to wonder why Peter had not got the memo and was commanding baptism. ;O) But, then we look a few verses earlier. Acts 10:6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. Peter was sent to tell Cornelius what he must do. Therefore command sounds about right.
"Yet to Peter or any of the first-century Christians, the idea that a person would confess Christ as his Savior and not be baptized as soon as possible would have been unheard of."
I think I'll go with Peter on this one.
if asked by the Heavenly Hosts as to WHY I should be allowed into communion with God, I would answer
“Because my Lord Jesus Christ died and paid for my sins. I claim only the blood of Christ covers me and makes me presentable”.
Not because I was baptized. I could be an unbeliever who gets baptized for some reason. Or I could be an infant baptized by my parents.
Is baptism a commandment? Yes. Does that make a pre-requiste or the act upon which my salvation rests? No.
Christianity is the ONLY religion based not on what a PERSON does, but what God has DONE.
Jesus said it is finished. The work is done.
Knowing this, it should change our hearts as the Spirit works in our lives. We should turn away from the dead things, and to the spiritual things. We should love light, and not darkness.