Find even ONE post where we have said that, just one! There is a HUGE difference in saying we are saved by our works and we are saved by our faith. But it takes an openness to the Gospel and the leading of the Holy Spirit to recognize it. One says works save the other says grace saves through faith. Of course Abraham ACTED on his faith, that's what real faith is. But it was NOT his acts that declared him righteous before God, it was his faith. Like that verse from Romans 4:2 I gave earlier said, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.". Did you SEE that? If Abraham was justified by what he did - moving from Ur, going to an unknown land, sacrificing his son, Isaac - he had something he could boast about but NOT before God. All the righteous deeds we can do can NEVER take away our sins - only the blood of Christ can do that. So what we are trying to communicate here, what Scripture clearly teaches repeatedly, is that our works PROVE our faith, but they do NOT make us righteous. Can you understand the difference???
I am not relying on my works to save me, they CAN'T save me. I am relying upon the gift of God through Christ who makes me righteous through faith in him. It is NOT by the righteous works, deeds, acts, that we have done but according to HIS mercy he saved us. When you say, "The Lord is not going to see your faith if you just sit there and say in your mind, “I accept the Lord”, but refuse his baptism." can you not see how ludicrous that is? Is God not able to see our hearts? Is He not able to know if our faith is genuine? Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart. All the baptisms, good works, righteous deeds, etc., that we can do can NEVER take away sin, but FAITH can.
Please don't misunderstand, no one is saying we should not put our faith in action - true faith just does what is right, it seeks to please God - but it is NOT those actions that make us righteous before God. He demands FAITH and without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. Even the act of being water baptized - which is obeying Jesus in confessing him before men - is NOT what makes us righteous before God. PLEASE, please get this point: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)
**Of course Abraham ACTED on his faith, that’s what real faith is. But it was NOT his acts that declared him righteous before God, it was his faith.**
You seem to contradict yourself in those two sentences, for you admit that acting on faith is REAL FAITH.
Grace through faith. And you just defined REAL faith.
How could Abraham boast of doing what he was told to do? “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10
**Is He not able to know if our faith is genuine?**
Hear’s a verse to measure that by: “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother”. Matt. 12:50
That’s why obedience to Acts 2:38 is not our own works.
I gotta rest these weary bones,
Lord bless