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We are saved by grace through faith

More often than not, based on Ephesians 2:5
Ephesians 2:5

even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

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  Ephesians 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

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it is claimed that baptism is not necessary for salvation. The Internet contains multiple quotes like this:

Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus.
The Bible is clear that it does not include baptism or works of any kind.

Baptism is a work, and we are not saved by works

Seems there is a problem here with the words 'through faith'; there is no definition given of what faith is. If you do not know what faith is, you would not know if baptism is for the forgiveness of sins or not? These quotations state that baptism is not a part of faith.

Ephesians 2:10
Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

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tells us God has prepared works that we should walk in. Baptism is a work of God by our obedience to His command, not a work of men.

Certainly it is true, by grace we can be saved, but not until we meet the terms or conditions of pardon, i.e. obedience to the commands of God.

Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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The scriptures teach that faith is belief and trust.
  Belief that something is true, "the substance of things hoped for".
  Trusting that something is true without actually seeing it, "the evidence of things not seen".

A study of the whole New Testament will show us that there are many commandments, which are considered obedience, before one can receive salvation. Paul emphasizes that faith leads to active obedience among believers.   Romans 1:5
Romans 1:5

through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

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Romans 16:26
Romans 16:26

but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

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Obedience is how we obtain the grace of God:
  without believing, without repentance, without confession
  and without baptism the grace of God will not save anyone.

Belief alone will not save nor will grace alone. We must meet all the terms or conditions of pardon by obedience. The Bible ties both belief and obedience together.

The acts of obedience that lead us to the grace of God:

Hear the word of God Romans 1:16
Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

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  Romans 10:17
Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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Believe Jesus is the son of God James 2:19-24
James 2:19-24

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
...
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

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  John 8:24
John 8:24

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins

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Repent of your sins Acts 3:19
Acts 3:19

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

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  Acts 17:30
Acts 17:30

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

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  Luke 13:3
Luke 13:3

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

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Confess that Jesus is the son of God Romans 10:10
Romans 10:10

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

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  1 John 4:15
1 John 4:15

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

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Be baptized for forgiveness of sins Acts 2:38
Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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  Acts 22:16
Acts 22:16

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

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  Mark 16:16
Mark 16:16

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

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  I Peter 3:21
I Peter 3:21

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

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Live faithful to Jesus Christ Galatians 2:20
Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

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  Revelation 2:10
Revelation 2:10

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

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Some will say "The above scriptures do not mean obedience and their real meaning can be explained."
Acts 2:38
Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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is the best scripture to show baptism is for the forgiveness of sins where we see, for the first time, requirements for salvation. There is no reference to sins having been forgiven before baptism. There needs to be no 'explanation' about what the scripture means; it says what it means and means what it says.

For this idea of explaining the meaning of scriptures, I offer you the following web page for your review.
The Bible is Simple to Understand

SUMMARY
Baptism is a work of God not a work of men.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith" tells us we will be saved by the grace of God when we, by faith, are obedient to His commandments.

Know that hearing, believing, repenting, confessing and baptism are the works of God, not the works of men.

Obviously, this information here is not a lot of detail but should be enough to understand the truth of this. There is more detail on other pages in this web site and in many places on the internet.

Additional information:
Belief in God VS Unconditional Everlasting Life
If One Verse Was All We Needed