But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb.11:6 Ekzeteo (g1567) ek-zay-teh'-o; from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (fig.) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebr.) worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).                                                                                                                                                  Max Lucado: "I really believe in repentance. The Bible teaches repentance. I just don't believe repentance saves you. I believe Jesus Christ saves us. And repentance is one of those ways we celebrate our salvation. It's really the initial step of the faithful believer."   Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Will Peter now lie to them how to be a saved person, or convert. No! All liars will have their part in the lake of fire.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And afterwards did they all just go out and do "Their thing"? No! And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. This next verse proves the disciples were walking in the ways of God. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. God does not bless sin. And all that believed were together, and had all things common. So nobody here is teaching another trinity type of baptism. Even as Apostle Paul taught (In Ephesians 4:5, Colossians 2:12, and Romans 6:4) was himself baptized in Jesus name in Acts 9:18 and retold in 22:16 and did as well in Acts 16:15/33, 18:8, and 19:1-6.

Max Lucado: "I really believe in confession. Jesus confessed. The Bible teaches confession. I just don't believe confession saves you. I believe Jesus Christ saves us. And confession is one of those ways we celebrate our salvation. It's really the initial step of the faithful believer."

Max Lucado is contrary to bible teachings. As one must confess faith in Jesus and his name in baptism. Acts 8:34-40 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? So he knew baptism was a necessary part (Along with faith) of the salvation plan. With Christ dying and the grace of God along with faith in action as per Ephesians 2:8-10 and James 2:15-25, none of this would be possible.
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Let us see how this correlates with Romans 10:8-10. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. So here the Eunuch heard and believed, confessing Christ  and being baptized in submersed. Paul records his conversion in Acts 22:16 And now, why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, washing away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord. This man had seen a bright blinding light and heard the words of the Lord Jesus (Acts 10:36 states that, "He is Lord of all". So we know that Paul was baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.) and fasted three days until his conversion. Annaias laid his hands on him and scales fell off his eyes (Healing him and he regained his sight.) and then baptized him calling upon the name of Lord, Jesus. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Well, here he obeyed the Gospel message of faith through the grace of God as spoken of in Mark 16:16, Luke 24:47, and Acts 2:38. The entire word of God or "Every word of God", said Jesus in Matthew chapter 4, must be applied or used. Here were are donig so to present the truth. Nowhere in the scriptures is anybody: sprinkled, trinity title baptized, or baptized for another person in the word. In fact Paul, Peter and John (And not to mention Jude!) all warned us of change or compromise of the word for tradition, visions, or simply another message. Read these in Acts 5:28, Galatians 1:6-12, and Revelations 22:18-19. Jesus himself also warned about not applying his name, word or teachings; in all areas in Matthew 7:19-27. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Where do we find God or anyone for that matter, speaking, teaching, or calling upon of a trinity in any form, whether in Godhead or in baptism? It is just not there in the word. It is not even implied! It took Justin Martyr to change the baptism formula from simply the Lord Jesus Christ to a trinity form, with Jesus still in it's center in 145 AD, and Tertullian a lawyer, who himself believed baptism was needed to be saved as did Justin Martyr, yet they used a scripturally invalid form of it, in 197 AD, to coin the phrase from a Pagan Plato work named "Timaeus", for it to be practiced and taught that way.) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (It never mentions baptism does it? Why? All believers applied baptism in the name of Jesus without title reference.) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Again, "He that Believes and is baptized, shall be saved, but he that believeth not - faith without works is dead - shall be damned". These believed and obeyed not, and still had not covered their sin with the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (Christ is our rock, even as Jesus name believer's in all things. Colossians 3:17 states do all in his name. Both words and deeds. And baptism is both.Their rock is not ours. As they serve a strange god.) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (Sand is seen also as the world and traditions of men.) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. So really you have a choice today. To serve the one true God and follow Jesus example by baptism in his name. We are baptized into the death, burial, and rising of Christ Jesus by our faith have put him on, said Paul in Romans 6:4, Galatians 3:27, and Colossians 2:12. This refute the thief of the cross controversy, as could not be baptized into the death of Christ, since he had not yet died. And Jesus had power to forgive all manner of sin, (Matthew 9:6) which he did here. Or abide by a tradition given to false brethern brought in unawares to use the truth for their personal wealth. Much like the Pharisees of old who also adopted traditions that made the word useless or to none effect, having changed it to simply a form of godliness, without power. Jesus rebuked them and they were the ones who killed him,. Millions have been killed by those who believed they were doing God a service. They were deceived by Satan. As he steals, kills, and destroys. Whereas Jesus came to save life, and give us abundancy in all things that pertain to him! You can not serve Money or riches, and God at the same time. You will love the one and hate the other. Or hold to the one and reject the other. You are either for or against God. No man can serve two masters. One way or the next, you serve God or Satan. This is evident by your fruits. Thereby their fruits ye shall know them. I pray the God of all peace is yours and not the one of confusion. James summed it the best when he said that, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also". So, let us believe and act on our faith today. God bless us all in his name of Jesus.