>>He was not dealing with the means of salvation at all, but rather with its outcome, the evidence that it had genuinely occurred.<<
Oh that the carnal mind could understand that. But, alas, it never will. The carnal mind will always strive to be able to say "I did it".
I cannot tell you how many times, I’ve been lambasted by the “Name it and Claim it” crowd, that if my WORKS don’t show, then I’m not “saved”.
They can never explain the deeds of the thief on the cross who made it to heaven with Christ that day—and he wasn’t even baptized!