Is Faith a Work?

Most professing Christians believe that a person can not earn their salvation by works. (Which is true). "Works" can be defined many ways, but a safe definition may be: Some actions or thoughts that God tells us in His Word to do or not do. I have been pondering a statement a friend of mine made a while back. We were discussing the doctrines of Grace at my church's Men's Conference and I stated "We are not given eternal life as a reward for our faith. You don't earn your salvation through being moral enough to believe the Gospel." My friend responded "I never considered 'faith' a work."

I am wondering if on some level faith is a "work". We are commanded to believe the Gospel...it is not a suggestion. For example, in Acts 17:30 men are commanded everywhere to repent. Other places the Gospel is presented as something to be obeyed: 2 Thes 1:8 "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:" again 1 Pet 4:17 "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" another place.. Gal 5:7 "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"

1 John describes it this way in 3:23 "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."

Well... if the Bible clearly teaches we are not saved as a result of works, and on some level faith and repentance are works, how can the Bible state we are saved, "through faith" Eph 2:8? I think the answer may be in the fact that both repentance and faith are gifts from God. This "work" of repentance and faith is not something of ourselves, except after God gives us a new heart, grants us faith and draws us to Himself. The Bible teaches He loses none that He draws....again I say NONE. Jn 6

Allow me this disclaimer (as I did not take the time the research the exact context of the scriptures quoted)...be a Berean and Search the scriptures. Acts 17:11