I came from a baptist background and I know where you are coming from when you are asking the question in your OP. Faith is the first step of obedience proves to be an act of faith in the word of Christ by responding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Faith comes only when the outward fact penetrates to the inner heart of man and takes possession of him there and this is the work of the Spirit, not man.
Many times, many denominations including Baptists often do more than what God requires. Our assurance of salvation cannot be found by looking inward at how we think or feel or whether we have doubts, but only outwardly by looking to God's Word, God's works for us, and God's promises to us.
True "sanctification" is only through the Holy Spirit who produce the evidence of my own true spiritual condition, humility and intimacy with God that my flesh CANNOT DO.
This is where Soli Deo gloria comes from: All glory is due to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through His will and action—not only the gift of the all-sufficient atonement of Jesus on the cross but also the gift of faith in that atonement, created in the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit.
The atonement is the work of God from beginning to end. God alone provides the means of salvation through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ; through the call of God for all to repent and don't reject; and through the God-given restoration.
Most important, this raises the whole question of the doctrine of regeneration because this is the most serious thing of all. This work is the work of the Holy Spirit, and His work alone, and no one else can do it. And, as it is His work, it is always a thorough work; and is always a work that will show itself. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance (conviction), as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. Jesus said in John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
When I post about Jesus as our "Shepherd".... I was referring to His Salvation for us. Jesus is my Shepherd:
A. Jesus releases me from FEAR (John 10:1-8, 11-13) so I am not easily spooked
B. Jesus satisfies my SPIRITUAL HUNGER (John 10:9-10) so that I won't covet.
C. Jesus brings me UNITY with other believes to the flock (John 10:11-18) so that I won't be selfish with my spiritual gifts.
D. My salvation is secured (John 10:22-30) so that no one can cause me to doubt my faith.
Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.
We are the sheep only if we understand what it means to be a sheep. In the New Testament, "You were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." Connects with the Old Testament prophecy: "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." First Peter 5:4 refers to Him as the "Chief Shepherd." Those are significant titles because the Old Testament affirms that "the Lord is my shepherd" (Ps. 23:1, Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24).
Jesus is MY SHEPHERD that He will supply all my needs (Phil. 4:19) and that He knows everything about my life (Ps. 139:3), cares about me (1 Pet. 5:7), has the power for every difficulty (Ps. 62:11), is perfecting me to be like Christ (Phil. 1:6), and that nothing escapes Him (Ps. 147:5), that will lead me to be stable, not anxious living and not coveting anything.