Verse 9 called the baptism of little children a “solemn mockery,” so we have another intentional repletion of both intent and vocabulary. The addition here is to the phrase: “putting trust in dead works.” The “dead works” must refer to the baptism of little children. That is the only work that is in question here, and it has to be the contrast with the baptism that understands the “mercies of Christ.” Why is it a “dead” work? Because it cannot lead to eternal life. It is a work, but there is nothing in it that actually does what a baptism is supposed to do. Therefore there is no life, and it is a dead work.