There is no turning one's life around(Repentance) without the acknowledging that it is by the shed Blood of Jesus that one's SIN debt is paid. Once that is accomplished, and a total surrender of one's will is made then The FATHER'S Grace can be forthcoming. That is the message from Genesis to Revelation. (Mark's Gospel included.)
I believe by trusting fully in Christ, that his shed blood, or death, paid our sin debt ALONE is what saves anyone. We bring our sin, he gives us his righteousness, all as a free gift. Of course when we turn to Christ we are turning from sin, but the "total surrender" idea is more along the lines of discipleship and the work of surrendering our lives more and more each day so we may be better used of God for the works he has for us. But salvation is simple, its free, and there is no "work" on our part or it is no longer a gift, but wages earned and God will not be a debtor to anyone and those who try to earn salvation, those "workers of iniquity" as in Matt. 7, will be denied. Salvation is a free gift we simply accept, not of works lest any man should boast, that all the glory goes to Christ who died for us. Call it splitting hairs, but it is this that separates all false religions from true Christianity. All other religions center on man and how he can save himself, whereas Christianity says it is God who loved us, who does the saving and God who does the keeping. We are just the recipients of his grace or undeserved, unmerited, unearned favor, if we simply trust Christ that he paid our sin-debt. God was satisfied, so should we be satisfied and try not to add something more to it that we contribute and detract from what Jesus did. Keep salvation separate from discipleship, growth and works and one will be ok. That is my belief.
Javajo, I'm not sure whether you believe that I believe one can work their way into God's kingdom or were just stressing your belief???
I assure you that Cain couldn't do it and no one else has produced any "works" of their own "which will pay the sin debt." Death was the only acceptable payment---and that was by GOD'S SON( for the Repentant).(A plan that was put in effect "before the foundation of the earth".)
"Works" isn't a unsatisfactory/negative word when speaking of salvation however.
There are the "works of righteous" which are contrasted with the "works which lead to damnation". One is to "Work out their own salvation" as Phil.2:12-13, says, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure."
And Heb.12:1-2, confirms, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"...
2Pet.1:10, attests to that principle with this, "Wherefore the rather, brethren,
give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"
Eph.2:10, followed the (2:8) which you quoted, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Eph.1:4, explains those good works, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"
Didn't Jesus say the greatest commandments were founded in LOVE to GOD and love to one's fellow Beings??
I believe the Scriptures.
Following Jesus in HIS teachings(And all that HE taught was given to HIM by the Father, as HE acknowledges)is a combination of that which you are saying to """Keep salvation separate from discipleship, growth and works".(The "works" of obedience by which GOD says one is to live in harmony with the creation HE made.)