Works befitting repentance

“[I] declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” - Act 26v20

What is the relation between salvation, repentance, and works? This debate has raged and Christians have been involved in ugly fights over it. I don’t really think we need a deep theological debate, but Paul seems to make it pretty simple when he explained to Agrippa his message.

“I told the Jews and the Gentiles that they should repent, turn to God, and do works that are worthy of there repentance.” When it is that simple why do we pick silly fights over the precise instant when repentance, salvation, and good works fall into place?

This much is clear. True salvation is going to involve repentance and turning to God and it will always be reflected in doing works that reflect, or befit salvation. We can’t get out of the good works aspect. Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus that God ordained before the foundation of the world that those who are saved would walk in good works. James wrote that faith with does not produce good works is dead faith.

Rather that squabble over the details would we not do better to simply ask ourselves if our works truly “befit repentance”?