thanks for your reply.
Would it be accurate to say that the difference in your view is not the works but what one believes about salvation in regards to them?
And further that nothing one does before salvation can affect his/her salvation; And, hypothetically, nothing one does afterward can affect his/her salvation.
Would that be an accurate description of Reformed theology?
Yes, I think so. We believe that works are a must in the life of a Christian that are "God-guaranteed". We would say that in every single case of a true (already saved) believer, that works are a fruit of that belief.
And further that nothing one does before salvation can affect his/her salvation; And, hypothetically, nothing one does afterward can affect his/her salvation.
This is trickier and a bit more technical. :) From God's POV, the elect are chosen by name before creation, and nothing within time can change that, before or after salvation (within time). From man's POV, the elect spend the first part of their lives being "lost" and on a road to hell. Then God touches the elect and they accept Christ and are "saved". So technically, the action of accepting Christ is something that is done and makes a difference. (From God's POV all this is a foregone conclusion.)
In addition, and hypothetically, if one claiming to be "saved" did no works after salvation, then he would not be fit for Heaven. So, hypothetically, the doing of works DOES affect salvation. We just don't emphasize this so much because we think that works are already (future) included with the "package" called salvation.