Yes we must indeed work for Christ, but we only get salvation as a gift through our personal encounter with Christ.
All the good work a person does before he becomes born again goes for nothing, just like the way his bad works are pardoned.
This is what I mean, Your good works have no record, until you have come to stay in Christ. In fact the bible says righteousness that does not come as a result of Christ dwelling in you is like a filthy rag.
That is why the earlier you accept Christ into your life the better.
