Despite
claims that Chick is about works being part of salvation, Chick is very much in the salvation by grace camp, despite some claiming that he's pushing salvation by works, and we can see that quite clearly in his comics. The main argument against this is to claim that the need to repent is itself a work, which seems to rest on the belief that ceasing to do something is to actually do something. Logically that could be true, but it ignores both the context of Chick's tracts and core Evangelical doctrine. In all of Chick's tracts, the key to salvation is to accept Christ. It doesn't matter what people did prior to that. The
Gunslinger is a perfect example, where the law abiding sheriff goes to Hell, and murdering and raping bandit goes to Heaven because he accepted Christ prior to his execution. I don't see how it can be made any clearer than in that tract. Calvin (not an Evangelical) said that acts are not part of salvation, and instead would be seen as a sign that someone is saved (or the "elect" in his terms). i.e. good works are a sign of salvation, not a cause.
To me it's a big problem that the disparate Christian sects can't agree on the requirements for salvation, which should be a red flag when they can't agree on the most important aspect of Christianity. Yep, Chick Tracts are great for laughs and for turning people away from the faith. Chick's theology is sound - it's Evangelicalism taken to its natural conclusion. Errors tend to creep in when he's discussing things outside of salvation, such as his bizarre rants against Jews, Wiccans, and players of boardgames. Chick's bonkers, yet his theology is sound in the context of the John loving Evangelicals.