I asked:
“What makes the good tree good? Or, to put it in the language of Matthew 25:31-46, what makes a sheep a sheep?”
You answered:
“Why, their works. That sheep are not goats and that the difference is as stark as between two different species is true. But that difference is their works. How do we know that? Because Christ was anticipating that question and he answered:”
So, if I lay an egg I’m a chicken? If I walk like a duck, quack like a duck, and swim like a duck, that makes me a duck? Don’t you hear how ridiculous your argument sounds here? And that is not the worst of it. You are making Christ say the precise opposite of what He is saying.
Then you say:
“The passage does not say how Christ is going to judge the mixed cases: those who fed some hungry but not every time they could do so, etc. But it gives us the big picture: that we are judged according to our works. Note that it was not Christ’s intention in that passage to give us a manual of how we could judge others, because, evidently the passage does not go into that critical detail and, as we recall, Christ advised against it anyway (Matthew 7:1).”
“Note that it was not Christ’s intention in that passage to give us a manual of how we could judge others ...” You’re kidding, right? Don’t you see that you are so intent on proving the doctrine you want to prove here that you aren’t even reading the text.
The passage, Matthew 25:31-46, is about judgment day. There will be no mixed cases. None. Zero. There are sheep and there are goats. There are those who belong to the Good Shepherd’s flock and those who don’t. That is the point. You don’t have to worry about “Jesus’ intent,” His words are as plain and clear as the sun in the sky above.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
No, because you are a man and not a duck. But if you do something that is in your nature to do, -- act like a saint,-- then you become a saint and therefore you will be saved. "Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48)
You are making Christ say the precise opposite of what He is saying.
How so? He says, I will judge you all, and this is how: by your works. It is not the onyl passage where this is taught, not always with the metaphor of animals; see for example, Romans 2:
[6] Who will render to every man according to his works. [7] To them indeed, who according to patience in good work, seek glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life: [8] But to them that are contentious, and who obey not the truth, but give credit to iniquity, wrath and indignation. [9] Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek. [10] But glory, and honour, and peace to every one that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Matthew 25:31-46, is about judgment day. There will be no mixed cases.
No, in the final judgement -- nor in the one that awaits you and me within few years -- there are no mixed cases. So the reason we are told how we are going to be judged, sheep or goat, -- its to teach us how to live so that we are saved. Live like the sheep in the parable and you will be saved. You are saved by your works of charity.
There are those who belong to the Good Shepherd’s flock and those who don’t.
Yes, and the passage tells us who belongs where: those who "who according to patience in good work, seek glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life" belong, and those who don't, don't belong. It is up to you where to belong.