+++Matthew 25:
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat
What’s that all about, anyway++++
That does not say that one is saved by works does it?
This is the beginning of the teaching which spans 2 chapters.. it was to His men.
It is describing the work of the SHEEP.
The Sheep were not ever GOATS. the Goats never behaved like sheep
This was a judgment of rewards , not salvation .
Mat 16:27”For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
Luke 14:14”For thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”
(Rev 22:12)”And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
1Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
The Goats are condemned , not because they did not work, but because they had never repented and believed
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
They were not sheep because they did the work that God had ordained for them, they did the work because they were the sheep.
Gal. 2:16: “[T]hat we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified
Here Jesus teaching on salvation by works
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
A good tree brings forth good fruit , that is fruit that is attached to the vine.
If it is not attached to the vine it bears no good fruit and it is thrown into the fire.
But you say, isn’t feeding the hungry and clothing the naked good work?
Jesus qualified that answer here is what HE said
A corrupt tree ( not attached to the vine can not do work that is pleasing to him, even if done in HIS name)
A good tree ( a sheep, a saved man) can not bring forth bad fruit.
He says the sheep were ministering to HIM as they ministered. The goats did not.
So the sheep did God pleasing work not to be saved, but because they were already His sheep ( saved) .
I didn't say it did. However, Scripture nowhere says those who don't do these things are saved.
A corrupt tree ( not attached to the vine can not do work that is pleasing to him, even if done in HIS name)
Now it's not so much that I don't think that as I think that it betrays the fundamental "What's in it for me?" attitude of some forms of Calvinism (and of some (most?) forms of Islam).
Good deeds are not enough to save someone, and good deeds done in order to 'earn' salvation are a waste of time.
But good deeds are good, whether or not they earn salvation, and it is good to do them.
But for some, if a Christian, in love for God, gave his or her life to do good deeds, those who profess NOT to care about works would criticize the person because they didn't make proselytes of the people to whom they ministered.
I am reminded again of the Seventh Day Adventist doctor when i was in the hospital for pericarditis my first year of seminary. He wasn't my doc, he had nothing to do with my case. But he heard a seminarian was in there.
My having had two spells of quite unbelievable pain, my being drugged up on drugs that made me a bit slow of thought and a lot labile of emotion, these made no difference to him. He was, by God gonna convert me.
Or the Calvinist-ish pastor in Columbus Mississippi who really saw no need for a church response to alcoholism because, "After all, they're going to hell anyway."
So good deeds are wasted unless they are aimed at somebody's salvation. What a tit-for-tat and ungenerous view of God!