OK, fair enough. But "saved by works" was your terminology, not mine. I just copied over what you had written.
I've been citing to Paul who says that God "renders (rewards) eternal life in accordance with works." (Rom. 2:6-7) This is language that tracks what his Teacher, Jesus Christ says (Matt. 16:27), which then takes us to Matt. 25. This is an example of God rendering eternal life in accordance with works.
Better?
This dissertation is an end times teaching.. THIS is the final judgement ... It's what Catholics term the "General Judgment," as opposed to the "Particular Judgment" we individually face when we die. But why is it supposed that we are judged differently at these two times?
Notice that the saved and the unsaved had already been separated..
Well . . . not quite:
When the Son of man comes . . . he will sit on his glorious throne. . . and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats . . .
"He will separate them" isn't exactly "they are already separated."
This was not a salvation decision, but one of REWARDS ..
What was the criterion of judgment? Answer: charitable works (or lack thereof). What was the "reward" given to the Sheep? Hint: "they will go . . . into eternal life."
I say the reward stated is "eternal life" (salvation). If not that, then what is the reward indicated?
One does not EARN an inheritance it is a GIFT
And I've never, EVER used the term "earn," so kindly dispense with that strawman argument.
But an inheritance is given to one's children, and how does one abide as a child of God?
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. . . . 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. . . . 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:1,2,5,6, 9-12
"Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him[.]" Heb. 5:8-9
The Sheep are obedient to the commandment to love one another. As such, they are said to abide in God's love, remaining His children and receiving the inheritance.
The Goats are condemned , not because they did not work, but because they had never repented and believed
Where does the passage say anything about "because you did not repent?" or "because you did not believe?" Can you point me to the specific verse(s)? Again, like your take on James 2 where you talk about how Christians are seen by the heathen, you just make this up as you go.
The Goats called Him "Lord." They believed in who He is. They just weren't obedient to His commandment to love and were cast into the fire.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Salvation is a gift, not a reward.
Ephesians 2:9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
I really wish Catholics could understand the scriptures...
The good works were the result of salvation...not the cause..