Sometime, somewhere I must have missed some brother who was hungry or thirsty. Jesus told the goats that if they hadn't done these things for one of the least of the brothers, they'd failed the test. I'm afraid I qualify just as well for eternal punishment as any goat. Many modern theologians maintain that goats are only goats by their own choice. They explain that God's election of sheep to salvation and goats to damnation is determined by His foreknowledge of each one's acceptance or rejection of His offer of salvation.
Sheep are sheep because they chose to be sheep, and goats are goats because they chose to be goats.
If this is true, God is not to blame for anyone's salvation or damnation, and Paul could merely have exhorted everyone to make the right choice. God is the sovereign Lord. We are able to respond to the gospel and live holy lives only as God sovereignly changes our heart by His grace. It is God's grace alone that enables us to properly exercise our will and make right choices. Some views of the gospel make man the beginning and end of salvation.