But you’ve missed the point, annalex. “They did what GOd told them to do” is absolutely correct. “That is the saving Catholic faith today” is absolutely false. The “saving” faith for today is found in the verses of Scripture I gave you: Rom. 3:21, 1:5, 6:17, 15:18, etc. THOSE are the “obedience of faith” today. Please re-read those. “BUT NOW” is vitally important to understanding.
Everyone wants to be Philip in this thread;
but NO one wants to be the Ethiopian eunuch.
“Do you UNDERSTAND what you are reading?” is STILL valid today.
But now without the law the justice of God is made manifest, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. [22] Even the justice of God, by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe in him: for there is no distinction: [23] For all have sinned, and do need the glory of God. [24] Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus, [25] Whom God hath proposed to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to the shewing of his justice, for the remission of former sins, [26] Through the forbearance of God, for the shewing of his justice in this time; that he himself may be just, and the justifier of him, who is of the faith of Jesus Christ. [27] Where is then thy boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. [28] For we account a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law. (Romans 3)
This says that we are saved by grace and that faith justifies without works of the law. Now. Catholic teaching.
By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith, in all nations, for his name (Romans 1:5)We receive grace of Christ and should obey the Catholic faith. Catholic teaching.
[17] But thanks be to God, that you were the servants of sin, but have obeyed from the heart, unto that form of doctrine, into which you have been delivered. [18] Being then freed from sin, we have been made servants of justice. [19] I speak an human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity; so now yield your members to serve justice, unto sanctification. (Romans 6)Serve justice for now you are freed form sin, and you will obtain sanctification. Catholic teaching.
[15] But I have written to you, brethren, more boldly in some sort, as it were putting you in mind: because of the grace which is given me from God. [16] That I should be the minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles; sanctifying the gospel of God, that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost. [17] I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus towards God. [18] For I dare not to speak of any of those things which Christ worketh not by me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, [19] By the virtue of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Ghost, so that from Jerusalem round about as far as unto Illyricum, I have replenished the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15)Not sure what I am to get out of this that is somehow supportive of Protestant heresies.
Thank you for quoting the scripture that describes so clearly the necessity of Catholic faith for salvation by grace alone.