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Reply. Every intellectual creature, and only such, can be adopted.
for only such a creature is capable of grace on which adoption rests,
and of happiness in which inheritance consists.
Therefore the angels are adoptive sons of God; likewise our first
parents in the state of innocence; the just of the Old Testament;
also all who are in the state of grace, as long as they remain so,
even though they are not predestined.
Objection. St. Paul introduces a state of opposition between the
Christians and the just of the Old Testament,[1602] inasmuch
as the latter received the spirit of bondage in fear, whereas the
Christians received the spirit of the adoption of sons.
Reply. St. Paul does not introduce opposition between them because
of personal justice, but by reason of the difference of state and law
in which each class lived; for the Old Law was the law of fear in
itself, and of itself it did not have the power to justify; whereas
the New Law is the law of grace previously imprinted on the hearts and
having the power to justify.[1603] Thus it is sufficient for
salvation, although not all the just are actually saved, for some fall
away from grace.
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