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Objection 1: It seems that no man can be saved without Baptism.
For our Lord said (Jn. 3:5): "Unless a man be born again of
water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
But those alone are saved who enter God's kingdom. Therefore none
can be saved without Baptism, by which a man is born again of water
and the Holy Ghost.
Objection 2: Further, in the book De Eccl. Dogm. xli, it is
written: "We believe that no catechumen, though he die in his good
works, will have eternal life, except he suffer martyrdom, which
contains all the sacramental virtue of Baptism." But if it were
possible for anyone to be saved without Baptism, this would be the
case specially with catechumens who are credited with good works, for
they seem to have the "faith that worketh by charity" (Gal.
5:6). Therefore it seems that none can be saved without Baptism.
Objection 3: Further, as stated above (Article 1; Question
65, Article 4), the sacrament of Baptism is necessary for
salvation. Now that is necessary "without which something cannot be"
(Metaph. v). Therefore it seems that none can obtain salvation
without Baptism.
On the contrary, Augustine says (Super Levit. lxxxiv) that
"some have received the invisible sanctification without visible
sacraments, and to their profit; but though it is possible to have the
visible sanctification, consisting in a visible sacrament, without the
invisible sanctification, it will be to no profit." Since,
therefore, the sacrament of Baptism pertains to the visible
sanctification, it seems that a man can obtain salvation without the
sacrament of Baptism, by means of the invisible sanctification.
I answer that, The sacrament or Baptism may be wanting to someone in
two ways. First, both in reality and in desire; as is the case with
those who neither are baptized, nor wished to be baptized: which
clearly indicates contempt of the sacrament, in regard to those who
have the use of the free-will. Consequently those to whom Baptism is
wanting thus, cannot obtain salvation: since neither sacramentally nor
mentally are they incorporated in Christ, through Whom alone can
salvation be obtained.
Secondly, the sacrament of Baptism may be wanting to anyone in
reality but not in desire: for instance, when a man wishes to be
baptized, but by some ill-chance he is forestalled by death before
receiving Baptism. And such a man can obtain salvation without being
actually baptized, on account of his desire for Baptism, which desire
is the outcome of "faith that worketh by charity," whereby God,
Whose power is not tied to visible sacraments, sanctifies man
inwardly. Hence Ambrose says of Valentinian, who died while yet a
catechumen: "I lost him whom I was to regenerate: but he did not
lose the grace he prayed for."
Reply to Objection 1: As it is written (1 Kgs. 16:7),
"man seeth those things that appear, but the Lord beholdeth the
heart." Now a man who desires to be "born again of water and the
Holy Ghost" by Baptism, is regenerated in heart though not in
body. thus the Apostle says (Rm. 2:29) that "the circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise
is not of men but of God."
Reply to Objection 2: No man obtains eternal life unless he be free
from all guilt and debt of punishment. Now this plenary absolution is
given when a man receives Baptism, or suffers martyrdom: for which
reason is it stated that martyrdom "contains all the sacramental virtue
of Baptism," i.e. as to the full deliverance from guilt and
punishment. Suppose, therefore, a catechumen to have the desire for
Baptism (else he could not be said to die in his good works, which
cannot be without "faith that worketh by charity"), such a one,
were he to die, would not forthwith come to eternal life, but would
suffer punishment for his past sins, "but he himself shall be saved,
yet so as by fire" as is stated 1 Cor. 3:15.
Reply to Objection 3: The sacrament of Baptism is said to be
necessary for salvation in so far as man cannot be saved without, at
least, Baptism of desire; "which, with God, counts for the deed"
(Augustine, Enarr. in Ps. 57).
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