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Objection 1: It seems that not all sins are taken away by Baptism.
For Baptism is a spiritual regeneration, which corresponds to carnal
generation. But by carnal generation man contracts none but original
sin. Therefore none but original sin is taken away by Baptism.
Objection 2: Further, Penance is a sufficient cause of the
remission of actual sins. But penance is required in adults before
Baptism, according to Acts 2:38: "Do penance and be baptized
every one of you." Therefore Baptism has nothing to do with the
remission of actual sins.
Objection 3: Further, various diseases demand various remedies:
because as Jerome says on Mk. 9:27,28: "What is a cure for
the heel is no cure for the eye." But original sin, which is taken
away by Baptism, is generically distinct from actual sin. Therefore
not all sins are taken away by Baptism.
On the contrary, It is written (Ezech. 36:25): "I will
pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your
filthiness."
I answer that, As the Apostle says (Rm. 6:3), "all we, who
are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in His death." And
further on he concludes (Rm. 6:11): "So do you also reckon
that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus our
Lord." Hence it is clear that by Baptism man dies unto the oldness
of sin, and begins to live unto the newness of grace. But every sin
belongs to the primitive oldness. Consequently every sin is taken away
by Baptism.
Reply to Objection 1: As the Apostle says (Rm.
5:15,16), the sin of Adam was not so far-reaching as the gift
of Christ, which is bestowed in Baptism: "for judgment was by one
unto condemnation; but grace is of many offenses, unto
justification." Wherefore Augustine says in his book on Infant
Baptism (De Pecc. Merit. et Remiss. i), that "in carnal
generation, original sin alone is contracted; but when we are born
again of the Spirit, not only original sin but also wilful sin is
forgiven."
Reply to Objection 2: No sin can be forgiven save by the power of
Christ's Passion: hence the Apostle says (Heb. 9:22) that
"without shedding of blood there is no remission." Consequently no
movement of the human will suffices for the remission of sin, unless
there be faith in Christ's Passion, and the purpose of participating
in it, either by receiving Baptism, or by submitting to the keys of
the Church. Therefore when an adult approaches Baptism, he does
indeed receive the forgiveness of all his sins through his purpose of
being baptized, but more perfectly through the actual reception of
Baptism.
Reply to Objection 3: This argument is true of special remedies.
But Baptism operates by the power of Christ's Passion, which is
the universal remedy for all sins; and so by Baptism all sins are
loosed.
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