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Objection 1: It would seem that Christ could not merit for others.
For it is written (Ezech. 18:4): "The soul that sinneth,
the same shall die." Hence, for a like reason, the soul that
meriteth, the same shall be recompensed. Therefore it is not possible
that Christ merited for others.
Objection 2: Further, of the fulness of Christ's grace we all
receive, as is written Jn. 1:16. Now other men having
Christ's grace cannot merit for others. For it is written (Ezech.
14:20) that if "Noe and Daniel and Job be in the city . . .
they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; but they shall only
deliver their own souls by their justice." Hence Christ could not
merit anything for us.
Objection 3: Further, the "reward" that we merit is due
"according to justice and not according to grace," as is clear from
Rm. 4:4. Therefore if Christ merited our salvation it follows
that our salvation is not by God's grace but by justice, and that He
acts unjustly with those whom He does not save, since Christ's merit
extends to all.
On the contrary, It is written (Rm. 5:18): "As by the
offense of one, unto all men to condemnation; so also by the justice
of one, unto all men to justification of life." But Adam's
demerits reached to the condemnation of others. Much more,
therefore, does the merit of Christ reach others.
I answer that, As stated above (Question 8, Articles 1,5),
grace was in Christ not merely as in an individual, but also as in the
Head of the whole Church, to Whom all are united, as members to a
head, who constitute one mystical person. And hence it is that
Christ's merit extends to others inasmuch as they are His members;
even as in a man the action of the head reaches in a manner to all his
members, since it perceives not merely for itself alone, but for all
the members.
Reply to Objection 1: The sin of an individual harms himself
alone; but the sin of Adam, who was appointed by God to be the
principle of the whole nature, is transmitted to others by carnal
propagation. So, too, the merit of Christ, Who has been appointed
by God to be the head of all men in regard to grace, extends to all
His members.
Reply to Objection 2: Others receive of Christ's fulness not
indeed the fount of grace, but some particular grace. And hence it
need not be that men merit for others, as Christ did.
Reply to Objection 3: As the sin of Adam reaches others only by
carnal generation, so, too, the merit of Christ reaches others only
by spiritual regeneration, which takes place in baptism; wherein we
are incorporated with Christ, according to Gal. 3:27, "As
many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ";
and it is by grace that it is granted to man to be incorporated with
Christ. And thus man's salvation is from grace.
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