ted above (A. 1). As to the second, it
must be said that Christ's Passion freed us from the devil's power,
inasmuch as it reconciled us with God, as shall be shown later (A.
4). But as to the third, Christ's Passion delivered us from the
devil, inasmuch as in Christ's Passion he exceeded the limit of power
assigned him by God, by conspiring to bring about Christ's death,
Who, being sinless, did not deserve to die. Hence Augustine says (De
Trin. xiii, cap. xiv): "The devil was vanquished by Christ's justice:
because, while discovering in Him nothing deserving of death,
nevertheless he slew Him. And it is certainly just that the debtors
whom he held captive should be set at liberty since they believed in
Him whom the devil slew, though He was no debtor."

Reply Obj. 1: The devil is said to have had such power over men not
as though he were able to injure them without God's sanction, but
because he was justly permitted to injure men whom by tempting he had
induced to give consent.

Reply Obj. 2: God so permitting it, the devil can still tempt men's
souls and harass their bodies: yet there is a remedy provided for man
through Christ's Passion, whereby he can safeguard himself against
the enemy's assaults, so as not to be dragged down into the
destruction of everlasting death. And all who resisted the devil
previous to the Passion were enabled to do so through faith in the
Passion, although it was not yet accomplished. Yet in one respect no
one was able to escape the devil's hands, i.e. so as not to descend
into hell. But after Christ's Passion, men can defend themselves from
this by its power.

Reply Obj. 3: God permits the devil to deceive men by certain
persons, and in times and places, according to the hidden motive of
His judgments; still, there is always a remedy provided through
Christ's Passion, for defending themselves against the wicked snares
of the demons, even in Antichrist's time. But if any man neglect to
make use of this remedy, it detracts nothing from the efficacy of
Christ's Passion.
_______________________

THIRD ARTICLE [III, Q. 49, Art. 3]

Whether Men Were Freed from the Punishment of Sin Through Christ's
Passion?

Objection 1: It would seem that men were not freed from the
punishment of sin by Christ's Passion. For the chief punishment of
sin is eternal damnation. But those damned in hell for their sins
were not set free by Christ's Passion, because "in hell there is no
redemption" [*Office