SEVENTH ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 113, Art. 7]

Whether the Justification of the Ungodly Takes Place in an Instant or
Successively?

Objection 1:  It would seem that the justification of the ungodly does not take place in an instant, but successively, since, as already stated (A. 3), for the justification of the ungodly, there is required a movement of free-will.  Now the act of the free-will is choice, which requires the deliberation of counsel, as stated above (Q. 13, A. 1).  Hence, since deliberation implies a certain reasoning process, and this implies succession, the justification of the ungodly would seem to be successive.

Obj. 2:  Further, the free-will’s movement is not without actual consideration.  But it is impossible to understand many things actually and at once, as stated above (I, Q. 85, A. 4).  Hence, since for the justification of the ungodly there is required a movement of the free-will towards several things, viz. towards God and towards sin, it would seem impossible for the justification of the ungodly to be in an instant.

Obj. 3:  Further, a form that may be greater or less, e.g. blackness or whiteness, is received successively by its subject.  Now grace may be greater or less, as stated above (Q. 112, A. 4).  Hence it is not received suddenly by its subject.  Therefore, seeing that the infusion of grace is required for the justification of the ungodly, it would seem that the justification of the ungodly cannot be in an instant.

Obj. 4:  Further, the free-will’s movement, which cooperates in justification, is meritorious; and hence it must proceed from grace, without which there is no merit, as we shall state further on (Q. 114, A. 2).  Now a thing receives its form before operating by this form.  Hence grace is first infused, and then the free-will is moved towards God and to detest sin.  Hence justification is not all at once.

Obj. 5:  Further, if grace is infused into the soul, there must be an instant when it first dwells in the soul; so, too, if sin is forgiven there must be a last instant that man is in sin.  But it cannot be the same instant, otherwise opposites would be in the same simultaneously.  Hence they must be two successive instants; between which there must be time, as the Philosopher says (Phys. vi, 1).  Therefore the justification of the ungodly takes place not all at once, but successively.

On the contrary, The justification of the ungodly is caused by the justifying grace of the Holy Spirit.  Now the Holy Spirit comes to men’s minds suddenly, according to Acts 2:2:  “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty wind coming,” upon which the gloss says that “the grace of the Holy Ghost knows no tardy efforts.”  Hence the justification of the ungodly is not successive, but instantaneous.