Fear, especially the spirit of bondage, can never be the pure motive of love. If they die in this childish state, when they begin to leave the body and see the glory prepared for them by God's mercy, at that moment, along with discernment, the love of God is born in them. Therefore, the same subjective change is demanded of children, only the mechanics are different. Abelard says the power of keys was only given to the apostles and not their successors, and is not the power of the priest to forgive sins, but only to recognize when someone is worthy to have their sins forgiven. They can prescribe penance, based not so much on the offense as on the intent, because it is the intent which grades the seriousness of the offence.
Contrition alone removes guilt.
Those who die without performing their necessary penance will do so in purgatory. Christ is the divine persuader, who was sent as an example, a necessary force which creates love in our hearts. It is the love which is created in our hearts that commends us go God and justifies us. Within Abelard's view it is not inherently necessary that Christ be God. He did hold to the deity of Christ, however.