Hmmmmmmm....
First off let me thank everyone for the awesome input into this topic. This same reply is in the comments. It was an after thought to post it.
I have now seen where I may not be speaking clear.
It was never my intention to imply that angels have "saving faith". Angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14) and they do not die (Luke 20:36). God could not give His greatest love to angels. God wasn't going to become spirit and lay down His life for angels that do not die.
I don't think angels even understand salvation fully. "About which salvation the prophets sought out and searched out, prophesying concerning the grace for you; searching for what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ made clear within them, testifying beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow. To them it was revealed that not to themselves, but to us, they ministered the things which are now reported to you by those who have preached the gospel to you in the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven; which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:10-12).
Angels contemplate the work of salvation from without, as spectators and not as participants. This makes perfect sense to me. Angels do not marry (Matthew 22:30). Since angels do not marry they cannot know the intimacy of becoming one flesh (Genesis 2:24). Those of man who place their faith in Jesus become His bride. Man has the potential to be one with the Lord. It's no wonder angels look into these things.
I do not believe angels can be saved or have the potential or capacity to have "saving faith" I do however think the angels demonstrated a form of faith at least once.
I have often wondered what the first thing Jesus said to an innumerable number of angels who just came to be, who He just created. I'm guessing it was "Fear Not!" followed closely by "I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me". No matter what was said I imagine that Jesus did indeed inform them that they were created by Him and before Him there was nothing except Him. Why do I say this? Well, It seems that Lucifer questioned this. One cannot question something one does not know about.
Why do I say Lucifer questioned if Jesus was God? Even if the angels have a complete and total understanding of the Triune God I think Lucifer questioned whatever manifestation of God the angels have the privilege to behold. Why?
Lucifer thought "I will be like the most High". Lucifer did not believe God created him. I'm fairly certain that the attacks and lies Satan uses today are further proof that he does not believe God is the Creator of the universe, thus, evolution, mormonism, ect.
Even if Lucifer was absolutely, positively certain that he was created by God he still questioned God's ability to stop him from assenting. I'm pretty sure most people think his intention was to overthrow God.
I think the temptation in the desert is a prime example of Satan questioning the Godhood of Jesus.
The temptation of Eve to be like God. The devil is looking for a loophole in the system.
It seems whenever the topic of Lucifer and the angels comes up he is portrayed as sneaking around building an army of rebel angels against God. I don't think this is how it was at all. I think when Jesus said He was the angels Creator and Lord, some doubted.
When Lucifer spoke out against the Lord, angels then let the seed of doubt in them blossom and they took sides. I imagine it wasn't unlike the Israelites and the golden calf. Jesus said, "Who is on the LORD's side? Let him come unto me" (Exodus 32:26). The rest were cast out of Heaven. They made a choice and suffered the consequences. All the angels made a choice that day. They looked at Jesus and said, "Yes, I believe He is my creator, my God, and besides Him there is no other" or they didn't believe.
On what basis were the angels to believe? Even if God explained fully how He was all by Himself before He created them they still would have to believe what God was telling them......Based on what?
FAITH! The angels at least once had to demonstrate faith. Do you suppose that it was through faith that the angels understood that they were created by the Word of God? I think it possible. Not faith unto salvation but faith that "believe that he is". What's interesting about Hebrews 11:6 is the word used for "he is". Estee is taken directly from eimi which means, I exist.
There was at least one point without doubt that the angels made a choice. I think the choice was to believe that God was exactly who He said He was or not. I think that decision had to be based on a faith that said "God Is". A faith that said, "We understand that we were framed by the Word of God."
Not faith unto salvation. I'm thinking that is were the misunderstanding has been in my writing of angels having faith.
2 comments:
Michael,
I may be off base with what you are saying here, but it is my belief that the devil knows He is a defeated rascal. According to John in the Revelation "...Because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (12:12)
Also in Mark chapter 5 we have a demon possessed man running to Jesus and the demon pleading not to be cast into the abyss.
It seems to me that the devil's only intent is to condemn mankind to his destiny. He knows that his destiny is already fixed.
I too "belief that the devil knows He is a defeated rascal".
Here's the rub though. Ezekiel points out in Ezekiel 28:17, Satan's great wisdom has been corrupted by his desire to become God.
Although his fate is sealed (Revelation 20:10), his corrupt thinking seems to show an unwillingness to accept this reality. This makes him and his fallen angels all the more dangerous because they think they can win.
The Word is foolishness to to him.
I'm glad you brought this point up. I simply can not express how wonderful it is to have feedback on things I have thought about for a long time now. It is my greatest hope that I do not ever stray into blatently false doctrine and it is also my hope that people will not hesitate to tell me when if I were to stray.
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