Does God love angels?

[Presbyterian Continuist]

You must also think it absurd that Jesus won't save the fallen angels.

I don't, because the Word says quite clearly that they are beyond saving and that they are bound over for judgment.

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

Angels are spirits. Some experts call 'intelligences' because their mode of knowing. They know instantly and fully what they see. They know the essence of a thing rather than like us who see the substance of a thing. Our knowing is a process. Theirs is instantly. When Jesus say's I am in the Father and the Father in me and again When Jesus speaks of being ;in' us and 'in' Him...This is not something angels can do. There is no 'in' an Angel. This is because God has an internal conversation . Father Son Holy Spirit. Their is an 'in' for God. We have an internal conversation, Body soul spirit Mind Body Conscience. That makes us able to be closer to God even though angels look more like God. When it comes to Love, there are angels that burn with love for God continually in prayer and adoration and Angels being pure intellect like God is pure intellect have powerfull capacity for returning God's love.

But there is no 'in' an angel so God can't dwell in an angel like He can us...

Angels are creatures of governance. They function as powers that watch over cities or nations. I don't know how this works but the power of nature..like the power of fertility of flowers or wheat fields...these kinds of earthly processes the angels were made to govern. When Satan and the third of the angels abandoned their place God created them for, these are the thrones that humans will occupy. How the gears and levers work I don't know. Hope that helped Your brother in Christ

Thanks for addressing the meat of my thread, differences between angels and men. I do agree with angels being given charge to govern the world. I read your 'in' as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which I believe only one created in the image of God with a soul can have.

As to a "perfect" intelligence of angels, I don't believe so because angels search the meaning of scripture.

1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.​

they are not souls Souls require a material extension to operate the powers. Angels operate without material extension( fancy term for a body)

As I stated, I don't think that we being created in the image of God has anything to do with our physical bodies. Jesus said at the renewal we will be like angels. I don't think our current physical differences have any bearing with God's differing love for us.

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

According to John 15, dying for another is the greatest expression of love. Hebrews teaches that Jesus did not die for angels and they will not be redeemed. I infer from this that God does not have the same love for angels as he does for men. While they may have great power, they are still servants of God and man. We have inherited the rights of sons of God.

Angels are eternal creatures. they know the essence of things. That is instant and full. So when God created them they instantly saw God and God was revealed to them fully. Their mode of knowing isn't a process so they have one decision as it relates to God and the good and there is nothing that can change their mind once it's made. They saw God fully, They knew God's grace for them. God's love for them. they understood the consequence of their decision fully. What God created them for, they had all they needed to love God back. Once thei object of their will is chosen it is fixed They will have completed their act of will and their act of self determination is final. That's just their nature. Eternity is first a state of changelessness and consequently there is no end in time. Eternity is outside of time and space. So that's why Jesus didn't die for them. They are eternal creatures

I would not say angels are eternal creatures because I think eternal as no beginning or end. I think angels had a beginning like us in creation. I believe angels are "confirmed in their bliss" but this is only after the battle that took place in heaven. As to the angels that were cast out of heaven, I see no difference between them existing for eternity than our souls living for eternity.

As to the future of angels being so set, I wonder what would be the purpose of men judging angels. The best explanation of that scripture is that when we get to heaven we will meet our guardian angel, learn all they did for us and on judgment day we will indicate how well they did their job.

 

[dreadnought]

You must also think it absurd that Jesus won't save the fallen angels.

Well, a fallen angel needs to repent.

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

Well, a fallen angel needs to repent.

But this is the point of my thread. Why are men given the chance to repent and then receive God's grace but not the fallen angels? Not all men will repent, but not a single fallen angel will be given the chance to repent and receive grace. I am not questioning God's plan here. I just think it absurd to believe that God holds the same love for both fallen angels as fallen men. By extension, if God has more love for fallen men than fallen angels, then I think he has more love for redeemed men than confirmed angels. Plus, as the OP stated, no greater love is it than to die for one and Jesus died for us, not angels.

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

I don't, because the Word says quite clearly that they are beyond saving and that they are bound over for judgment.

Which came first the chicken or the egg? Fallen angels are not redeemed because the Word says so. Did God not know what he was going to have written? Fallen angels are not redeemed because ... it was not in God's plan for angels to be redeemed. But, why does God's plan have us to be redeemed but not angels? I think a difference exists between men and angels. I think a difference in God's love.

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

John 3:16

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

But this is the point of my thread. Why are men given the chance to repent and then receive God's grace but not the fallen angels? Not all men will repent, but not a single fallen angel will be given the chance to repent and receive grace. I am not questioning God's plan here. I just think it absurd to believe that God holds the same love for both fallen angels as fallen men. By extension, if God has more love for fallen men than fallen angels, then I think he has more love for redeemed men than confirmed angels. Plus, as the OP stated, no greater love is it than to die for one and Jesus died for us, not angels.

How do you know the demons and Lucifer weren't given a time to repent? Just because it's not explicit in our Bibles, one would guess that if He's patient toward humans and not willing they should perish then some way thru the history the fallen angels were given space to repent too. That's what I believe anyway

 

[dreadnought]

But this is the point of my thread. Why are men given the chance to repent and then receive God's grace but not the fallen angels? Not all men will repent, but not a single fallen angel will be given the chance to repent and receive grace. I am not questioning God's plan here. I just think it absurd to believe that God holds the same love for both fallen angels as fallen men. By extension, if God has more love for fallen men than fallen angels, then I think he has more love for redeemed men than confirmed angels. Plus, as the OP stated, no greater love is it than to die for one and Jesus died for us, not angels.

Why do you believe fallen angels don't get a chance to repent?

 

[friend of]

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Are angels capable of dying and therefore participating in this ultimate sacrifice? If angels are immortal on both sides, then the answer is no, they cannot. We then see why God will, in time, exalt man above the angels in heaven. This also shows why some angels would resent humans and seek our destruction.

 

[friend of]

Why do you believe fallen angels don't get a chance to repent?

Is it not because they are immortal that their decision to reject is then a matter of eternality, and I would reference 2 Peter 2:4 here. The context is "deliverance from false prophets" and evil angels are certainly involved in the workings of false prophets, potentially being the source of the evil manifesting through anti-Christian humans.

2 Peter 2:4
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless
8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment

 

[dreadnought]

Is it not because they are immortal that their decision to reject is then a matter of eternality, and I would reference 2 Peter 2:4 here. The context is "deliverance from false prophets" and evil angels are certainly involved in the workings of false prophets, potentially being the source of the evil manifesting through anti-Christian humans.

2 Peter 2:4
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless
8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment

How would you define "angel"?

 

[friend of]

How would you define "angel"?

Well, before God created Eden and mankind He made the angels. I assume these angels were essentially immortal and considered "Sons/Daughters of God" and were with God. Then God made man and told the angels to dote on man and this separated the angels into 2 camps. Those willing to obey and humble themselves toward the inferior creation, which is man, as like Christ himself did so, and those refusing to obey God's design following the path of rebellion.

Angels are immortal, shining ones, forces beyond our comprehension, perhaps existing in a higher dimensional realm, with powers we cannot conceive of. They are, at present time, superior in their power and ability, but it will not be like this way forever, because they are in some sense, incapable of participating in life as we humans do.

 

[Blade]

There are things being said here that ..are not written. Where you can not back up it up with the word. We live in a sinful world. Born into it. There is no way we can know nor understand this LOVE He has. Love angels? He made them. Can they like us call Him Father? Yet.. they are not puppets. Where they made in His image? LOL..there is SO MUCH in heaven.. we would never understand or except if we knew

For one.. something in heaven with how many wings and heads? Thats nothing.. and LOVE? We think He loves us what MORE? Hes not human. This love is not limited like ours

they LONG to understand what we have seen feel from Christ. But.. to go on.. would be speculation.

 

[Eloy Craft]

Well, a fallen angel needs to repent.

They have committed the unforgivable sin against the Spirit of God. God has revealed Himself fully to them they knew the full consequence of their sin. They still reject God after there is nothing more they can know about Him or the consequences. What more can God do?

Same with us if we die rejecting God

 

[Eloy Craft]

As to a "perfect" intelligence of angels, I don't believe so because angels search the meaning of scripture.

Hi Anticipating, their perfect knowledge is according to their own perfection that God created them with.
They don't know everything. You are right about that. They learn about God's plan from the events on earth as well. Their knowledge of God is according to their own perfection too. But Their mode of knowing isn't a process like ours. They are created with an intellect that knows essence. They Know God fully at once without a process like us. They know fully the consequence of their act. Angel's are created having various degrees of perfection.Their perfection is in accordance with their function. Like us they know eneogh to be responsible for accepting a changeless state of rebellion. We have to die to enter that state.

 

[Eloy Craft]

I would not say angels are eternal creatures because I think eternal as no beginning or end. I think angels had a beginning like us in creation.

They are eternal in the sense that ....they are, and always will be.....God is the only Being that can say I always was. They both exist in eternity. If a Being can say "I always was" it can claim to be uncreated and everything that implies.

As to the future of angels being so set, I wonder what would be the purpose of men judging angels. The best explanation of that scripture is that when we get to heaven we will meet our guardian angel, learn all they did for us and on judgment day we will indicate how well they did their job.

We will judge the fallen angels and throw them off the earth. Saints will cast the fallen angels off the earth and into their eternal abode.

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

John 3:16

John 3:17

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

How do you know the demons and Lucifer weren't given a time to repent? Just because it's not explicit in our Bibles, one would guess that if He's patient toward humans and not willing they should perish then some way thru the history the fallen angels were given space to repent too. That's what I believe anyway

No need to guess because it is written in scripture.

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.​

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

Are angels capable of dying and therefore participating in this ultimate sacrifice? If angels are immortal on both sides, then the answer is no, they cannot.

Is God capable of dying? The issue is that God died for a lower being. The question of why for man and not angels stands. I don't see the importance of man's physical body. As to man dying, the plan at creation was for him to not. After sin that changed for man. If you think you must be mortal to receive grace, then God could have made angels die like he changed man to. Regardless, I don't see how your suggestion is pivotal in who gets God's grace.

We then see why God will, in time, exalt man above the angels in heaven. This also shows why some angels would resent humans and seek our destruction.

I agree that our glorified position is above angels. And, this was God's plan. So then angels are as sparrows.