Can demons be forgiven?

[Vulgivagus hagiographus]

It's just an idea I've wondered about. This is like the discussion of if angels can still fall only oppisite. Can demons repent and become angels again? It seems out of the nature of our loving and merciful God to say no to this, but I've never heard of such an idea before. Are demons even able to repent? Weird idea. I just had to ask. Scipture is always the best answer to any question, so if you've got some that relates, please share.

 

[Bianca2]

I don't know.Cause these were people who weren't saved and never accepted Christ as their saviour.

 

[Andre]

I don't know if there is any scriptures saying that demons cannot repent, but by reading the last pages of the Bible and knowing what will happen to Satan and his demons I would say they either cannot be forgiven if they repent or there is no desire in them to repent.

 

[Surprised by joy]

I have always wondered about this!
Unfortunately, I have never found a Bible verse supporting this theory either way. Perhaps . . . it's none of our business. We don't really have to worry about it.

The most logical doctrine I've heard on it is that angels and demons made their choice at the beginning of the world, and cannot (or it is not in their nature to) rescind. They are not at all like humans, and the angels seem only to exist to do the will of God. The seraphim are praising Him in His presence, so therefore they must be sinless. That alone supports the concept of one choice for all time.

 

[Lotar]

I forget where it is written, but after God threw Satan and his angels from heaven, He removed their free will. Angels can no longer fall from grace and demons cannot come back.

 

[israelthebride]

Only GOD YHSHWH could decide to FORGIVE a demon.

Knowing my YHSHWH, HE would stop the world on it's axis

if a demon did try to repent.

LOVE, RICOEL

 

[nooby]

Is it likely that Satan and the demons blasphemed against the Holy Spirit?

 

[nephilimiyr]

They cannot be forgiven because they have already been condemned. All they are doing now is waiting for their punishment.

 

[prodromos]

Don't ask me to explain the mechanics of this, but my understanding is that the demons are unable to repent due to the nature of their fall.

When man fell, he was not wholly responsible for his rebellion due to the influence of Satan. That is, if Satan had not talked Eve into disobeying God (and subsequently Adam) then the thought would never have even entered her head (or Adam's). Though they disobeyed God, the source of their rebellion came from without so they are not totally corrupt and are able to repent and be redeemed.

The demons on the other hand, are solely responsible for their rebellion as their rejection of God's will came wholly from within. No one else put the thought into their heads. As such, they are totally given over to corruption and are unable to repent and thus have no hope of redemption.

John.

 

[Dawn11]

John, I found your reply very interesting...something I had never thought about before...

 

[TasManOfGod]

No they can't be forgiven

 

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings All,

I liked John's response. My thoughts are that demons and angels are not created of flesh and blood. They are "spirit". Jesus gave up His precious blood for the propitiation of mankind's sins. He would have to give up His SPIRIT in order to save the demons and that just won't happen.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

 

[FreeinChrist]

It's just an idea I've wondered about. This is like the discussion of if angels can still fall only oppisite. Can demons repent and become angels again? It seems out of the nature of our loving and merciful God to say no to this, but I've never heard of such an idea before. Are demons even able to repent? Weird idea. I just had to ask. Scipture is always the best answer to any question, so if you've got some that relates, please share.

NO. There is no salvation plan for them.

Hbr 2:16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham. KJV

Hbr 2:16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. NASB

 

[Knee V]

I don't believe the issue is whether they can or cannot repent. I do not believe that it is in their nature, but as I said, I don't believe that that is the real issue.
Ability aside, would their repentance even matter? What does repentance, in and of itself, accomplish? Absolutely nothing. God is a holy and JUST God. Sin cannot be unpunished. The reason that God forgives us when we repent is because in Christ our sins have been punished. Christ bore God's wrath for us. So God is able to remain just when he forgives us when we repent.
Is that the case with the angels? No. No one took on the nature of an angel and bore the punishment for their sins. There is no substitute angel death. If God will remain just, and if the angels' sins must be punished, then the angels MUST pay for their OWN sins, no matter what. Otherwise God would cease to remain just.
God cannot arbitrarily forgive sin. The only basis for our forgiveness is Christ's work (life, suffering, death, resurrection). Either your sins are paid for by someone else, or you pay for your own.
We would all like to say that since God is a loving God, then he of course would forgive a repentant angel. But is that Biblical? I'm afraid not. Although God is a loving God (He first loved us and sent His Son to die for us), He is also holy and just. And one attribute cannot contradict another.
The fallen angels could be infinately sorry for their sins and repent for all of eternity, but it wouldn't matter. No one took their punishment for them, therefore they WILL pay for their own sins.

 

[TSIBHOD]

Relevant to this discussion:

2Pe 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Jud 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day--
[ESV]

 

[Daedalus]

Demons could be forgiven; they have free will;
It is written in the life of a orthodox saint (I don't remember which) that a demon was tempting him, and after a long period of time, he cursed the demon not to leave a room untill he would say so; and talking to the demon, he asked him if he wouldn't like to return to God; the demon surplisingly said he would; so the saint prayed and an angel came forth and told him, that if the demon wanted to be forgiven, he would have to pray for 3 years to God and confess his fall and all (it wasn't about the time, nor about the pray, but about accepting his wrong doing). The saint told that to the demon, but the demon declined; it was his pride that prevented him from doing so.
Or that's how I remember the account I read.
So basically, I think demons can be forgiven, but to be forgived it would imply a lot of things, and they wouldn't be prepared to do so.

"Do you not know that we shall judge angels" (1 Corinthians 6:3)

So no, the cards haven't been set for the agels and demons (not theoretically).

 

[devoted daughter]

Since angels (fallen angels/demons) aren't human, do they need redemption. Can Satan be redeemed? I don't know if redemption applies to them. BUT GREAT QUESTION!!!
SOmetimes you people blow me away! But you ALWAYS make me stretch and learn!!
THANKS computer dunce !!!! you're obviously smart and eager!
DD

 

[TSIBHOD]

Satan definitely cannot be redeemed. As for some of his angels repenting, I don't think that is possible either, but Satan definitely will not repent. Jesus talks about "eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). The devil will definitely be there. His angels will too, but that means his angels at that time, and there could possibly some who had been his angels but won't be at that time. However, since the Bible speaks of those angels being in chains, I think that they are imprisoned in darkness and that they will not be able to repent, or they will never want to (however you want to say it).

 

[nephilimiyr]

Satan definitely cannot be redeemed. As for some of his angels repenting, I don't think that is possible either, but Satan definitely will not repent. Jesus talks about "eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). The devil will definitely be there. His angels will too, but that means his angels at that time, and there could possibly some who had been his angels but won't be at that time. However, since the Bible speaks of those angels being in chains, I think that they are imprisoned in darkness and that they will not be able to repent, or they will never want to (however you want to say it).

Satan, fallen angels, and the demons can not be redeamed because they are already condemned.

 

[Cinderella1]

A demon I dont think would ever repent. Anyways it is stated in the bible that there is a eternal fix between heaven and hell, whoevers in hell cannot be brought up into heaven, nor whos in heaven be brought into hell. I forget what book of the bible its in. Its about a father in hell begging an angel (I think its Michael) to let him go so he can warn his son about this horrible place. He didnt of course, he explained about the eternal fix and how he will not leave his suffering. Correct me if I am wrong because I do make mistakes about this kind of stuff, but thats what instantly came to mind when I read the question you asked.