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NASB | 2 Peter 2:4 ¶ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Peter 2:4 ¶ For if God did not [even] spare angels that sinned, but threw them into hell and sent them to pits of gloom to be kept [there] for judgment; |
Subject: the angels that sinned |
Bible Note: Greetings The CurtMan! I'm sorry to hear about what happened this weekend, although I am thankful that noone was hurt! Doesn't everyone use an Apple Macintosh? Just kidding.. :-) Now about Angels.. One thing to keep in mind is is that Angels and Human Beings are two very different parts of God's creation. Scripture tells us that God created the angels as angels (Colossians 1:16). We see a distinction between humans and angels in a number of biblical passages. For example, Psalm 8:5 indicates that man was made lower than the angels. In Hebrews 12:22-23 the "myriads of angels" are clearly distinguished from the "spirits of righteous men made perfect". 1 Cor. 6:3 tells us that there is a time coming when believers (in the afterlife) will judge angels (Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:4,9). Moreover, 1 Cor. 13:1 draws a distinction between the languages of humans and angels. Clearly, human beings and angels are portrayed as different classes of beings in the Bible. How else are angels different from humans? Angels do not have fleshly bodies as we do, but are immortal (Luke 20:36). Therefore, angels do not have this body of death (Rom. 7:5,24; 8:13) that we have. Angels do not have an 'inherited depraved nature' as we do, because of our flesh (Romans 3:9-19; Ephesians 2:1-3). Angels do not have need of a Reedemer (Rom. 8:3) as we do, since they were created as His angels (Psalm 91:11). In Scripture, angels are most often described in relation to God as His angels. It is of great significance that the two angelic names mentioned in the Bible- Michael and Gabriel- emphasize this relationship (as His angels) with God with the 'el' at the end of their names, which in Hebrew, means "God." Psalm 103:20 makes reference to God's angels "who do his bidding, who obey his word." Therefore, if angels do not have a fleshly body as we do, and cannot die as we can, then they also are not tempted with "sins of the flesh" as we are. What are sins of the flesh? Galatians 5:19-21 states that they are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.. Therefore, angels cannot commit these types of sins, since they do not have a "body of flesh" that is tempting them to do so, as we do. But the sin that Satan and his co-conspirators (angels) did commit was the sin of pride, which is a "spiritual sin" in nature with God (Isaiah 14:14). Envy is related to pride, and is also a sin that could be spiritual in nature. Anger is a byproduct of both pride and envy, and it could also be a sin that is spiritual in nature. Matthew 27:18 tells us that it was because of envy that the people handed Jesus over to be crucified. Therefore, while the sins of the flesh are outside of the capacity for angels to commit, they were capable of committing a sin of pride, envy and anger towards God. But all of the angels who would rebel against God and commit sin joined Satan in his revolt (Rev. 12:4). All of the angels that are left remain loyal to Him and are His for all eternity (1 Tim. 5:21). The angels would not want to sin against Him, even if they were given another chance to do so! Therefore, they remain perfect in their stature and in the Lord's service for all eternity. They have no need of a "freedom of choice" as we do. They do not "wrestle with sin" as we do, since they do not have a "flesh" that they have to "wrestle" with. They are completely free of these fleshly sins that we find ourselves being tempted with, and they will never sin against Him. Blessings to you, Makarios |