Have you ever ruined something? Ruination carries with it a sense that whatever was messed up can't be fixed. When I read about Adam and Eve's actions in the Garden of Eden, and the horrible consequences following, I can't help but think of ruination. The holy angels of God must have felt a profound sense of amazement and despair. God's beautiful creation - - - ruined! How could such a thing have happened? How could God have let it happen?
Today's text is 1 Peter 1:10-12, but I've included verses 8-9, for context. Here are the verses, in The Message version.
8-9 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.
10-12 The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah’s Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!
Peter reminds his readers that God had a plan all along. What happened in Eden did not catch HIM by surprise! In fact, it was first revealed by God in Genesis 3:15! Angels have marveled as God, down through the centuries, unfolded His perfect plan for the redemption of mankind. Why?
1. Different creations
Angels are a completely different creation of God than are humans. It is frustrating for me to hear someone say of a deceased loved one things like, "She's an angel now!" Well, no, she is not. Humans are not angels, either before they pass from this life to the next or after. We read both in Psalm 8:4-6 and also in Hebrews 2:5-9 that humankind was created "a little lower than the angels". Peter tells us that angels recognize these differences and are fascinated by them. Here is the Hebrews passage:
5It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6But there is a place where someone has testified:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?
7You made them a little lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
8and put everything under their feet.”
In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them.e Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
(NIV)
2. No common salvation
The Bible does not specifically tell us why angels were not included in God's redemption plan. Perhaps it is because the revelation to angels was so much greater, to begin with. Luke 12:48 states a principle that is relevant here: "to whom much is given, much will be required". The fallen angels sinned with their "eyes wide open". Humans, by contrast, were deceived by Satan, at one time a high-ranking angel.
We read in Hebrews 2:14-16 that Jesus Christ bypassed the angel class, choosing instead to take on the form of a human male, in order to redeem the human class of beings.
14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like them,k fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Angels, though given free will to choose to serve God or not, cannot be redeemed. Those fallen angels who chose millennia ago to rebel against God, choosing to follow Satan are forever chained in Tartarus to this day, and will be until God chooses to release them for a brief time during the last days. At the final judgment they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, forever. The Bible makes no provision for redemption for the angelic class of beings.
This is why 1 Peter 1:12 speaks of how intrigued angels are by the salvation God provides to mankind through His Son, Jesus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfaQ8qoCUaA
Your musical treat for the day! :)
Father God, in Your magnificent all-knowingness You have created us. In Your image, You have created us. In Your mercy, You have redeemed us...and angels marvel. You are Almighty, and I am dumfounded when I consider Your incredible works, because I can't even begin to understand them. All glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! In the glorious name of Jesus, amen.
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