Angels Who Sinned Have No Redemption

by Micky Galloway

II Peter 2:4, “For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment …”
Jude 6, “And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

Admittedly, I do not understand all I know about angels. There are about 300 references to angels in the Bible. The word “angel” (angelos) is defined by Thayer simply as “a messenger, envoy, one who is sent.” Zondervan’s Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible tells us angels are: “… a distinct order among the higher echelons of universal beings … angels are spirits, supernatural celestial beings.” Angels have been messengers (Matthew 1:18-21), servants (Hebrews 1:14), and instruments of God (II Kings 19:35). Angels are a higher order than humans; yet, they are not to be classed as Deity. We know that angels must not be worshiped (Colossians 2:18) and they do not have the authority to declare anything different from God’s word (Galatians 1:8). The Son of God is superior to the angels (Hebrews 1:4). When the Son of God took on humanity by becoming flesh and dwelling on earth, He was made “a little lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:7, 9). This makes it clear that humans are lower in rank than angels. Whatever greatness angels have, they are creatures who exercise choice! Thayer says, “certain of the angels have proved faithless to the trust committed to them by God, and have given themselves up to sin, Jude 6; II Peter 2:4.” Our Lord spoke of everlasting fire, “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Wicked men and wicked angels will be justly judged and punished.

However, to our point; angels who sin are not provided a plan of redemption! God did not spare them, although these spirit beings were His messengers in heaven itself! The principle of God’s judgment is clearly declared because they “sinned.”

Redemption IS offered to you! Because of sin, the each one deserves to be eternally separated from God (cf. Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Man had literally sold his eternal soul for a few fleeting pleasures of sin in this life, thus making himself the slave of sin (cf. Romans 6:16; John 8:34). But, behold the grace of God! With His life, Jesus provided the way for your redemption. “And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear: knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, (even the blood) of Christ” (I Peter 1:17-19). Christ willingly, “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

What does it mean to be redeemed? Our English word literally means “to regain possession of by repurchase” (Webster). Without the redemption that is found “in Christ” we would all receive the just wages of our sins, i.e. spiritual death (Romans 6:23). To be redeemed however, means freedom from sin and its eternal consequences (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:18, 22), freedom from all iniquity (Titus 2:14), and from the vain manner of life received by tradition from our fathers. It means forgiveness!

What is the obligation of the redeemed? Lenski in his commentary says, “because you are aware of what redeemed you, there should be on your part an effort to be reverential and respectful in your conduct or behavior toward God” (cf. Lenski, Comments on I Peter 1:18, page 61). It also becomes a personal obligation (Matthew 25:21, 23, 31-46) for each child of God redeemed from sin to tell others. We who are redeemed from sin have the greatest message to tell that will ever be heard by the world. Brethren, we appear to be coming to the close of the coronavirus pandemic where the focus of the world has been on the virus, masks, politics, the economy, etc. Let us focus our attention on something far greater. “All have sinned …” and are in need of redemption!

Though there is no redemption for angels who sin, human redemption is something about which we must rejoice. Praise God, and shout the message of redemption from the house tops! Let there be kindled within our hearts a bright, new flame of love for the lost, and let us tune our lips to sing of His redemption. The gospel of Christ is still the “power of God” to save the lost (Romans 1:16).