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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Although the Bible mentions angels over 250 times, the references are usually incidental to some other topic. Learning what the Bible has to say about angels can certainly aid in an understanding o...
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Bryan Naidoo
Supporter
This subject has and will always be in the mind of scholars and theologians. Regarding answers to these types of questions, I believe we will only touch the surface with our understanding as much as we have the infallible word of God to help us. Angels are ministering spirits. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14 NIV). It says "not all" this means all the angels are created and designed for a purpose. As to having a free will concerning this purpose I have no scripture. It is also true there are many scriptures in the bible that speaks of angels. I believe we need to look at these scriptures in their context instead of labeling them. We know man was created in the image of God, we know man was created with a free will which we call the power of choice. The question that needs to be answered is, "Were angels also created with a free will?" We know God tested man's free will. Why then place a tree of good and evil in the Garden? Why ask man not to eat or touch a certain tree? Imagine if man did not have a free will, we all would have been like images walking like zombies or robots. If God gave angels free will, we need to explain scripturally why did God do this. Is there any reference in the holy scriptures to help us know if or why Gid gave them free will? And what he expected them to do? We know why God gave "Man" a free will, and what he expected man to do. We also know that a number of angels were imprisoned because they sinned. Did they sin because they had a choice, or was it because of man who used them to sin? We know God imprisoned the angels that sinned in Genesis 6th chapter, but what did he do to man? The Bible tells us besides Noah and his family, all were destroyed. The whole bible is about man, his creation, his rebellion which caused his fall, his redemption and his eternal home. To venture about angels having a free will would not help us, the " MAN".
Pam Johnson
Supporter
Yes, otherwise their wouldn't be the devil and his angels (demons) and hell never would have been created. Do angels still have free will? Yes. Just as humans still have free will.
Joann Schlachter
Supporter
I would say that since they are now confirmed in holiness, they more than likely cannot sin. Even if they wanted to, it is an impossibility.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Yes, angels do have a will. Jude 1:6 (Ryrie Study Bible) "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Jude says that the angels ''left'', they choose to leave heaven as their habitation and rebelled against GOD, See too: Revelation 12:7-8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 7 And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 And they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them any longer in heaven. See also Isaiah 14:13-14/ Lucifer (Satan) who chose to succumb to his own pride and thus fell. He was a true fallen angel, and 1/3 of heaven's angels fell with him. (See my comment below). — You [Satan] said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
Paula Fether
Supporter
Without free will, we wouldn't even be able to argue about whether we have it.;-) Most discussion on the matter tries to have it both ways, making us just free enough to commit sin but not free enough to choose to accept or reject the Gospel. This is double talk. Certainly we don't have omnipotence (e.g. flying by flapping our arms), but that's a matter of ability, not choice. Likewise, the angels made a free moral choice whether to follow God or Satan. And since we will one day judge them (1 Cor. 6:3), it follows that they have many other choices as well. In both cases (people and angels), God in his sovereignty has allowed us free will choices. Ones we make in defiance of God are called sins. God has no ego to protect, such that he can't allow any being to defy him And the underlying reason is love. Who would accept love from a creature that had no choice in the matter?
Paul Bayne
Supporter
Yes angels have a will, but not a "free" will. The term free will doesn't exist. We all have a will to make choices, but those choices are only allowed by God's sovereignty (Proverbs 16). Angels like humans can make decisions but those decisions have to line up with what God allows, or God isn't God.
Albert Ogier
Supporter
The only use of the term freewill (all one word) in scripture is to do with freewill offerings. Otherwise the scripture talks about will. Free will is a doctrine that has been around for many centuries, but is misleading and should be done away with. Yes, we are free to make our own choices, but everything we do has consequences. The spiritual beings that rebelled are paying very heavily. Can that be called free? If you do good you will be blessed. So it is a good idea to not do evil because you will pay.
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