It looks like he chose to defy god out of arrogance, so does that mean angels have free will? If he has free will, does that mean he can choose to do good things also? Or is it just “in his nature” to only do evil - is he bound to play the Evil Villain forever? Will god even allow him to do good?
“Once fallen, always fallen?”
2006-07-06 04:00:57 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's just a story to scare children. Don't think too hard on it.
2006-07-06 04:04:28 · answer #1 · answered by Corn_Flake 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe the devil is a liar and deciever. I believe that he will give the illusion of doing good in order to accomplish what he wants. Have you ever seen a notoriously evil person seeming to be blessed? You wonder why this person gets to be so evil and yet get all the breaks? Trust me, they will reap what they sow. The devil is a liar and people do eventually reap what they sow. Just a matter of time before the lie is uncovered and thats when everything usually falls apart. The devil is condemned because he wanted to replace the creator himself. That is the most dispicable of all since since it was God who created him. Even if Satan wanted to repent now he must pay the ultimate price for his betrayal. He can either take his punishment like a man or try to put it off for as long as he can. Which do you think the devil is trying to do? God has allowed Satan to reign over the earth. Of course he has been allowed to do whatever he wants on earth. He just cannot take over heaven. All of the angels were given a choice to either follow God or become what of Satans Demons. Yes they were all given a choice. God wants us to follow and obey him out of our free will. It would not be the same if we were made to do so. The devil dug his grave a long time ago. Don't feel bad for him. Feel bad for humanity who are vulnerable to his lies.
2006-07-06 04:13:42 · answer #2 · answered by Oracle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that Lucifer (the angel) had free will...and unfortunately, he used that free will to be jealous and boast over God that he was better. When God banished him and kicked him out of Heaven, his free will was gone and filled with anger and hatred. So yes, Satan is now bound to play the "Evil Villain" forever - he made that choice and will have to assume the consequences. Much like people here on earth now have to do. Choose God, live an eternal life. Choose Satan, and lies, live an eternal life in damnation (hell).
2006-07-06 04:04:01 · answer #3 · answered by SBean_29 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what you believe, I'll tell you what I think:
We all have free will. We make choices and some are good, sometimes bad. Are are all good or all bad, no. Satan is a trouble maker. Satan wants us to follow him/her, wants us to worship not God but him/her. God knows this, after all God made Satan. Satan after all was a fallen angel. God told Satan to go to earth and make your kingdom. This is why some people believe we are living in hell, the only way to leave, is to die. I don't think this is hell but some are living in a sort of mental hell. Satan is controling parts of that hell but God is also fighting for that person to break free. Only that person that is trapped can totally free him or herself. In the end, hell is a mental state of being.
2006-07-06 04:06:00 · answer #4 · answered by DutchApplePie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From the story I've heard, Satan was once an angel himself. In fact, he was one of the most powerful archangels, pretty much second only to the Lord himself.
Of course arrogance got to him, and he figured, "I'm this powerful, why can't -I- be God instead?"
Angels have free will also, as I understand that's who God was conversing with when he said "Let us make man in our image."
Though I suppose he /could/ do good...would he really want to? That's some kind of bitterness going on I'd think...
2006-07-06 04:04:51 · answer #5 · answered by Robin J. Sky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can evil do good deeds? Is that the question? Certainly. I've known some extremely mean and violent men who have at times done (out of whim) good deeds - AND - have noticed some of them will do good deeds IF it somehow works to their selfish ambitions.
I had an ex-mother-in-law who was t he epitome of evil. She was violent, manipulative but could act like a proper lady in the presence of others especially when appearing in court. She was a magnificent master of deceit. She used the truth only to her advantage, only tweaking the truth here and there to suit the situation.
Consider that as a model of Satan's reasoning. If he can manipulate or use segments of truth to attain his goals in manipulating mankind, he will. Its just another tool in his bag of pay-back. The more souls that will join him in the lake of fire.., the more he feels he's struck back at God. After all - Satan's fate is sealed and he has nothing to lose.
2006-07-06 04:14:02 · answer #6 · answered by Victor ious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He has free will. Otherwise, there'd be no need for Hell because the possibility of sin wouldn't exist among the angels or us. God gave him his chance and he abused it, so therefore he has been turned to a "reprobated mind" like the Scripture speaks of. It means that his heart has become so hardened by his attitude and insurmountable sin that he can no longer do anything good. His nature was to do good until he rebelled and even though rebellion is forgivable, he blasphemed God IN HEAVEN! Therefore to keep sin out of the angelic realm, God had to reprobate him and cast him out along with the portion of the angelic realm who participated in the rebellion.
2006-07-06 04:07:26 · answer #7 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of Gods creations have free will including angels. If it wasnt so luicifer wouldnt have sinned. Christ didnt die for angels only for all man kind so we can go to heaven but the angels that chose to sin cant because they dont have the soul we have they are just spirits. Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: When satan sinned and the other angels chose to follow him, hell was created for them not us but its our sin that condemed us to hell but its our choice to reject the gospel of Christ that many will be there, not God sending them there. For the angels, yes, once fallen always fallen, for us, no, you stay down as long as you want but you choose it.
2006-07-06 05:16:32 · answer #8 · answered by Airman_P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satan has free will and he chose to disobey God out of arrogance. Satan could have chosen to do good, but instead he has set himself up as God which was why he was thrown out of Heaven along with his followers who are now the demons of Hell. Satan wants to do only evil. God would allow Satan to do good, but Satan doesn't want to do good; he wants only to do evil.
2006-07-06 04:05:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think angels have free will in the same way humans do. They aren't the 'privilege' creations like humans - they were created primarily to serve God in heaven.
And Lucifer was an angel. He obviously had the will to leave heaven, but that's been a mistake he's trying to undo since the beginning of time.
2006-07-06 04:03:18 · answer #10 · answered by Kats 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he must have free will. Without that it's impossible to understand the things he does which are contrary to the will of God.
As for his ability to do good, Jesus answered that one when he was accused of having Demonic powers.
He said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand"
In other words, Satan's purpose is to draw men away from God. Jesus was saying, that he did good things like healing, raising the dead, etc., all of which drew men to a God who wanted men to help their brothers. His point was that if Satan did good things like that, he would be fulfilling God's purpose. And, since that had the effect of drawing men to the will of God, he would be damaging his own agenda.
So yes, Satan can do good. But why would he do so when good acts would threaten his own mission?
2006-07-06 06:49:04 · answer #11 · answered by ALLEN F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋