Is there any indication in the Bible that Satan either can or can’t or will or won’t repent? If he did repent, could he be forgiven?
That’s such a good question. Before we answer that question, let’s do a little background on Satan. First of all, the Lord did not create Satan. The Lord created Lucifer. In all the Bible only once is Satan referred to as Lucifer and that’s in Isaiah 14:12 where it says, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Notice how he is called the son of the morning. The word Lucifer literally means “the morning star”. So God created Lucifer sinless, but with a capacity to sin. Now Lucifer had a desire to be equal with the Lord as we see as we continue to read in Isaiah 14. Verses 13-14 say, “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Five times in these verses Lucifer says “I will”. The Lord only has to say one time, “Oh no you won’t.” We read in verse 15 – “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”
After this act of rebellion, Lucifer loses his position in Heaven and is most commonly referred to as Satan, which means “adversary”.
So, is there mercy for Satan or any of the fallen angels if they repent for their sins? First of all, repentance only comes when there is a work of the Lord in the heart. Romans 2:4 tells us that, “the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” Does the Lord work in the hearts of Satan or the fallen angels so that they might repent? 2 Peter 2:4 tells us that “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” All the angels, including Lucifer, were created with the capacity to be perfect and sinless. However, David described himself, and all of us, when he said in Psalms 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” So, with the angels having the capacity to live in perfection, there is no grace to them if they decide to sin.
With the rebellion of Lucifer, and the angels that followed him, there is no record that there was ever anymore rebellion against God by any other angels.
I love the King James Version of the Bible. It is the version I use most of the time. I do not believe that it is the only version to be used, but I do prefer it, probably because it is the one I have used all my life. With that said, let’s look at Hebrews 2:16 in the King James Version. It says, “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” What exactly does that mean? Is this speaking of the incarnation of Christ when he became a man? Reading the context of the chapter, we realize it is not in reference to the incarnation. Along with the King James Version, I also love the New American Standard Version for its clarity and its accuracy. I will now read Hebrews 2:16 in the New American Standard. “For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.” This gives the verse a whole new perspective, doesn’t it? In the context, we can see that this translation is more accurate and continues the flow of the context. Not that the KJV is wrong, it is just not as clear in this instance of the NAS.
So we learn from Hebrews 2:16 that the Lord does not give help, or mercy, to the angels that have fallen. His mercy is to the seed of Abraham. That brings us another interesting question. Who is the seed of Abraham? Is it only the Jewish people that the Lord is merciful to? Romans 4:11 teaches us that Abraham is the “father of all them that believe.” I encourage you to read Romans chapter 4 to learn of this wonderful truth where we read in verse 3 that, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.” Righteousness and salvation come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as Abraham believed God and was counted as righteous, when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior, we are righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
While there is no salvation for Satan or the fallen angels, there is salvation to all who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.