Bible Studies

Dr. John Gerstner attributed the reason to mutability. He suggested that since angels and humans are creatures, they are mutable, whereas God is immutable. Therefore, they could change from their initial perfection. He argued that this is why Satan and the demons fell and why Adam and Eve fell, being tempted by Satan.

 

As I have wrestled with this conundrum, I would go somewhat further, though I have no scriptural evidence that I know of for my opinion. I believe that God gave His Holy Spirit to some of His perfect angels, but did not give Him to Satan and the demons. I believe that whatever perfect angels did not have the Holy Spirit, could not remain holy. And, similarly, I believe that God did not give His Holy Spirit to Adam and Eve, though they were perfect in spirit and had immortal bodies (they must have, since sin hadn't yet entered the human race) before Satan tempted them and they fell. In essence, the fall of some angels was inevitable and so was the fall of Adam and Eve, particularly as they were tempted by Satan. It may be, because the temptation by Satan was a contributing cause, that God allows and plans His redemption of elect humans, but He does not redeem any fallen angels.

 

Now, fallen human beings (unborn, infants, children, adults, of sound and unsound mind) are only saved (born again from being dead in their sins) if God regenerates their spirits by His Holy Spirit. In some children and all adults of sound mind, this leads to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In Old Testament times, it led to repentance and faith in the one true God and His promises.

 

Once regenerated and while alive, we all become little trinities: we each have our own spirit, our own body and the Holy Spirit, paralleling the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That trinity will be even more glorious when our spirits and bodies are made perfect and the Holy Spirit fills us completely.