If Satan were to ask God for forgiveness, would he be forgiven?

August 09th 2015 | 43155 views 

We know "God is love" (1 John 4:16), and we might think of a loving God as always being open to forgiving a sinner who repents. The case of Satan is unique. Satan was created as a beautiful angel, close to the heavenly Father.  He challenged the Almighty Jehovah and sinned willfully, with full knowledge and understanding. He knew what he was doing. In making the choice to rebel against God, he sealed his fate. Jesus describes this in Luke 10:18 "…I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."  

Psalm 89:14 tells us that “Justice and judgment are the habitation [foundation] of thy [God's] throne.” Justice is the core of everything God is and does. We know that God cannot make a mistake: "As for God, His way is perfect," Psalm 18:30. The consequence of Satan's sin is absolute. He will not be forgiven. We think Satan would not ask for forgiveness in any case because he and evil are one and the same. He is uniquely, absolutely, unchanging evil, responsible for over 107 billion deaths and counting, as well as heinous suffering.

John 8:44 (NIV): “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

God's love was shown in giving His son to provide a ransom for all mankind born in sin because of Satan's introduction of sin on earth in the Garden of Eden. Though God permits Satan to have power during the present night of sin, it is for the purpose of educating men so they will choose good in Christ's future earthly kingdom. Satan will have no power then. Satan’s reign of evil is temporary: Hebrews 2:14, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Revelation tells of Satan's end – "the second death (Revelation 20:14)" in "the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10)." This destruction for all eternity will occur at the end of the Millennium of Christ's earthly kingdom. We are thankful for God's complete plan to bring mankind back to the original relationship that Adam had with God before sin came to earth.

Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1328: “How Can We Become Influencers? (Part I)”
Learning to appreciate as well as be wary of the power of influence
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes

Episode #1305: “How Do Satanic Demons Influence Our World?”
Establishing the origin, power and methods of dark spiritual beings
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes

For children, parents and Bible class teachers:
Animated video: Who is Satan?
Animated video: What does the Bible say about Satan?

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