Hi Goth,
I almost feel like the thread has gone to far for me to chime in at this point with an answer to your original question. But I figure, hey why start exercising discernment now, eh?
Originally posted by Goth
Seagoon brought this up in a previous thread. Question------
The Serpent of Old I am assuming he is referring to is Satan. Satan is not God, so going on that assumption, could we also assume that Satan could ask for redemption....and if he asked for redemption would he be forgiven?.......or
Is it just a fantastical tale to keep you boys in line?
The "Serpent of Old" is indeed Satan. This particular title
(ho ophis ho archaios) hails from Revelation 12:9 and 20:2. It refers of course to the Devil's role in the Fall of man from Genesis 3 when he assumed the form of a snake in order to tempt Adam and Eve with the lie that they could be "as God" if they would simply rebel against Him and His Law.
There is no possibility of Redemption for the Devil. In fact, Hell is spoken of as a place of eternal torment designed from the very beginning for the Devil and his angels and those who would follow him in rebellion against God.
For instance, Christ speaking of the final judgment declares that he will say to the damned:
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41) and his doom is assured: "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev. 20:10) in fact the Bible specifically states that this is why his bitterness towards God's creation is particularly accute: "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time." (Rev. 12:12)
The reason why the Bible tells us he has no possibility of turning or redemption is that his heart is entirely given over to rebellion against God, and Christ did not atone for his sins or the sins of his fallen angels on the cross*, therefore there is no possibility of his heart changing and him turning. His fate is absolutely sealed, but he is determined that he will not suffer alone. Rather like the bitter "scorched earth" desire of Hitler except on a scale monumentally more vast.
- SEAGOON
* Christ's work of redemption has two parts, usually described by theologians as his
active and passive obedience. His active obedience consisted of his taking on a human nature and keeping God's law perfectly, by which he also remained the perfect and sinless sacrifice. While his passive obedience consisted of his dying on the cross by which he endured the righteous judgment of the Father for the sins of all "His Sheep" thus suffering the punishment due to them for their rebellion. The redeemed therefore have their sins paid for in full by Christ, and in the place of their imperfect righteousness, have Christ's perfect righteousness imputed to them. Thus, when God looks at the redeemed, He sees not their sins and failures, but the perfect righteousness of His own dear Son, Jesus. This is perhaps summed up most succinctly in 2 Cor. 5:21 which states:
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21)
