The Doctrine of Angels and a Pastor’s Ministry

We don’t talk about angels very often. Nor do we think about them a great deal. Perhaps this is part of a larger neglect of the supernatural world and the spiritual battle in which we are engulfed, whether we realize it or not. When was the last time you talked about angels in one of your sermons or Bible lessons? What about Satan and his demons? Is it possible that, in our desire to be gospel-centered, we neglect to cover other important topics in Scripture? In any case, at a closer look, we will see that the Bible has more to say about angels and demons than we might suspect and that a full-orbed understanding of the biblical message cannot afford to ignore their place in God’s story. Here, then, are seven truths about angels we’ll do well to teach the people in our congregations.

7 Truths to Teach about the Doctrine of Angels

1. Angels are real.

It’s tempting to think angels aren’t real. Customary depictions of angels as chubby children with halos and wings contribute to the notion that angels are imaginary creatures. But Scripture is clear that angels do exist. While there is no record of the creation of angels or the fall of Satan and his demons (though see Isa 14:12–14; Ezek 28:12–18), angels appear in the biblical narratives in both Testaments. Abraham entertained angels unaware (Gen 18:2; cf. Heb 13:2). Daniel is told that the archangel Michael was detained while fighting demonic forces (Dan 10:13). In the Gospels, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:19, 26; cf. Luke 1:11; Dan 8:16; 9:21). While few of us can legitimately claim to have seen angels, there is no doubt that the Bible affirms the existence of both fallen and unfallen angels.

2. Angels are creatures.

At times, the battle between God and Satan, as depicted in Scripture, may appear to be waged on a level playing field. But nothing could be farther from the truth. God brings Angels into being, while God is uncreated and eternal. God possesses numerous divine attributes, such as omniscience (he knows everything), omnipotence (he is all-powerful), and omnipresence (God is everywhere present). Angels, on the other hand, have none of these characteristics. They—including Satan! —don’t know everything; their knowledge is limited. They’re not all-powerful; their power is greater than that of mere humans but still far inferior to God’s. And they cannot be present everywhere; if they’re in one place, they cannot at the same time also be present somewhere else.

3. Angels are God’s messengers.

Scripture teaches that the primary role of angels is serving as God’s messengers (Heb 1:14). In fact, that’s what the word “angel”—angelos—means in the original Greek. As such, angels are sent by God on various important errands (though there is no explicit biblical support for the notion of guardian angels). Like human prophets, they act at God’s bidding and sovereign initiative. God sends angels and gives them their marching orders, and they accomplish their God-given mission, similar to human messengers. Angels are generally invisible to the human eye, but they can take on human form. Occasionally in Scripture, angels appear in the form of young men, as in the resurrection narrative (Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4). Once they’ve accomplished their mission, angels typically vanish from sight (John 20:12; Acts 1:10–11). Thus, there is a certain mystique surrounding angels.

4. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

If Satan were a horned devilish-looking creature with a pitchfork, as he is often depicted in popular culture, it would be easy to identify him. Yet Scripture teaches that Satan masquerades as a luminous angel (2 Cor 11:14). Just like heretics don’t walk around with a name tag, “Attention, heretic!” around their necks, so Satan doesn’t overtly come across as evil. When tempting Jesus, he even quoted Scripture (Matt 4:6; Luke 4:10–11). Yet, make no mistake. Satan’s nature is evil through and through. Why do we so often fall for Satan’s lies? Because he presents them as truths. Temptations are appealing and promise thrill, enjoyment, and satisfaction. They never deliver because Satan cannot and will not deliver what he promises. Like with the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia, we’ve got to see through the vestiges of the devil’s ice-cold created beauty and know that all his ways lead ultimately to doom, death, and destruction.

5. Satan devises wicked schemes.

Scripture also tells us that Satan has “methods” and “strategies” (2 Cor 2:11; 10:5). That is, he actively concocts schemes and weaves plots to bring us down, a reality masterfully portrayed in C. S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters. Satan’s favorite and predictable strategy is to attack us, or our loved ones, at our weakest, most vulnerable spots when we least expect it and are least prepared for it. This is why it is so important to put on, and keep on, the full armor of faith (Eph 6:10–18).

6. Satan hates marriage and the family.

In particular, Satan has a barely concealed disdain and contempt for marriage and the family. From the very beginning, he drove a wedge between the first man and the first woman, propositioning the woman when she was least protected and most vulnerable (Gen 3:1–7). Why does Satan hate marriage and the family so much? It is because God created marriage as the most precious and intimate human relationship and instituted the family as the sacred place where the human procreates additional image bearers of God. Satan hates God’s image, which is what we are.

7. Satan is a defeated but still dangerous foe.

C. S. Lewis famously stated, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” Indeed, we shouldn’t see a demon behind every bush. Neither should we be terrified of Satan. Instead, we should fear God and take refuge in Jesus’ blood shed for us on the cross: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas 4:7). Jesus said he saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning (Luke 10:18). At the cross, Jesus defeated Satan forever, and the devil’s judgment is sure. Yet this judgment is still future, and Satan is still prowling “like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). While defeated, he is still dangerous. Foes that are fatally wounded are often the most dangerous of all. Therefore, be alert and take heed!

Conclusion

Angels are real, but they’re mere creatures. They’re God’s messengers, sent to help humans in various ways. Satan, the highest fallen angel, disguises himself as an angel of light. He hatches wicked schemes and characteristically attacks us at our most vulnerable point. In particular, Satan hates marriage and the family because they are designed to showcase God’s beauty, wisdom, and goodness. We should neither over- nor underestimate the devil and his demons. Satan is a defeated but still dangerous and powerful foe. That said, Jesus’ victory is sure, and by his grace, we participate in that victory. Praise the Lord!

©2024 Andreas Köstenberger. Used with permission.