QotW: Does God love Satan?

It is Wednesday so that means that I will answer a question that you asked. So here it is, “Hey Matt, If God calls us to love our enemies, does God love Satan? I know that God can’t love sin and pure evil, but what about the fallen angel Lucifer?” Thanks for the great question.

Jesus words in the Sermon on the Mount are very challenging, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who ask you, and if anyone take what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you (Luke 7:27-31).” Jesus is establishing the way that people who love Him should live towards those who don’t love Him. These types of statements are guidelines for human interaction. They are dramatically different from what you would typically run into at school. This of course can be one of your best evangelistic tools, to not respond with vengeance, to give to those in need and treat others they way you would want to be treated. Loving your enemies may be the door that opens for them to experience the ultimate love of Jesus.

At this point we can not apply the same relationship parameters to God and Satan. Lucifer has no desire to ever experience the love of God. He has completely turned his back on God in pursuit of his own greatness. He is destined for destruction there is zero chance of him turning back to God. Therefore, God does not and cannot love Lucifer because He cannot accept sin. That is why we are given such sobering warnings in the Bible, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:8-9).”