“He took not on him the nature of angels.”

Hebrews 2:16

It was never the intention, desire, or purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ to save the angels who fell. “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels.” The word “took” means “to lay hold of.” Paul’s language is very strong. Quite literally, he is saying, “Christ never took hold of angels to deliver and save them.” Our Lord did not come into this world as an angel. He came as a man. He did not come as a Surety for the angels who fell. He never took hold of them.

Elect and Non-elect Angels

There are some elect angels who never fell. The vast majority of the angels are elect. Two-thirds of those mighty creatures were chosen by God. Only one third fell (Rev. 12:4). God would not allow those elect angels to fall. Their preservation was a great act of mercy. Their election by God preserved them. But for those angels that fell, God offered no mercy whatever. They are eternally reprobate, without hope (Jude 6).

This is a hard rock for the Arminian to grind his teeth on. It is sure to give goats sore gums. -- If it is unfair for God to give mercy to some men, but not all men, would it not be equally unfair for God to give mercy to fallen men if he did not also give mercy to the fallen angels?

Just Suppose

Suppose for a moment that our Lord had taken upon him the nature of angels when he came into the world. Suppose that instead of coming into the world as a man, the Lord of glory had assumed the nature of angels. I think there is something here that will cause us to glorify God for his wisdom, love, and grace toward us in Christ. “He took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”

If Christ had taken on himself the nature of angels, He could not have obeyed the law of God for us or made atonement for our sin (Heb. 2:9-10). He could not have left us an example to follow (1 Pet. 2:21). He could not have been a sympathizing High Priest (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14-16). He could never have been one with his church (Heb. 2:11-12). He could never have delivered us from the fear of death and given us the hope of the resurrection (Heb. 2:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:51-58).

How we ought to rejoice in this sovereign determination of our God to pass by the fallen angels and take hold on the seed of Abraham!