Page 340 - Foundations

the angels “could not have... in the slightest degree” been “able to experience the sensations of” the
physical bodies they inhabited.

Such a claim must be considered a foundational precept of Mr. Baxter’s argument. All his other
arguments arise out of this denial that angels can manifest in physical bodies that are capable of
physical sensations and functioning. The primacy of this point in his argument demands some Biblical
evidence to back it up. Yet, none is forthcoming. In fact. Mr. Baxter declares that no such Biblical
support is necessary.

Let us be frank and explicit. The angels are bodiless, purely spiritual beings, and sexless. Being
bodiless and sexless means that they are without sex organs, and that they are therefore absolutely
incapable of sensuous experiences or sexual processes; nor are they capable of procreation or
reproduction in any way whatever. There is no need to refer to this or that or the other text: the whole
teaching of the Bible concerning the angels stands solidly behind that affirmation.
[Source: Ibid]

As a teacher called by Christ to instruct, reprove, correct, and edify His people, I am particularly
troubled by the last sentence above. It is inappropriate for any Bible teacher to make confident
assertions and dogmatic statements and follow them up by saying no specific texts are necessary to
back them up. This leaves the reader with nothing more than the individual’s opinion to rest his belief
upon. Opinion is an insufficient basis to establish any truth. The apostle Paul declared the following.

II Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training
in righteousness...

Mr. Baxter would have his readers to accept his statement “The angels are bodiless, purely spiritual
beings, and sexless” without providing any Biblical evidence to support these claims. Alarm bells
should go off whenever any Christian teacher starts making dogmatic claims while refusing to provide
Biblical evidence to back them up. The Scriptures reveal that angels often manifest in human form.
They have physical senses. They function as humans. They appear masculine, and are always referred
to with masculine speech. They are absolutely NOT the “bodiless,” “sexless,” “purely spiritual”
beings that Mr. Baxter declares them to be. I won’t ask you to take my word for this. I will provide
you with Scriptures so you can test this matter yourself. Let us begin by revisiting the encounter
between Abraham and his three heavenly visitors just prior to the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah.

Genesis 18:1-8
Now Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat
of the day. And when he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him;
and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, and
said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. Please let
a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will bring a piece
of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your
servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and