It is (too) often said that the angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner is converted.
Maybe they do…though it is hard for me to think so since the Word says they don’t/can’t understand the gospel fully.
What Luke records is this:
Lu 15.7 “I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.”
Luke 15.10 “I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
And in the following verses the dad of the prodigal runs to meet him (because he was watching for him) and initiates the party that follows.
Look again at 15.10 – “…there is joy in the presence of God’s angels…
It is GOD who rejoices!
Zeph 3.17 “The LORD your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”
Yeah, maybe the angels join in; but it is our heavenly Father who rejoices. (I’ll let die hard calvinists and armenians debate about why would He rejoice over something He causes and knows will happen 🙂