Demons believe the gospel but are not saved, what is missing?

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Nov 23, 2013
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#21
Ridiculous semantics.
Are you trying to say that the dictionary is wrong?
Hopefully you understand that a person can believe in Jesus til they're blue in the face and still end up in hell.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#23
19Thou believest that there is one God ; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
True (of course ;)).

However, I do not see where it says believing there is one God amounts to, equals, or is the same as believing the gospel...
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
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#24
What I think has no importance at all, it is what is the Lord's truth we are after.
What many who listen carefully to the Lord think is more likely to be the truth.
Okay, so I'm what I'm really asking is, do you know what the Lord's truth in believing is?
From my research, and anyone may correct me if I'm wrong but the Greek word used for believe is to entrust, lean upon, rely upon fully.

It's not just a mental conclusion that the world, or even some Christians may think it is, it's exceedingly powerful.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#25
We hear that anyone who believes in Christ is saved, yet the demons believe in Christ and they are not saved. Do we have to do more to be saved? What more is required?
the scripture says the demons believe there is One God. James 2:19

that is not saying they believe the gospel or believe in Christ; not any more than it means that a Muslim believes the gospel just because he is a monotheist.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#28
That is not what is stated in the Bible. What do demons believe? They believe that God is in fact God, and Christ is in fact God (they called Him the Son of God, meaning that He is God). Therefore they also believe that they are eternally doomed and damned. Hence they trembled at the presence of Christ, and tried to distance themselves from Him. This was not faith but fear.
the demons believe Christ is God?
when did they figure that out?
did they tell Satan or no.. ?
when did Satan realize Christ is God? before or after the testing in the wilderness? before or after he possessed Judas? was Satan expecting to arrest God Himself in Gethsemane?

:unsure:
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#29
What about this verse ? “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5).

During the church age this is the case . Not so during the tribulation.
I hadn't noted that verse before, and doesn't it mean that it is only through faith that we are forgiven, nothing more is required?

But I am taking no chances. I want to be sure of my eternal life.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#30
Its worrying when some are saying that Salvation by faith is like what the demons believe.
If the Lord wants us to repent as well as believe, it doesn't seem to me it is asking too much of us.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#31
Okay, so I'm what I'm really asking is, do you know what the Lord's truth in believing is?
From my research, and anyone may correct me if I'm wrong but the Greek word used for believe is to entrust, lean upon, rely upon fully.

It's not just a mental conclusion that the world, or even some Christians may think it is, it's exceedingly powerful.
So when scripture tells us if we believe we are saved, it is really saying to trust & rely on the Lord for salvation. That would eliminate a mental exercise only for salvation. That makes the most sense to me.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
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#32
the demons believe Christ is God?
when did they figure that out?
did they tell Satan or no.. ?
when did Satan realize Christ is God? before or after the testing in the wilderness? before or after he possessed Judas? was Satan expecting to arrest God Himself in Gethsemane?


:unsure:
Satan was a marvelous angel before he rebelled and became Satan. Please don't make me search for that passage, make your fingers do the walking.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#33
What I think has no importance at all, it is what is the Lord's truth we are after.
What many who listen carefully to the Lord think is more likely to be the truth.
You have made assertions similar to this several times. I suggest that it is both arrogant and ignorant; arrogant, because it implies a superior attitude about truth on your part and an inferior attitude on the part of the other person; and ignorant, because it overlooks the fact that interpretation (what we think) is inherent to understanding Scripture (or any other text, for that matter).

If I say I am going to the store, and you think "store" means "storehouse" rather than "grocery vendor", you will not understand me. Similarly, if you think "believing" means only "putting faith in" rather than "accepting the reality of", you will not understand what Scripture means when it says, "The demons believe, and tremble." What you and I think does indeed have importance, because it colours how we understand the message conveyed to us.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
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#34
We hear that anyone who believes in Christ is saved, yet the demons believe in Christ and they are not saved. Do we have to do more to be saved? What more is required?
There are obviously two kinds of belief. The belief that is followed by surrender and faithfully walking in the light is the dog that hunts. Plead the Blood.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#35
If the Lord wants us to repent as well as believe, it doesn't seem to me it is asking too much of us.
He doesn't want us to go through pain and suffering of course . Thats what sin brings . No one is advocating that we mess up and have a terrible walk and sit on the sofa all day avoiding sharing the Gospel.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
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#36
Satan was a marvelous angel before he rebelled and became Satan. Please don't make me search for that passage, make your fingers do the walking.
Is this it...

Revelation
12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
 

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
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#37
We hear that anyone who believes in Christ is saved, yet the demons believe in Christ and they are not saved. Do we have to do more to be saved? What more is required?
Hello Blik, here is an interesting article (from Ligonier's Tabletalk Magazine) that speaks to this topic. I thought that it might prove to be useful to your discussion as well. Dr. R. C. Sproul is the author of the article, just FYI.

Faith Defined
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
In our study of justification thus far we have seen that faith is the only instrument by which we lay hold of the righteousness of Christ. This righteousness of Christ is the ground of our justification and is imputed to us when we trust in Jesus alone for salvation. The Father then declares us righteous in His sight, enabling us to inherit eternal life. This is accomplished entirely apart from any works we perform.
Justification by faith alone has been opposed by Roman Catholicism, which says that a combination of our faith and good works provides for our justification. One impetus for this understanding has been Rome’s fear that the doctrine of justification by faith alone would encourage people to live immoral lives. Rome fears that this doctrine might lead some to think that the casual acceptance of Jesus without any change in one’s life is the kind of faith that justifies.
In order to meet such objections, the Protestant Reformers were careful to outline the biblical definition of faith in their writings. Next week we will look at the fact that true faith always leads to a changed life. Today we will look at the definition of faith given by the Reformers in order to show that faith is not merely a casual acceptance of Jesus.
The Protestant Reformers recognized that biblical faith has three essential aspects: notitia, assensus, and fiducia.
Notitia. Notitia refers to the content of faith, or those things that we believe. We place our faith in something, or more appropriately, someone. In order to believe, we must know something about that someone, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Assensus. Assensus is our conviction that the content of our faith is true. You can know about the Christian faith and yet believe that it is not true. Genuine faith says that the content — the notitia taught by Holy Scripture — is true.
Fiducia. Fiducia refers to personal trust and reliance. Knowing and believing the content of the Christian faith is not enough, for even demons can do that (James 2:19). Faith is only effectual if, knowing about and assenting to the claims of Jesus, one personally trusts in Him alone for salvation.
Coram Deo
Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you know about the sinless life He led and the work He did on the cross? Do you believe that He is who He says He is and does what He says He does? Have you trusted in Him alone to save you from the wrath of God? Take some time to ask yourselves these questions today. If you have never believed in Christ, believe today. If you have been a Christian for some time, ask God to increase your faith in our all-sufficient Savior.
Passages for Further Study

God bless you!

~Deut
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
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#38
I hadn't noted that verse before, and doesn't it mean that it is only through faith that we are forgiven, nothing more is required?

But I am taking no chances. I want to be sure of my eternal life.
If you have a humble heart that is willing to repent whenever you falter, then no worries, mate.(y)
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
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#39
No they don't. Well IF you ever seen one.. ask them to confess Yeshua/Jesus Christ came in the flesh... by His blood we are washed. They can't and they run.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#40
You have made assertions similar to this several times. I suggest that it is both arrogant and ignorant; arrogant, because it implies a superior attitude about truth on your part and an inferior attitude on the part of the other person; and ignorant, because it overlooks the fact that interpretation (what we think) is inherent to understanding Scripture (or any other text, for that matter).

If I say I am going to the store, and you think "store" means "storehouse" rather than "grocery vendor", you will not understand me. Similarly, if you think "believing" means only "putting faith in" rather than "accepting the reality of", you will not understand what Scripture means when it says, "The demons believe, and tremble." What you and I think does indeed have importance, because it colours how we understand the message conveyed to us.
So I am arrogant, ignorant, have a superior attitude, also an inferior attitude, I do not understand scripture, so why in the world would you read what I write. Please don't.

Is this really all you can give as explaining scripture?

At least you cannot reach me to kill me.