Articles
Demonic Faith
James, writing in a somewhat conversational style with his brethren, affirms that faith without works is dead (2:17). It cannot save and is useless in any practical sense (v. 14).
James then depicts someone listening in on this conversation and interjecting his own thoughts: “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works’” (v. 18a). This listener suggests that religion might manifest itself in different ways—faith in one person, works in another—with the implication that one is just as good as another. In effect, that negates James’s point that faith needs works to be complete.
James responds with a challenge: “Show me your faith without the works” (v. 18b). Just how would one do that? How could you demonstrate faith apart from doing something? It cannot be done! James therefore confidently adds, “And I will show you my faith by my works” (v. 18c).
To further illustrate the uselessness of faith without works, James points to demons. “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (vv. 19-20).
“God is one” is a fundamental truth. Moses told the Israelites, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4). That verse, along with a few that follow it, was so fundamental that it was commonly recited as a daily prayer in Jewish synagogues.
Do you believe in God? So do demons! And they shudder. Their faith, while certainly not resulting in salvation, at least makes them tremble at the prospect of facing God.
Here is the record from Mark’s gospel. A demon-possessed man in the synagogue at Nazareth cried out to Jesus, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (1:24). Another demon-possessed man “seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, ‘What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me!’” (5:6-7). Mark summarized, “Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God!’” (Mark 3:11).
Even demons have better sense than to be atheists or agnostics! Their faith produces a strong emotional response, yet surely no one would argue that it is sufficient to save. That being the case, one would have to be a “foolish fellow” indeed to believe in the existence of God but live so as to deny Him. Who wants to have demonic faith?
