Can an evil spirit acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh?

[catzrfluffy]

Can an evil spirit or demon ever acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, or confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, can they ever say that?

1 John 4:1-3 "1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

 

[JackRT]

Why ask a question that no human being can possibly answer? You will, however, hear plenty of speculation.

 

[solid_core]

Can an evil spirit or demon ever acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, or confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, can they ever say that?

1 John 4:1-3 "1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

It says "every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God".

Nothing about his coming in the flesh or confessing that. Maybe you are misreading it with the beginning of the text that identifies a spirit who is from God.

 

[GTW27]

Can an evil spirit or demon ever acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, or confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, can they ever say that?

1 John 4:1-3 "1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

Blessings in Christ Jesus. They can not say "has come" but will trick many deliverence ministers by saying "is come" Jesus Christ has come in the flesh! The enemy does not like to hear that He was(has come) here in the flesh, other wise they would have to acknowlege that "It is finished" That one sutle difference is important. Actually, one of the devices they use is to try to take us back before Christ Jesus. This is called changing times and seasons.

 

[Phil W]

Can an evil spirit or demon ever acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, or confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, can they ever say that?

1 John 4:1-3 "1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

No.
Though he or she can "say" the words, his or her actions will betray its spirit.

 

[Al Touthentop]

Can an evil spirit or demon ever acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, or confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, can they ever say that?

1 John 4:1-3 "1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

He was talking about men here and the spirit of their teaching not necessarily demons. What does James say about it?

James 2
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

So, demons obviously can believe the correct things. Whether or not they will admit it is another story but how did James know this?

 

[Carl Emerson]

I think we are mixing two seperate issues...

To test false prophets (that is the context) - see if their understanding of Jesus is authentic. This eliminates JW and Mormon voices for example.

Reading this passage some immediately go to the topic of deliverance and conversing with demons. This is not the context and as all demons are liars conversing with them is not recommended.

 

[HTacianas]

Can an evil spirit or demon ever acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, or confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, can they ever say that?

1 John 4:1-3 "1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

The warning is made against the gnostics of the time who claimed that Jesus had no corporeal body, but was instead a "spirit being" on earth. Those teaching that idea were not from God.

 

[Justin D]

1 John 4:3 (KJV) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

 

[Paul James]

It says "every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God".

Nothing about his coming in the flesh or confessing that. Maybe you are misreading it with the beginning of the text that identifies a spirit who is from God.

You are right. A demon can say the words, "Jesus came in the flesh", and it would be speaking the truth because it would know that without a doubt.

But an acknowledgement comes from the heart and includes a full acknowledgement that Jesus was fully human and the perfect sacrifice that finished God's plan of salvation when he hung on the cross for three hours and then said with a loud, triumphant voice, "It is finished!" The devil knew from that moment that he was a defeated foe.

We need to understand the context of what John said about the acknowledgment that Jesus came in the flesh. He was grappling with the invasion of the Gnostic heresy into the church, that taught that Jesus was not a real person, but some type of spiritual "phantom". So it would have been clear that a Gnostic heretic would not acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh, and so one would know that he is a heretic and not a true believer in Christ.

Maybe, using it as part of identifying whether a person is motivated by a spirit that may not be of God, could be unreliable, because demons know how to lie, and could very well say, "Yes, I know that Jesus came in the flesh", thereby tricking a believer into thinking that the person is motivated by the Holy Spirit, when the real inspiration is coming from a wrong spirit.

 

[Justin D]

You are right. A demon can say the words, "Jesus came in the flesh", and it would be speaking the truth because it would know that without a doubt.

But an acknowledgement comes from the heart and includes a full acknowledgement that Jesus was fully human and the perfect sacrifice that finished God's plan of salvation when he hung on the cross for three hours and then said with a loud, triumphant voice, "It is finished!" The devil knew from that moment that he was a defeated foe.

We need to understand the context of what John said about the acknowledgment that Jesus came in the flesh. He was grappling with the invasion of the Gnostic heresy into the church, that taught that Jesus was not a real person, but some type of spiritual "phantom". So it would have been clear that a Gnostic heretic would not acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh, and so one would know that he is a heretic and not a true believer in Christ.

Maybe, using it as part of identifying whether a person is motivated by a spirit that may not be of God, could be unreliable, because demons know how to lie, and could very well say, "Yes, I know that Jesus came in the flesh", thereby tricking a believer into thinking that the person is motivated by the Holy Spirit, when the real inspiration is coming from a wrong spirit.

Demons/antichrist will say Jesus Christ in the flesh and I've also heard one say Jesus Christ is Lord, but I have never heard any spirit say word for word what the kjv tells us to do/say when testing a spirit. They just won't do it. Unless it is for sure of God.....1 John 4:3 (KJV) And every spirit that confesseth not that "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

 

[Phil W]

Demons/antichrist will say Jesus Christ in the flesh and I've also heard one say Jesus Christ is Lord, but I have never heard any spirit say word for word what the kjv tells us to do/say when testing a spirit. They just won't do it. Unless it is for sure of God.....1 John 4:3 (KJV) And every spirit that confesseth not that "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Just substitute the word "manifest" for "confesseth".
I confess that Jesus is the Lord by my actions on earth.
Liars, thieves, false prophets, and adulterers can't do that.

 

[Justin D]

Just substitute the word "manifest" for "confesseth".
I confess that Jesus is the Lord by my actions on earth.
Liars, thieves, false prophets, and adulterers can't do that.

I don't understand what your trying to say.

 

[Justin D]

Just substitute the word "manifest" for "confesseth".
I confess that Jesus is the Lord by my actions on earth.
Liars, thieves, false prophets, and adulterers can't do that.

I'm talking about the actual spirit of antichrist/demons.

 

[Phil W]

I don't understand what your trying to say.

The confession of my faith in Christ is manifested by my obedience to God.
A false prophet cannot manifest the same kind of "confession".

 

[Phil W]

I'm talking about the actual spirit of antichrist/demons.

Same answer as post 15.
False prophets, or demons, don't obey God.

 

[Justin D]

I believe we can show are obedience and dedication to God through our actions. But Romans 10:10 (KJV) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I know it may be a different topic but I thought about this scripture when confession was mentioned.

 

[Daniel Marsh]

Can an evil spirit or demon ever acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, or confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, can they ever say that?

1 John 4:1-3 "1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

Yes, and they did so here:

Matthew 8:29 King James Version (KJV)
29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

 

[raemu10]

"Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" It was explained to me by a Messianic Jewish pastor that the translation is both a present/past tense. Another accurate translation is "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, today". The past/presence tense addresses two issues. As previous posters have explained, the Gnostics at the time were claiming that Christ was a spirit being and not actually fully man. If that was the case, then Christ could not be our representative and pay the price of our death for our salvation. Some of today's atheist's claims that Christ was only a man and not fully God. If he was not fully God, he could not fulfill the requirements for our salvation and there was no resurrection. So, yes, they say, Christ has come in the flesh but but he is now dead and was only a wise man. This we know is also not true. Christ was fully God and fully Man from his birth to his death on the cross. He was dead for three days and three nights and then was resurrected from death. He, God, was re-united with his body which was then glorified. He was then able to ascend into Heaven where He currently sits at the right hand of God the Father. He currently resides there both fully God and in the flesh and fully man. Therefore, the need for the past/present tense of the sentence to test spirits. A spirit of Gnosticism can not acknowledge that Christ walked this earth as both God and man in the flesh. The spirit of atheism can not acknowledge that Christ currently resides in heaven as both God and Man in the flesh. A former girlfriend had an acquaintance that was into new age mysticism. She was expressing her new age belief's to my girlfriend. My girlfriend asked her "has Jesus Christ come in the flesh, today". The woman just looked at her and was not able to answer the question nor able to speak. She eventually just changed the subject and started speaking about something else. When asked, false prophets and false spirits can not answer the question.

 

[Joined2krist]

Demons know who Jesus Christ is, and they know He came in the flesh. If they have to admit this to deceive you, they will. But they will also claim that they are him or his representative and device any other trick they can use to deceive