James 2:19 (New Living Translation)
"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE THIS, AND THEY TREMBLE IN TERROR."
Can you imagine that? There is an example of a situation where faith doesn't save!
The Amplified Bible, puts it this way: "You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!"
I have only seen this type in horror movies, and it is nowhere close to what those demons pass through at the fear of the power of Jesus Christ. Negative faith.
A scripture comes to mind. But before that, let's iron out definition of terms. Faith. What is faith? Is it positive thinking? A feeling? One’s church affiliation? The belief that Jesus died for your sins? Confidence? Hope? Or is it something far more? The Bible states that “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6). This is an incredible statement - yet, it is in the Bible! Take it for exactly what it says. Just think! Anything a person does, in attempting to be Christian, means absolutely nothing, if he lacks faith. For without faith, he has no hope - no possibility of pleasing God. Any who are not pleasing God are Christians in vain. That is serious! Consider yourself. Do you have real faith? Is it sufficient for salvation? Can you know?
You are probably thinking of the famous Hebrew 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
This is difficult English. Trust the King James version to do that often. But I do love the King James Version, helps to keep certain verse of scriptures simpler, poetic and easy to remember.
Let's use a simpler translation, the New Living Translation: Hebrews 11:1, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
