How can we discern between the faith of demons and the faith of saints?

St. Augustine says, “You applaud yourself for your faith … you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). Shall they also see God? They shall see Him who are pure in heart [Matt. 5:8]. But who can say that unclean spirits are pure in heart? And yet they also believe and tremble. Our faith then must be different from the faith of devils. For our faith purifies the heart; but their faith makes them guilty. For they do wickedly, and therefore they say to the Lord, What have we to do with You? … We know , they say, Who You are: You are the Son of God [Luke 4:34]. This Peter says, and is commended; the devil says it, and is condemned … But by what, and what kind of faith, save that which the Apostle Paul defines when he says, Faith which works love (Gal. 5:6).”⁸¹

“So again when we hear, He who believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16); we do not of course understand it of someone who believes in the same way that the devils

78 St. Athanasius of Alexandria, The Festal Letters , Letter XI—For 339, 9 (NPNF II/4:536).

79 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 2.12 (ANF 2:360).

80 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 2.6 (ANF 2:353).

81 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament, Volume I , trans. R. G.

Macmullen (Oxford University Press, 1844) Sermon 3.10–11: p. 55, amended.

believe and tremble; nor of those who receive baptism in the way of Simon Magus, who though he could be baptized, could not be saved (Acts 8:13).”⁸²