Trying the spirit

[vagabond]

1 John 4:1) Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,

Matt. 8:29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"


Don't the devils acknowledge that Jesus Christ "has" come?

[CoreIssue]

1 John 4:1) Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,

Matt. 8:29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"


Don't the devils acknowledge that Jesus Christ "has" come?
First, look at the definition of acknowleges
Strong's Number: 3670o(mologeÑwOriginal WordWord Origin o(mologeÑw from a compound of the base of (3674 (http://www.studylight.org/isb/view.cgi?number=3674)) and (3056 (http://www.studylight.org/isb/view.cgi?number=3056))Transliterated WordPhonetic Spelling Homologeo hom-ol-og-eh'-o http://www.studylight.org/images/audio.gif (http://www.studylight.org/cgi-bin/Lexicon.pl?id=3670g.rm) Parts of SpeechTDNT Verb 5:199,687 Definition
to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent
to concede
not to refuse, to promise
not to deny
to confess
declare
to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of
to profess
to declare openly, speak out freely
to profess one's self the worshipper of one
to praise, celebrate
Demons do not declare, celebrate or worship this fact.

But the broader meaning is seen when you view it along with the opening verses.
1Dear 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. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Many profess Christ is from God without belonging to God or Christ.

John, in chapter 1, laid out the what is meant by coming in the flesh. The ingredients for that meaning are:
1. The Logos was God. And in a face to face relationship with God. This is the Second Person of the Trinity, pre-incarnate, in a face to face union with the First and Second Person of the Trinity. Together being God.
2. The Second Person took on flesh, set aside his divine rights, and lived as a man.
3. So, Christ coming in the flesh means a person of the Godhead took on flesh and come thusly to the earth.

Many say Christ come from God. But deny his divinity. They redefine salvation.

So, demons indeed recognize Christ is God. But they most assuredly do not confess or profess it. They do not worship him.