Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 15
1 JOHN 4.15.
Whoſoever ſhall confeſſe that Jeſus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
THe 14 and 15 verſes contain an argument of Gods love dwelling in us, the propoſition is laid down, verſ. 14. the aſſumption, verſ. 15.
Doct. The confeſſion that Jeſus Chriſt is the Son of God, is a true note or pledge of our mutual, entire, and conſtant fellowſhip with God.
They have entire fellowſhip, becauſe they doe not onelyonly dwell one with another, but one in another, as members in the body, as branches in the root; Whoſoever ſhall confeſſe Jeſus, &c. So that this is one mark of true Chriſtianity, in that it ſeals up a mans ſoul to everlaſting fellowſhip with God; There are many marks of Chriſtianity, but none ſo general, ſo that where this confeſſion is, there is true fellowſhip with God, this is certain and true, Mat. 16 16, 17. Whom ſay men that I the Son of man am? &c. But ſaith Chriſt, Who ſay ye that I am? Peter anſwered and ſaid, we confeſſe thee to be the Son of the ever-living God; what ſaith Chriſt to him? Bleſſed art thou Simon; if he were bleſſed, then his ſoule was wrapt up into the fellowſhip of the ſoules of juſt men made perfect, and ſo into fellowſhip with God. The ſame acceptance did Chriſt give to the Thiefe upon the Croſſe, when his Diſciples left him, when the Souldiers ſpightfully intreated him, and all deſpiſed him, one of the thieves railed on him; ſaith the other, Feareſt thou not God? ſith we are in the ſame condemnation, Luk. 23.42.3. Remember me, ſaith he, when thou comeſt into thy kingdom. He acknowledgeth here that Chriſt was the Son of God, becauſe he ſaith, Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome, knowing that power and glory was his: what ſaith Chriſt to this confeſſion of his? That he ſhould confeſſe him in the midſt of ſo many reproaches and diſgraces, that one Thiefe ſhould confeſſe more then all the reſt; Chriſt ſaith to him, This day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradice, his ſoule was taken up into heaven, and ſo he was a bleſſed man, and had fellowſhip with God, 1 John 5.5. He that overcometh, believeth that Jeſus is the Son of God, ſo chap. 2. & 3. of the Revel. if any man overcome the world it is only he that confeſſeth that Jeſus is the Son of God, 1 Cor. 12.3. No man can truly ſay, that Jeſus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghoſt; ſuch is the work of the holy Ghoſt, that God dwels in him, and he in God.
Object. But if that be ſuch an argument that we are bleſſed, if we confeſſe that Jeſus is the Lord, then I hope we ſhall doe all well enough, for who of all the ſons of men that profeſſe Chriſtianity are not perſwaded, and doe not believe that Jeſus is the Son of God? Papiſts believe this, and the Phariſees that ſinned againſt the holy Ghoſt, believed this, Matth. 21.38. This is the Heir, ſay they, therefore the Son of God, come let us kill him; they ſinned againſt the holy Ghoſt, becauſe they knew that Chriſt was the Lord: there are two things in the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, light in the mind, and malice in the heart, the Devils profeſſe that they knew Jeſus, Marke 1.24. What then doth God dwell in the Devill, or the Devil in God? God forbid.
Anſw. There is ſomething in reſpect of the time, it was ſomething in the dayes of St. John, for a man to confeſſe, that Jeſus was the Son of God, for then men durſt not, becauſe this was but a new doctrine, this point had Univerſality, and antiquity againſt it, but now it is burning to aſhes to deny it; It is now no thank for men to confeſſe that Jeſus is the Son of God, he that ſhall not confeſſe it, ſhall have cauſe of confuſion in this world, and in the world to come. The Devils did believe this, but they did not confeſſe him truely; and good men will ſore diſtruſt this point, becauſe the Devill confeſſeth this, the Devil was convinced of the truth of this, but yet it was no argument of his dwelling with God, becauſe he did this fraudulently.
Object. But the Phariſees they confeſſed this, and they knew that he was the Son of God.
Anſw. They did believe it, and were convinced in their conſciences but yet they did not confeſſe him openly, John 7.13.
Queſt. What is it to confeſſe that Jeſus is the Son of God?
Anſw. It is not onelyonly an act of judgement, neither is it barely an act of the lips to ſay, that Jeſus is the Son of God, this is no ſuch ſign of our fellowſhip with God; for it is now as great a wonder for a man to deny it, as it was then to confeſſe it.
That there is an act of the works or deeds of a man, and ſo confeſſing it is an argument that we have fellowſhip with God, God doth not take that for a true confeſſion, when a man doth confeſſe him with his lips, but in his works deny him, Tit. 1.16. Iſa. 29.13. This confeſſion is twofold 1. with the heart, 2. with the life, Confeſſion with the heart is double.
Firſt, A looking to Chriſt for ſalvation, and this is an evident pledge of Gods dwelling with us, and we with him, Iſa. 45.22. to 25. Rom. 14.11. Phil. 2.10, 11. Look to me and be ſaved, no man can look up to God as a God of his ſalvation but ſhall be ſaved; this is the proper work of faith.
The ſecond is a penitential confeſſing, when Peter had convinced the Jews, that Jeſus was the Lord, they were pricked in their harts, Acts 2.26, 37. For a man to confeſſe that he is the Lord, and never to be troubled that he doth afflict him, nor never look for ſalvation by him, there is no truth, no heartineſſe in that confeſſion, but when the heart is humbled for all the wrong it hath done to Chriſt, this is an evidence of hearty confeſſion.
In the confeſſion of our life there are two parts.
1 If I confeſſe Chriſt to be the Son of God; I doe not only take him to be my Saviour, but to be my Lord and Governour, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Heb. 5.9. we obey Chriſt in thoughts, in ſpeeches affections and converſations. 1 Pet. 3.14.2. When we ſuffer as Chriſtians, and are not aſhamed of the Croſſe of Chriſt, but anſwer as did the three children, Dan. 3.17, 18. The grace of a Chriſtian is the lively confeſſing of Chriſt.
Reaſ. Theſe may be all, as ſo many reaſons of the point▪ another reaſon may be this, fleſh and bloud cannot believe it, and confeſſe it, Matth. 16.16, 17.
Object. But Peter did ſwear, that he never knew Chriſt.
Anſw. But yet he did believe, for it pricked him at the heart, that he had ſo wronged Chriſt, he wept bitterly, and did afterward with conſtant courage profeſſe Chriſt.
Ʋſe 1. Refutes all contrary religions: you ſee what becomes of all the Nations of the world, that do not believe Chriſt to be the Son of God, they have no fellowſhip with God, nor God with them; there is no other Name given by which we ſhall be ſaved, but the Name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; whoſoever doth not belive that Chriſt is the Son of God, he excluds himſelfe from the fellowſhip with God in this world, and in the world to come.
2. Of tryal; would you know whether God dwels in you, or you in him, doe you confeſſe that Jeſus Chriſt is the Son of God, doe you look up to Chriſt for ſalvation? Iſa. 45.22. Doe you find that your hearts are pricked when you ſin againſt Chriſt? Doe you deſire to walk in obedience unto Chriſt? Doe you ſanctifie him in your hearts? Zach. 12.10. If you be obedient children unto God, you ſhall injoy intire fellowſhip with God.
3. Of comfort to ſuch, as have prevailed with their hearts and lives to make ſuch a confeſſion: Doth any man deſire everlaſting life? Let him look up to Chriſt, there is none from whom you ſhould look for ſalvation, but Chriſt, wreſtle with God by prayer, that you may find Chriſt in all the Ordinances you partake of, ſo ſhall you be ſure to have God dwelling in you, and you in him, ſo ſhall you not goe from home, whither ſoever you goe.