I John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
To “confess that Jesus is the Son of God” is to lovingly and worshipfully and sincerely declare with words and deeds “that Jesus is the Son of God”. To be “the Son of God” is to be One in the Triune Godhead; thus, as “the Son of God” He is also “God” “the Son”. As “the Son of God” He has the full Power and Authority of the Godhead. When “Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16); our Lord told Him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17). That is, those who sincerely and truly “confess that Jesus is the Son of God” did not learn this blessed truth from another human being nor from some action of their own nor from some personal manipulation of their own will. The only way to know it, is for God Himself to give “us of his Spirit” (I John 4:13); that is, to impart “his Spirit” into us, to indwell us; thus, causing us to know Him, love Him, and worship Him. Those that our “God” indwells are said to be “born again”, “born of the Spirit” (John 3:3-6); which is, the exclusive act of God that sets our mind and life on a new course that is guided by “the Spirit” within us. Our Confession is the outpouring of what our “God” has put within us. We are exhorted to not restrain our Confession, but to openly and plainly declare “that Jesus is the Son of God”, to the worshipful glory of “God” and the joy and encouragement of those around us that have also been “born of the Spirit”. A person that makes a worshipful Confession “that Jesus is the Son of God” is giving sure evidence that “God dwelleth in him, and he in God”. Let us not withhold or restrain our Confession; but, “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (I Peter 3:15)!