"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
1 Peter 1:5
Part 3
Yesterday: “For by Grace are Ye Saved Through Faith”
The child of God was born again by faith, and he/she lives this life by faith. Because “…without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Today: God helps His Children to Persevere to the End
“Unto salvation.” (b)
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.”
We are reminded of Paul’s words about our ultimate salvation in Romans 8.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Romans 8:18-19).
Believers, we are faithfully awaiting that “manifestation of the sons of God.” With all of creation, we are eager for this. Creation was changed as it witnessed man’s fall into sin in the garden. It will also be a witness when the Lord comes again, and God’s ultimate redemption of man is revealed. The creation will be changed to its former glory. The “thorns and thistles” will be gone. But for now, we wait. While we are waiting,
“Any man must know little of himself, and of the human heart, who supposes that he has such a strength of virtue that he would never fall away if left to himself. But if this be so, then his only hope of salvation is in the fact that God intends to “keep his people by his own power through faith unto salvation”[1] (Barnes).
Yes, God keeps us, guards us, protects us, through faith unto salvation. He works in us, and He keeps His child believing. He keeps us persevering. The old-timers called this doctrine “the perseverance of the saints.” God will enable His children to persevere in faith in this sinful world, remaining faithful to Him, till they see Him in glory! This was theirs and our firm belief.
“The assurance of the believer is not that God will save him even if he stops believing, but that God will keep him believing – God will sustain you in faith, He will make your hope firm and stable to the end. He will cause you to persevere”[2] (John Piper).
“Ready to be revealed in the last time.”
He is ready. All is prepared. He is waiting for the timing to be right. Ready means “Prepared awaiting God’s will…”[3] (Robertson).
“To be revealed.” “To unveil. … to manifest”[4] (Robertson).
“The preparations for it are being made now and began when Christ came: “All things are now ready”; the salvation is already accomplished, and only waits the Lord’s time to be manifested: He “is ready to judge”[5] (JFB).
“In the last time.” “…usually taken to refer to the Day of Judgment. That day no one knows, Jesus said”[6] (Robertson).
“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:39).
This is glory for God’s child! But it is the judgment for the lost sinner.
“last time — the last day, closing the day of grace; the day of judgment, of redemption, of the restitution of all things, and of perdition of the ungodly”[7] (JFB).
We must tell the lost that today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late!
Quote: “Our inheritance is prepared and kept for us, as we for it. We who believe may count on the guarding power of God. Not till our spirit is joined to a perfected body in the presence of Christ will our salvation be complete”[8] (Meyer).
[1] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword. 1 Peter 1:5. Emphasis mine.
[2] Piper’s quote from, “Sustained by the Faithfulness of God, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9,” originally from www.DesiringGod.org. This quote Downloaded: Thursday, November 5, 2020. From: https://gracequotes.org/topic/perseverance-eternal_security/.
[3] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword. 1 Peter 1:5.
[4] Robertson, ibid.
[5] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. 1 Peter 1:5.
[6] A.T. Robertson, ibid.
[7] JFB, ibid
[8] F.B. Meyer. Through the Bible Day by Day, the electronic version in eSword. 1 Peter 1:5.