1 Peter 1:3-5 KJV
3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We are kept by God. God has given us birth, rebirth, because He is SO merciful! He has begotten us again unto an expectation for our future that is so, what, He calls it ALIVE! A living hope! No some wistful wishful thinking, like when American writers say, "Tommy hoped they would take him to the zoo".
This hope, Biblical hope, is the end result of our faith. We trust that Jesus is real, that His Words are true. Jesus promised us resurrection. We believe His promise. We expect to be raised from the dead. We have the hope of the resurrection.
God has begotten us again unto a hope that is so sure and so powerful that God calls it alive. We have the hope through Jesus' Own resurrection. He rose, and we shall be raised.
This hope that Peter centers on is our inheritance. God has reserved an inheritance for you. He's already staked out your allotment. It's reserved for you, He's not giving it to someone else. What does that tell you?
It cannot be corrupted, it won't go away, there is no wrong in it. God reserved it for you. How can He be SO SURE that you'll be there to inherit?
It doesn't go away, and it's reserved for you.
4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
How can God be so sure? Because He's doing all the heavy lifting. He's the One Who is making it happen.
We are kept by His power through faith.
And here it comes.
"Yeah! Through faith! Stop faithing, and you stop being kept!"
But watch.
Who are kept by the power of God through faith
The keeping is by power, the power is God's and the method of operation is faith.
God keeps us, by His power, through faith.
Don't fall prey to those who would reverse the meaning, shift the emphasis, stand the verse on it's head.
Those who would have you read it more something like this,
'Who are kept in the power of God by faith' (NOT)
or something similar.
Continue reading:
1 Peter 1:6-9 KJV
6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
That the trial of your faith, literally, the proving of your faith. Same sort of thing is said in Romans,
Romans 5:1-5 KJV
1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Do you have faith? This is the power of God within you. He's keeping you by His power.
Much love!
3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We are kept by God. God has given us birth, rebirth, because He is SO merciful! He has begotten us again unto an expectation for our future that is so, what, He calls it ALIVE! A living hope! No some wistful wishful thinking, like when American writers say, "Tommy hoped they would take him to the zoo".
This hope, Biblical hope, is the end result of our faith. We trust that Jesus is real, that His Words are true. Jesus promised us resurrection. We believe His promise. We expect to be raised from the dead. We have the hope of the resurrection.
God has begotten us again unto a hope that is so sure and so powerful that God calls it alive. We have the hope through Jesus' Own resurrection. He rose, and we shall be raised.
This hope that Peter centers on is our inheritance. God has reserved an inheritance for you. He's already staked out your allotment. It's reserved for you, He's not giving it to someone else. What does that tell you?
It cannot be corrupted, it won't go away, there is no wrong in it. God reserved it for you. How can He be SO SURE that you'll be there to inherit?
It doesn't go away, and it's reserved for you.
4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
How can God be so sure? Because He's doing all the heavy lifting. He's the One Who is making it happen.
We are kept by His power through faith.
And here it comes.
"Yeah! Through faith! Stop faithing, and you stop being kept!"
But watch.
Who are kept by the power of God through faith
The keeping is by power, the power is God's and the method of operation is faith.
God keeps us, by His power, through faith.
Don't fall prey to those who would reverse the meaning, shift the emphasis, stand the verse on it's head.
Those who would have you read it more something like this,
'Who are kept in the power of God by faith' (NOT)
or something similar.
Continue reading:
1 Peter 1:6-9 KJV
6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
That the trial of your faith, literally, the proving of your faith. Same sort of thing is said in Romans,
Romans 5:1-5 KJV
1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Do you have faith? This is the power of God within you. He's keeping you by His power.
Much love!