Kept by the Power of God
What is your response when you think of God’s grace?
Today was Mother’s Day. This day was particularly important to me today because this is the first year that I have been without my mother. Though she was not well for several years, she was always there.
Though I never really thought so as I was growing up, my mother had a great impact on my life. She taught me to work hard. She taught me to be honest. She taught me to be independent. Mothers are so important because their single greatest influence is on their children. This is demonstrated in the Scriptures.
When Mary was told by Gabriel that she was to become the mother of the Messiah, she demonstrated her commitment, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her Son would later say to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).
Moses was raised in the pagan culture, traditions, and religion of Egypt. And yet because of his spiritual mother, he never forgot his God or his people, and one day led them to their Promised Land.
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was fervent in prayer, trusting God for a son. She gave that son back to the Lord. And he became Israel’s last judge, first prophet, and great spiritual leader.
Paul said to young Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5).
But what about people outside the Bible? Nero’s mother was a murder, and so was he. But the mother of George Washington was known for her integrity of character, as was her son. John Newton’s mother prayed for her wayward and sinful son until he came to that Amazing Grace—the hymn which presents his testimony.
When we trust Jesus Christ as our Lord, we come face-to-face with the grace of God. God’s grace was very important to Peter. In his first epistle, Peter referenced grace (charis) 10 times. The first is in his greeting when he says, “Grace to you and peace be multiplied.” Grace is the springboard from which Peter begins to instruct his audience (Christians who have been scattered abroad and who are suffering intense persecution) about the wonders of being chosen for a new birth (see 2 Cor 5:17).
Peter wanted to first present a theological basis for encouragement in persecution. Peter is stressing God’s grace toward the believers. Let’s consider the first statement made by Peter—the inheritance every Christian receives by trusting in Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3–5)
God is praiseworthy
Peter starts this passage by saying, “Blessed by the God…” The sense of this is statement is that God is worthy to be praised. God is the one to be praised. Interestingly, Peter uses the exact same words as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 1:3 (“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (2 Corinthians 1:3). I amazed that I am far more aware of God’s grace during the worst of times rather than during the best of times. Our suffering seems to point us to the wonderful grace of God and in that, we give Him all praise.
The only one worthy of praise is God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is praiseworthy because He alone is the giver of eternal life and He is our only source of hope. God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. There is no way that we can come to God apart from the work of Jesus on our behalf.
Take some time to praise God!
God has abundant mercy
Peter then begins to tell us that God has done something wonderful for us. He is about to share what God has done through His abundant mercy. Man is hopeless in his natural state. We are all sinners who, because of our sin, are forever separated from God. However, we see in Romans 5:18 that “…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God is showing His unmerited favor toward man. This is possible because of His great love for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Take some time to praise God!
God has given us a new birth
Peter goes on to say that according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again. He has given us a new beginning…a new birth. There is nothing we can do to merit such favor…such a gift. Peter is the only one to use this terminology. He uses it here and again in verse 23.
Peter may be recalling the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). Jesus is emphasizing the need to be born again “from above.” That is to have a spiritual transformation which takes a person out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).
Those who have trusted in Christ are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Only then can one be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2). This is done by God…it is His work that begins when we trust in Christ alone for our eternal salvation.
Take some time to praise God!
God has given us a living hope
Our new birth results in a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We have a living hope that is based on the resurrection of Christ. Many in the Church today do not emphasize the resurrection of Christ. In fact, there seems to be a movement with Evangelicals that downplay the importance of Christ’s death and resurrection. After all, we have never seen a true resurrection.
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” (1 Corinthians 15:13–14) Peter is impressing on us that Christ was raised from the dead and because Jesus conquered death, we have the same hope of conquering death.
Our hope is not wishful thinking. Our hope is based on the fact that Jesus died for us and that He rose again (see 1 Cor 15). His was the perfect sacrifice for our sin.
Take some time to praise God!
God has given us an inheritance
Our sure hope is of a future inheritance. Peter makes three statements regarding this inheritance.
- Our inheritance is incorruptible: it is imperishable. That means that our inheritance is not subject to decay and death. Our inheritance is not subject to breaking down.
- Our inheritance is undefiled: it is ritually untainted. It will not spoil or go bad.
- Our inheritance does not fade away: it is unfading. Our inheritance will never lose its wonderful, pristine character. It will be as bright throughout eternity as it was on the first day we trusted in Christ.
Our inheritance is sure. Peter makes sure we understand the permanence of our inheritance by assuring us that it is reserved in heaven for each of us. God is holding onto our inheritance and He will not renege on His promise to us. God keeps watch over our inheritance so we can be assured that we will possess it at some time in the future.
Take some time to praise God!
We are kept by the power of God
Not only is our inheritance guarded and assured, but we who are the heirs of God’s promises who have been born into that inheritance are kept by the power of God. That means we are guarded or protected by God. The idea here is a military one. It is used to refer to a garrison within a city (see Philippians 4:7).
We can have great hope knowing that God’s power guards us. We persevere, not because of any works we might do, but because God is shielding us. Believers possess salvation now and we will understand it fully at the return of Christ at the last time. Our inheritance will be distributed and our salvation complete when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:7, 13).
Take some time to praise God!
Now what?
When we think about God’s grace, we need to take a time out to praise Him. God’s mercy has resulted in our new life in Him. We now have a living hope knowing that we have an inheritance waiting for us. Our inheritance cannot be spoiled or lost. God is guarding it for us.
Regardless of what life deals us—whether it be health issues, job issues, persecution, etc.—we have reason to praise God because we know that Jesus will return to bring us to where He is (John 14:1-6).
Will you take some time to praise God?
Got something to say?