TOPIC:‌"The Keeping Power of God"

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌I Peter 1:1-7

 

"You who are kept by the power of God" (I Peter 1:4, 5)

 

‌As we read the words of our text we find the Apostle Peter is in the midst of a doxology. He breaks out in joyful praise as he contemplates God's amazing and abounding grace. Listen as Peter cries out in the words of verse 3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Then Peter gives us the reason for his praise: "according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

 

‌Peter continues in verse 4: "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you." There you have Peter's burst of praise for what God has done and will do for believers. Then we come to Peter's strong and confident words of our text: "kept by the power of God." The NIV renders it: "shielded by God's power." The NLT has it: "God, in His mighty power, will protect you." Phillips puts it: "You are guarded by the power of God."

 

‌Now the words "shielded," "protected," and "guarded" are good words, but I don't believe we should surrender the word "kept" as we have it in the King James Version. While our inheritance in verse 4 is being "reserved" for us in Heaven, here in verse 5 Peter states we are being "kept" amid all the perils of this turbulent and disturbing world. And notice: The secret to both of these keepings is found in that great phrase "by the power of God."

 

‌Can you imagine what those words meant to this big fisherman, Peter, who failed Christ so miserably and failed himself so wretchedly. His thoughts go back to his sickening failure, his devastating denial, and his bitter tears. But then came his tender recovery. And it was all possible through God's keeping power. It is to those words - "kept by the power of God" - we now give our attention.

 

I.

 

‌Consider, first of all, the DESCRIPTION of those who are ADDRESSED - "Who are kept by the power of God" (v. 5). The question arises: Who are those who are kept? How does Peter describe them? His answer is both clear and complete. Let's check it out.

 

‌First of all, according to Peter those "who are kept" are described as REGENERATED believers. They are those who can truthfully declare in verse 3 that "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus . . .