1Peter 1:3-5
The Saved: The Kept
Last week, we began studying through this Book. Peter began by
describing the Christian. He uses two terms which can be applied
to the believer. We looked at the first. Tonight, let’s look at
another
I. \\#5\\ The Kept
A. The reason we can be kept \\#5\\ is because we are the
"begotten" \\#3\\.
1. That is a most glorious term in itself.
2. It means to be born, to bear, to be delivered.
3. What is really interested is that the term is used twice,
once after the other in that verse.
4. The King James translated the second term as "again," but
the Greek says we are the begotten, begotten of God.
5. Why repeat the term?
a. Because Christians are twice begotten of God.
b. First when God created us. Second when He offered to
purchase again.
c. That is why the Bible uses the term "RE-deemed" when
it speaks of us.
d. The prefix "re" means to do again.
e. Salvation is not God buying us. It is God buying us
again, for the second time.
f. Being begotten is not just being born into the family
of God. It is being begotten again.
B. And that brings up a question.
1. We once belonged to God but lost our relationship to Him
because of sin.
2. Now that we have been begotten again, what is to keep us
from losing our relationship with God again?
3. The answer is God made that impossible.
4. Now, we are not merely the "begotten again’ \\#3\\, but we
are also "the kept" \\#5\\.
C. While there are some verses which are confusing, the Bible
makes it very clear that the saved are kept by God forever.
1. Let’s follow John’s Gospel of Eternal Life:
a. What does the Christian have?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
b. Do we have eternal life or are we waiting to receive
it?
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that heareth my word, and believeth on him that
sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation; but is passed from death
unto life.
c. Will God ever disown or put away one of His children?
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall
come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in
no wise cast out.
d. Can anyone do anything to take away our salvation?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck them out
of my Father’s hand.
2. Peter gives us the same thought we last read in John;
namely, God will not let anything happen to us.
1Peter 1:5 We "are kept by the power of God
through faith…."
a. God is keeping us.
(1) Let’s name the forces that might attempt to
remove us from God. There are only three.
(a) God, but we have His Word that He will not
in any way discard us. \\#John 6:37\\.
(b) The devil, who is no way strong enough to
defeat God.
(c) Ourselves, but God clearly states that He
is keeping us and God is stronger than even
we are.
(2) Friend, you can worry if you want, but the Bible
says you are secured.
b. \\#4\\ But Peter goes on to give more assurance by
stating three negative things that can never happen.
(1) "incorruptible" - Our inheritance does not decay,
deteriorate, or in any way fall apart in time.
(2) "undefiled" - Our inheritance cannot be polluted,
compromised, or in any ruined.
(3) "fadeth not away" - Our inheritance can
dissolve or in any way be diluted.
c. Then Peter states the same thing in a positive way.
(1) It is reserved for us in heaven.
(2) Reserved means it is "guarded." It seems to be a
military term to protect s with a fortress or
full military line.
d. Could Peter have made the point any more clear and
certain? I THINK NOT.
D. Peter went on to make it very clear exactly where we are in
the salvation process right now.
1. \\#3\\ We have already been begotten.
2. \\#5\\ We are being kept by God’s power.
3. We are waiting for the completion of our salvation which
will "be revealed in the last time."
a. This is a part of the process of salvation that
confuses some people.
b. Our salvation is not finished yet.
(1) The fact that we are still sinners and still face
death should help us to see that.
(2) Sin, sickness, sorrow, tears, and death are all
around us.
(3) The final phase of salvation is to be transformed
out of this feeble body and this sin-cursed
world into an immortal body and sinless world.
(4) That will be done in the "last time."
4. And this is where our faith becomes so important.
1Peter 1:5 …who are kept by the power of God
THROUGH FAITH…."
a. Everything God does for us is by or through or faith.
b. I do not claim to know or understand everything, but
I do know if we ARE NOT believing and trusting in
God to save us, there is a good chance we ARE NOT
saved.
c. People like to think of salvation as something you
DID but the Bible describes it as something that you
are DOING.
(1) I did not TRUST the Lord to save me.
(2) I am TRUSTING the Lord to save me.
d. You might ask, "So, preacher, are you saying that if
we STOP trusting, we will LOSE our salvation?"
e. My answer would be, "No. If you stopped trusting it
is because you NEVER were saved."
(1) To lose your salvation would be a contradiction
to everything Peter said.
(2) And besides, the only people Jesus casts into
hell are those He NEVER knew.
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
Friend, I do not know how this sets with you, but I say,
"Hallelujah!" and that’s better than a Roll Tide and a War Eagle any
day! If you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and if you
are surrendering to Him the best you know how, there is no reason to
doubt your salvation. God is keeping you!
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