Kept

“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.”

(1 Peter 1:5)

Many of God’s saints, though we are kept by the power of God through faith, are often troubled and anxious, fearful and fearing whether this salvation will be theirs at last. That ought not be the case with any. Yet, it is the case with many. “Might I prove a castaway?” — “Is the work of grace truly wrought in my soul?” — “Is my faith genuine?”— “Am I truly taught of God?”

                The Lord God declares that all who trust Christ have eternal life, and that they are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation,” kept as a guarded city, until salvation comes in all its fulness, glory, sweetness, and bliss. He who preserved us in Christ unto the appointed time of love, when he called us by his grace, preserves us still. We are encompassed by all the promises and attributes of the triune God. He will not allow one sinner, trusting his Son, though our faith may be ever so weak, from making shipwreck of faith. Though we may be often cast down in our souls by reason of our own corruptions, our great God will, at last, cause us to “receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.”

                Yes, poor, doubting, distressed, fearing, sinner, trusting Christ, this promise is to you. Your eternal salvation is bound up in the bundle of grace freely bestowed upon you from eternity in Christ. The Lord Jesus declares, concerning his poor sheep, “They shall never perish!” That is a promise suitable to you and to me. Yes, it is a promise suitable to every poor sinner who looks to Christ alone for redemption and righteousness. — Suitable to us in trial and temptation. — Suitable to us in days of darkness and nights of weeping. — Suitable to us in times of refreshing and revival. — This is a promise suitable to God’s saints at all times!

                If you could find and point out a single moment when this promise is not suitable to you, that would be the very moment in which the promise would be needed by you most. Could you ever arrive at such a spot as to say, “Now I need the promise no more,” that very thought would indicate that you were on the brink of a great fall, and therefore never needed the promise more.

                God’s salvation is a salvation that keeps all by grace who are in grace. Grace chose me. Grace found me. Grace put me in the way. Grace keeps me in the way. Grace keeps me through faith, yes; but it is grace that gives me the faith through which I am kept.

The work which God’s goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete;

His promise is yea and amen, and never was forfeited yet:

Things future, nor things that are now, not all things below nor above,

Can make Him His purpose forego, or sever my soul from His love.

My name from the palms of His hands, eternity will not erase:

Impressed on His heart it remains in marks of indelible grace:

Yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the Earnest is given,

More happy, but not more secure, the glorified spirits in heaven.”