1 Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.
It is no doubt a great contentment to the children of God to hear of the excellencies of the life to come; they are not readily weary of that subject, yet there is one doubt, that if it be not removed may dampen their delight in hearing and considering of all the rest. The richer the estate is it will the more kindle the malice and diligence of their enemies to deprive them of it, and to cut them short of possessing it. And this they know, that those spiritual powers that seek to ruin them, do overmatch them far, both in craft and force.
Against the fears of this, the Apostle comforts the heirs of salvation, assuring them that as the estate they look for is excellent, so it is certain and safe, laid up there where it is out of the reach of all adverse powers. Reserved in heaven for you. Besides that this is a further evidence of the worth and excellency of this inheritance, it makes it sure, it confirms what was said of its excellency, for it must be a thing of greatest worth that is laid up in the highest, and best place of the world, namely in heaven for you. Where nothing that is impure once enters, much less is laid up, and kept. Thus the land where this inheritance lies, makes good all that has been spoken of the dignity and riches of it.
But further, as it is a rich and pleasant country where it lies, it has this privilege, to be the alone land of rest and peace, free from all possibility of invasion. There is no spoiling of it, and laying it waste, and defacing its beauty, by leading armies into it, and making it the seat of war, no noise of drums, nor trumpets, no inundations of one people driving out another, and sitting down in their possessions. In a word: as there is nothing there subject to decay of itself, so neither is it in danger of fraud or violence. When our Saviour speaks of this same happiness (Matthew 6:20), in a like term, what is here called an inheritance, is there called a treasure. He expresses the permanency of it, by these two, that it has neither moth nor rust in itself to corrupt it, nor can thieves break through and steal it. There is a worm at the root of all our enjoyments here, corrupting causes within themselves, and besides that, they are exposed to injury from without, that may deprive us of them. How many stately palaces that have been possibly many years in building has fire upon a very small beginning destroyed in a few hours? What great hopes of gain by trade has one tempest mocked, and disappointed? How many that have thought their possessions very sure, yet have lost them by some trick of law, and others (as in time of war) driven from them by the sword — nothing free from all danger but this inheritance, that is laid up in the hands of God, and kept in heaven for us. The highest stations in the world, namely the estate of kings, they are but mountains of prey, one robbing and spoiling another: but in that holy mountain above, there is none to hurt, nor spoil, nor offer violence. What the Prophet speaks of the church here, it is more perfectly and eminently true of it above (Isaiah 65:25).
This is indeed a necessary condition of our joy in the thoughts of this happy estate, that we have some persuasion of our ownership, that it is ours: that we do not speak, and hear of it as travelers passing by a pleasant place do behold, and discourse of its fair structure, the sweetness of the seat, the planting of the gardens and meadows that are about it, and so pass on — having no further interest in it. But when we hear of this glorious inheritance, this treasure, this kingdom that is pure, and rich, and lasting, we may add, it is so, and it is mine, it is reserved in heaven and reserved for me. I have received the evidences, and the earnest of it, and as it is kept safe for me, so I shall likewise be preserved to it, and that is the other part of the certainty, that completes the comforts of it (Ephesians 1:14).
The salvation that Christ has purchased is indeed laid up in heaven, but we that seek after it, are on earth, compassed about with dangers and temptations. What avails it us that our salvation is in heaven, in the place of safety and quietness, while we ourselves are tossed upon the stormy seas of this world, amidst rocks and shelves, every hour in hazard of shipwreck? Our inheritance is in a sure hand indeed, our enemies cannot come at it, but they may overrun and destroy us at their pleasure, for we are in the midst of them. Thus might we think, and complain, and lose the sweetness of all our other thoughts concerning heaven, if there were not as firm a promise for our own safety in the midst of our dangers, as there is of the safety of our inheritance that is out of danger.
The assurance is full, thus: it is kept for us in heaven, and we kept on earth for it, as it is reserved for us, we are no less surely preserved to it. There is here: 1. The estate itself, salvation. 2. The preservation, or securing of those that expect it. 3. The time of full possession. In the last time.
To salvation — Before it is called an inheritance, here more particularly what is meant by that, namely salvation. This is more expressly sure, being a deliverance from misery, and imports withal the possession of perfect happiness. The first part of our happiness is to be freed from those miseries to which we are subject by our guiltiness. To be set free from the curse of the law, and the wrath of God, from everlasting death. 2. From all kind of mortality or decaying. 3. From all power and stain of sin. 4. From all temptation. 5. From all the griefs and afflictions of this life. To have the perfection of grace, to be full of holiness, and the perfection of bliss, full of joy, in the continual vision of God. But how little are we able to say of this — our Apostle here teaches us, that it is veiled to us, only so much shines through, as we are capable of here: but the revealed knowledge of it is only in the possession. It is to be revealed in the last time.
Then there is, their preservation, Kept. 2. The causes of it. By the power of God, through faith — the inheritance is kept not only in safety; but in quietness. The children of God for whom it is kept, while they are here, are kept safe indeed, but not unmolested, and unassaulted, they have enemies, and such as are stirring, and cunning, and powerful; but in the midst of them, they are guarded, and defended, they perish not; according to the prayer of our Savior poured out for them (John 17:16). I pray not that you should take them out of the world: but that you should keep them from the Evil.
They have the Prince of the power of the Air, and all his armies, all the forces he can make against them. Though his power is nothing but tyranny, and usurpation, yet because once they were under his yoke, he bestirs himself to pursue them, when they are led forth from their captivity, as (Exodus 14:5-9) Pharaoh with all his chariots, and horses, and horsemen pursues after the Israelites going out of Egypt.
The word in the original here translated Kept, is a military term, used for those who are kept as in a fort, or garrison town besieged. So Satan is still raising batteries against this fort, using all ways to take it, by strength, or stratagem, unwearied in his assaults, and very skillful to know his advantages; and where we are weakest, there to set on. And besides all this, he has intelligence with a party within us, ready to betray us to him; so that it were impossible for us to hold out, were there not another watch, and guard than our own, and other walls, and bulwarks than any that our skill and industry can raise for our own defense. In this then is our safety, that there is a power above our own, yes, and above all our enemies, that guards us. Salvation itself our walls and bulwarks. We ought to watch, but when we do in obedience to our Commander, the Captain of our Salvation, yet it is his own watching, who sleeps not, nor so much as slumbers, it is that preserves us, and makes ours not to be in vain (Psalm 126:1; Isaiah 27:3). And therefore those two, are jointly commanded — Watch and Pray that you enter not into temptation. Watch, there is the necessity of our diligence. Pray, there is the insufficiency of it, and the necessity of his watching, by whose power we are effectually preserved, and that power is our fort. Salvation has God appointed for walls and bulwarks (Isaiah 26:1), what more safe than to be walled with salvation itself. So (Proverbs 18:10) The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous fly into it and are safe.
Now the causes are two. 1. Supreme, the power of God, 2. Subordinate faith. The supreme power of God is that on which depends our stability and perseverance. When we consider how weak we are in ourselves, yes the very strongest among us, and how assaulted, we wonder, and justly we may, that any can continue one day in the estate of grace: but when we look on the strength by which we are guarded, the power of God; then we see the reason of stability to the end. For omnipotency supports us, and the everlasting arms are under us.
Then faith is the second cause of our preservation; because it applies the first cause, the power of God. Our faith lays hold upon this power, and this power strengthens faith, and so we are preserved. It puts us within those walls, sets the soul within the guard of the power of God, which by self-confidence, and vain presuming in its own strength is exposed to all kinds of danger. Faith is a humble self-denying grace, makes the Christian nothing in himself, and all in God.
The weakest persons that are within a strong place, women and children, though they were not able to resist the enemy if they were alone, yet so long as the place wherein they are, is of sufficient strength and well manned and every way accommodated to hold out, they are in safety, thus the weakest believer is safe, because by believing he is within the strongest of all defenses. Faith is the victory, and Christ sets his strength against Satan's, and when the Christian is hard beset with some temptation, too strong for himself, then he looks up to him that is the great conqueror of the powers of darkness, and calls to him, Now Lord assist your servant in this encounter, and put to your strength, that the glory may be yours. Thus faith is such an engine as draws in the power of God, and his Son Jesus into the works, and conflicts that it has in hand. This is our victory even our faith (1 John 5:4).
It is the property of a good Christian to magnify the power of God, to have high thoughts of it, and therefore it is his privilege to find safety in that power. David cannot satisfy himself with one, or two expressions of it, but delights in multiplying them (Psalm 18:1). The Lord is my rock, and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Faith looks above all, both that which the soul has, and that which it wants, and answers all doubts, and fears with this almighty power upon which it rests.
To be revealed in the last time:] This salvation is that great work wherein God intended to manifest the glory of his grace, contrived before time, and in the several ages of the world brought forward, after the decreed manner, and the full accomplishment of it, reserved for the end of time.
The souls of the faithful, do enter possession when they remove from their houses of clay; yet is not their happiness complete till that great day of the appearing of Jesus Christ; they are naturally imperfect till their bodies be raised, and rejoined to their souls, to partake together of their bliss. And they are mystically imperfect, till all the rest of the members of Jesus Christ be added to them.
But then shall their joy be absolutely full when both their own bodies, and the mystical body of Christ shall be glorified, when all the children of that glorious family shall meet, and sit down to that great marriage supper at their father's table. Then shall the music of that new song be full, when there is not one wanting of those that are appointed to sing it for eternity. In that day shall our Lord Jesus be glorified in his saints and admired in all them that believe (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
You see what it is that the Gospel offers you, and you may gather, how great both your folly, and your guiltiness will be, if you neglect, and slight so great salvation when it is brought to you, and you are entreated to receive it, this is all that the preaching of the word aims at, and yet who harkens to it. How few lay hold on this eternal life? This inheritance, this crown that is held forth to all that hear of it.
Oh that you could be persuaded, to be saved, that you would be willing to embrace salvation. You think you would, but if it be so, then I may say, though you would be saved, yet your custom of sin, your love to sin, and love to the world, will not suffer you. And these will still hinder you, unless you put on holy resolutions to break through them and trample them under foot, and take this kingdom by a hand of violence, that God is so well pleased with, he is willingly overcome by that force, and gives the kingdom most willingly, where it is so taken, it is not attained by slothfulness, and sitting still with folded hands. It must be invaded with strength of faith, with armies of prayers, and tears, and they that set upon it thus are sure to take it.
Consider what we are doing, how we misplace our diligence on things that abide not, or we abide not to enjoy them. We have no abiding city here (says the Apostle) but he adds, that which comforts the citizens of the new Jerusalem: We look for one to come whose builder and maker is God. Hear not those things idly, as if they concerned you not, but let them move you to resolution and actions say, as they said of Canaan, it is a good land, let's go up and [reconstructed: possess] it. Learn to use what you have here as travelers, and let your home, your inheritance, your treasure be on high, which is by far the richest and the safest, and if it be so with you, then where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also.
