Practical Commentary of 1 Peter Volume 1, Chapter 1 · Verse 5
Verse. 5.
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. ready to be revealed in the last time
'TIs 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 dampt their Delight, in hearing and considering of all the rest. The Richer the Estate is it will the more kindle the Malice, and Dilligence 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 i… out of the reach of all adverse Powers. Reserv'd 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 lyes, makes good all that hath been spoken of the Dignity and Riches of it.
But further, as it is a rich and pleasant Country where it lyeth, it hath this priviledge, 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't, 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 it selfe, so neither is it in danger of Fraud or Violence. When our Saviour speaks of this same Happiness, St. Mat. 6.20. in a like term, whats here called an Inheritance, is there called a Treasure. He expresses the permanency of it, by these two, that it hath neither Moth nor Rust in it selfe 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 Pallaces that have been possibly divers years in building? hath sire upon a very small beginning destroyed in a few hours? What great hopes of gain by traffick hath one Tempest mocked, and diss…pointed? 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, 'tis more perfectly and Eminently true of it above. Is…i. 65.25.
This is indeed a necessary condition of our joy in the thoughts of this happy Estate, that we have some perswasion of our Propriety, that 'tis ours: that we do not speak, and hear of it as Travellers passing by a pleasant place do behold, and discourse of its fair structure, the sweetness of the Seat, the planting, of the Gardens, and Meadowes 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 called, and it is Mine, it is reserved in Heaven and reserv'd 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 preserv'd to it, and that's the other part of the Certainty, that compleats the Comforts of it. see Eph. 1.14.
The salvation that Christ hath purchased is indeed laid up in Heaven, but we that seek after it, are on Earth, Compassed about with Dangers, and Tentations. What avails it us that our Salvation is in Haven, in the place of safety and quietness, while we our selves are tossed upon the stormy Seas of this World, amidst Rocks and shelves, every hour in hazard of shipwrack, 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 Preserv'd to it. There is here. 1. The Estate it selfe, Salvation. 2. The preservation, or securing of those that expect it. 3. The Time of full Possession. In the last time.
VntoUnto Salvation] Before it's called an Inheritance, here more particularly what 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 teacheth us, that it is vailed to us, only so much shines through, as we are capable of here: but the Revealed knowledge of it is only in the Possession. 'Tis 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 Unmollested, 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 Saviour poured out for them, Ioh. 17.16. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World: but that thou shouldest 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 yoak, he bestirres himselfe to pursue them, when they are led forth from their Captivity, as Exod. 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 Batterries against this Fort, using all wayes to take it, by Strength, or Sratagem, unwearied in his Assaults, and very skilful to know his Advantages; and where we are weakest, there to set on. And besides all this, He hath 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 then our own, and other walls, and Bulwarks then any that our skill and Industry can raise for our own Defence. In this then is our safety, that there is a Power above our own, yea, and above all our Enemies, that guards us. Salvation it selfe 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, 'tis that preserves us, and makes ours not to be in vain. Psal. 126.1. Isa. 27.3. And therefore those two, are joyntly Commanded▪ …atch and Pray that ye enter not into Temtation. Watch, there's the necessity of our Diligence. Pray, there's the Insufficiency of it, and the necessity of his Watching, by whose Power we are effectually preserv'd, and that Power is our Fort. Isa. 26.1. Salvation hath God appointed for walls and Bulwarks, what more safe then to be wall'd with Salvation it self, …o Prov. 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. Supream, the Power of God, 2. Subordinate Faith. The Supreme duplicate page duplicate page Power of God is that on which depends our Stability and Perseverance. When we consider how weak we are in our selves, yea the very strongest amongst 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 Armes are under us.
Then Faith is the 2d. cause of our Preservation; because it applies the first Cause, the Power of God. our Faith layes hold upon this Power, and this Power strengthens Faith, and so we are preserved. It puts us within those walls, set… the Soul within the Guard of the Power of God, which by selfe confidence, and vain presuming in its own strength is exposed to all kind of danger. Faith is a humble self-denying Grace, makes the Christian nothing in himself, and all in God.
The weastest 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 man'd and every way accommodate to hold out, they are in safety, thus the weakest Believer is safe, because by believing he is within the strongest of all Defences. Faith is the Victory, and Christ sets his strength against Satans, and when the Christian is hard beset with some Tentation, too strong for himselfe, then he looks up to him that is the great Conquerour of the powers of darkness, and calls to him, Now Lord assist thy Servant in this Encounter, and put to thy strength, that the Glory may be thine. Thus faith is such an Engine as draws in the power of God, and his Son Jesus into the works, and conflicts that it hath in hand. This is our victory even our faith. 1. Iohn. 5.4.
'Tis the property of a good Christian to magnifie the power of God, to have high thoughts of it, and therefore 'tis his Priviledge to find safety in that power. David cannot satifie himselfe with one, or two Expressions of it, but delights in multiplying them▪ Psa. 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 hath, 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, contriv'd before Time, And in the severall 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 faithfull, do enter possession when they remove from their houses of Clay; yet is not their happiness compleat till that great day of the appearing of Jesus Christ; they are naturally Imperfect till their bodies be raised, and rejoyned to their Souls, to partake together of their Bliss. And they are mistically 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 misticall body of Christ shall be Glorified, when all the Children of that glorious Family shall meet, and sit down to that great Mariage Supper at their Fathers Table. Then shall the Musick 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 Thes. 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 'tis brought to you, and you are intreated to receive it, this is all that the preaching of the word aimes at, and yet who hearkens 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 perswaded, 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 custome 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 kingdome by a hand of violence, that God is so well pleased with, he is willingly overcome by that force, and gives the kingdome most willingly, where it is so taken, 'tis not attain'd by slothfullness, 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 (saith the Apostle) but he adds, that which comforts the Citizens of the new Ierusalem: Wee look for one to come whose builder and maker is God. Hear not those things idley, as if they concerned you not, but let them move you to Resolution and Actions say, as they said of Canaan, 'tis a good land, Let's go up and posses…, it. Learn to use what you have here as Travellers, 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.