Kept by the power of God

What does it mean to be kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5)?

As the apostle Peter opens his first letter, he includes a section of thanksgiving to God for the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3–12). God’s gift of salvation produces great anticipation of an indestructible, pure, and eternal inheritance: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (verses 3–5, NKJV).

The recipients of Peter’s letter are identified as “God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1, NLT). These regions of Asia Minor were where the believers had likely been scattered due to persecution. Peter wrote to encourage them as they struggled to maintain their Christian identity and testimony. He wanted them to know that, even though they were far away from the core community of God’s people and Christ’s church and possibly feeling the pressure of separation, they were still “kept by the power of God through faith for salvation.”

In the original Greek, the word translated as “kept” in 1 Peter 1:5 means “to be guarded, shielded, or watched over.” It is a military term that describes how a soldier protects his charge. The verb tense shows continuous action and indicates that believers are under God’s perpetual, round-the-clock protection.

“God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see” (1 Peter 1:5, NLT), declared Peter to these isolated believers. They needed to know they were not forgotten or insignificant. Like all believers everywhere, they were shielded and secure by God’s power through faith. Later in the same letter, Peter reminded them that their struggle was only temporary: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10, ESV).

Our present sufferings do not negate the certainty of our future inheritance. The apostle Paul affirmed, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:17–18). Being guarded or kept by the power of God does not mean we get a free pass from pain, suffering, and hardship in this life. It means our heavenly Father watches over our salvation. He is “able to keep [us] from falling away and will bring [us] with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault” (Jude 1:24, NLT).

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, our reservation in heaven is guaranteed—not because of anything we have done, but because the power of God guards us through faith. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Our faith unites us to Jesus. Then His power keeps us (2 Corinthians 3:5). We are not kept secure by our own strength or obedience, but by His divine power and abundant faithfulness (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 55:22; Romans 8:31; 2 Peter 1:3: 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 9:8).

Our part on this journey is to keep believing and growing in our relationship with Christ. As we feed on His Word, yield to the control of the Holy Spirit, commune with God in prayer, and submit our will to His, we are increasingly transformed into Christ’s image. We experience a foretaste of the salvation that will be fully revealed when Jesus returns (1 Peter 1:8–9; Romans 8:19–23).

As we commit ourselves to Christ by faith, we are kept by the power of God. Even though we suffer, like Paul, we can confidently say, “I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return” (2 Timothy 1:12, NLT).