Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Peter 1:5

"who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." — 1 Peter 1:5 (ASV)

Who are kept by the power of God.

That is, kept or preserved in the faith and hope of the gospel; preserved from apostasy, or so kept that you will finally obtain salvation.

The word which is here used and rendered kept (frourew—phroureo), is rendered in 2 Corinthians 11:32, kept with a garrison; in Galatians 3:23, and here, kept; and in Philippians 4:7, shall keep. It does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament.

It means to keep, as in a garrison or fortress, or as with a military watch. The idea is that a faithful guardianship was exercised over them to save them from danger, just as a castle or garrison is watched to guard it against the approach of an enemy.

The meaning is that they were weak in themselves and were surrounded by temptations, and the only reason they were preserved was that God exerted His power to keep them. The only reason any Christians have to suppose they will ever reach heaven is the fact that God keeps them by His own power. (2 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:18).

If it were left to the will of man—to the strength of his own resolutions, to his power to meet temptations, and to any probability that he would of himself continue to walk in the path of life—there would be no certainty that anyone would be saved.

Through faith. That is, He does not keep us by the mere exertion of power, but He excites faith in our hearts and makes that the means of keeping us. As long as we have faith in God and in His promises, we are safe. When that fails, we are weak; and if it should fail altogether, we could not be saved. .

Unto salvation. This means not preserved for a short period and then allowed to fall away, but so kept as to be saved. We may remark here that Peter, as well as Paul, believed in the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. If he did not, how could he have addressed these Christians in this manner and said that they were kept by the power of God unto salvation?

Ready to be revealed in the last time. That is, when the world shall end. Then it will be made manifest to assembled worlds that such an inheritance was reserved for you, and that you were kept to inherit it. .

This verse, then, teaches that the doctrine that the saints will persevere and be saved is true. They are kept by the power of God to salvation; and as God has all power and guards them with reference to this end, it must follow that they will be saved. It may be added:

1. That it is very desirable that the doctrine should be true. Man is so weak and feeble, so liable to fall, and so exposed to temptation, that it is in itself every way something to be wished for that his salvation should be in some safer hands than his own.

2. If it is desirable that it should be true, it is fair to infer that it is true, for God has made all the arrangements for the salvation of His people which are really desirable and proper.

3. The only security for the salvation of anyone is founded on that doctrine. If it were left entirely to the hands of men, even the best of men, what assurance could there be that anyone would be saved? Did not Adam fall? Did not holy angels fall? Have not some of the best of men fallen into sin? And who has such a strength of holiness that he could certainly confide in it to make his own salvation sure? Any man must know little of himself and of the human heart who supposes that he has such a strength of virtue that he would never fall away if left to himself. But if this is so, then his only hope of salvation is in the fact that God intends to keep His people by His own power through faith unto salvation.