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John Gill
Section 9 - 1st Peter
1:5
Who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to
be revealed in the last time.
These words, in connection with the
preceding verses, show that such as are elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, and are begotten again unto a lively
hope of an incorruptible inheritance, are kept frourroume>nouv,
as in a garrison, by, or in the power of God, safe and secure from a
final and total falling away, through the grace of faith unto consummate
salvation,, to be enjoyed for ever in heaven. In answer to which, it is
said.[1]
1. "That this place only proves that all, who are
preserved to salvation, are so kept by the power of God; but not that
all believers are so kept." I reply, we do not say, that all believers
are so kept; since there are some who are nominal believers, have no
true grace, believe but for a time, and fall away; but then we say, that
all true believers are so kept; otherwise the words of our Lord (Mark
16:16), would not be true, nor the will of his Father (John 6:40), be
fulfilled; for how should every one that believes be saved, unless they
are preserved unto salvation? And if those who are preserved unto
salvation, are kept by the power of God unto it, as is owned; it
follows, that since every true believer will be saved, and in order to
it be preserved unto salvation, then every one of them is, and will be,
kept by the power of God unto it.
2. It is farther said,[2] that
this place "proves only that they are kept through faith; that is, if
they continue in the faith, and hold the beginning of their confidence
steadfast unto the end." But it should be observed, that there is no if
in the text; faith is not represented as a condition, but as a means of
preservation, engaged by the power of God, for that is as much secured
by the power of God as salvation itself, or preservation to it. Besides,
such a sense of the words is no other than this, that these persons are
kept by the power of God, if, or so long as, they keep themselves;
which, as it greatly depreciates the power of God, and ascribes too much
to the creature, so it is in itself exceeding trifling. Add to this,
that if this faith, through which believers are kept to salvation, will
render them victorious over the world, enable them to resist the
temptations of the devil, to prefer afflictions before the pleasures of
sin, and even to suffer death, not accepting deliverance, in expectation
of a better resurrection; and, lastly, engage the power of God in their
preservation, and so cause them out of weakness to be strong, all which
is owned by our author; this, surely, proves that they shall certainly
continue in the faith, and so be preserved safe unto the kingdom and
glory of God.
ENDNOTES:
[1] Whitby,
p. 463.
[2] Ibid.,
p. 463,464; ed. 2.443,444; Remonstr. Coll. Hag. art. 5: p. 93.
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