The Essence Of Christianity: 1Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.1 Peter 1:2-5 KJ
The Apostle Peter sums up the essence of what it is to be a Christian in a few sentences. Each word is heavy. Each is carefully chosen and profound in themselves.
You will notice that God himself is the active force in the believer’s spiritual birth–it’s HIS POWER from the beginning to end!
What Peter is doing is impressing on their minds the fact that God himself has chosen them. I am spiritually alive and able to spiritually perceive Him and understand his message, because he has brought his power to bear on me. (check the text again)
This new birth, in this dangerous, fleshly world, is kept secure by faith. You will notice the believer is passive (i.e., he is kept, he doesn’t keep himself)—The POWER of God keeps the Christian.
The means of that security is through faith/belief in God word. The means is not the power, it is the channel through the power reaches its destination. Your faith is important in this transaction, but it’s NOT the mighty force which sustains or delivers the salvation. We are Dependant on GOD’s power. Faith is what RELIES on His Power.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. –1 Peter 1:7, 9 KJV
The testing of that faith is not for God’s knowledge, but for ours. It’s purifies that faith, making it stronger, more firm. Thereby increasing the saint’s confidence in its power to keep, overcome, and to deliver the inheritance promised at the end this journey.
So when you look around after overcoming the “manifold trials” you have faced, and your faith in God’s providence is still in tack and stronger than ever, you know that THE POWER OF GOD IS PRESENT IN YOUR LIFE! Next stop? The marriage supper of the Lamb.