KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD

(Please do not let this letter threaten your faith, but let the challenges lead you to examine yourselves)

Contrary to today's erroneous faith movement, and partly because of it, many Christians do not know the depth of God's grace that "keeps" them safe. While pursuing fantasies through faith, we lose sight of the awesome accomplishment Jesus Christ has procured on our behalf, that is, the saving and keeping of our souls! When we seek after things, praying amiss, and God does not supply the things we demand, our genuine faith is weakened and our security in Christ is questioned. With Jesus as our example, we learn that though He suffered many things, His faith was in God the Father to "keep" Him in and through all things. While on the Cross, carrying our sin, Jesus "committed Himself to Him that judges righteously." (1 Pet. 2: 23) This was not only for the abuse He was receiving, but also for His soon-coming trip to hell! About "this hour," Jesus said, "Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." (John 12: 27) So, with a troubled soul, yet knowing both His Father and the scriptures, Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame ... [as He] endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself." (Heb. 12: 2, 3) This faith, that comes from knowing His Father and the scriptures, is what gave Him the strength to commit Himself to God in this time of trial.
Citing Psalm 16, Peter in Acts clearly reveals this faith during the soul-troubling hour of temptation. Of Jesus' resurrection, it is written: "Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it." (Acts 2:24) Because of this very faith, Jesus could say, "THEREFORE DID MY HEART REJOICE, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER ALSO MY FLESH SHALL REST IN HOPE: BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HELL [HADES], NEITHER WILL YOU SUFFER [ALLOW] YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION." (Acts 2: 26-27) Because of this faith, Jesus persevered through the unjust punishment and went on to a place that He did not deserve to go. "For he has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5: 21)
This faith did not deliver Jesus from pain and suffering, or bring Him temporary relief. If that is what He wanted, He could have bowed down and worshipped the tempter when he was offered the world and all its pleasures! The very same Spirit that fell on the day of Pentecost is the Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (See the Gospels of Matt. 4:1; Mark 1: 12 and Luke 4:1) God does not tempt us with evil, but our limited vision about what is good for us, blinds us to God's work. As the Potter, He forms us into the image of Christ, but not as we prescribe or demand or command (in the name of Jesus). Who are we to instruct the Lord with our narrow mindedness? "Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What are you making?" (Isaiah 45: 9)
Consider the day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2. For a moment, forget about the speaking in tongues, and take a look at what was accomplished in those that the Spirit fell upon. It is Peter, the fisherman, not the scholar, who preaches the sermon that includes the Psalms reference about Jesus going to hell (quoted above). Peter is talking to Jews who are witnessing the outpouring of the Spirit upon common people. What happened to those people? Yes, they spoke in other languages, and the people listening heard them in their own dialects, but what were they so excited about? Declaring what God would do, Peter declares what is taking place in these people, concluding his quotation of Joel (2: 28-32) with what initially took place in them, which is the knowledge of salvation: "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." (Acts 2: 21) These people were rejoicing in their salvation! This is what those people did, in obedience to the Lord's direction, after the resurrection: "And behold, I send the Promise of my Father upon you: but tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with Power from on high." (Luke 24: 49) (I purposely capitalized the "P's" in "Promise" and "Power" because it indicates the Holy Spirit of Promise as well as the very Power of God.) On the day of Pentecost these obedient disciples received the very Provision of God that enabled them to believe all that Jesus had preached to them, about the salvation of their souls. This is the place that Jesus told them to "wait for the Promise of the Father." (Acts 1:4) This is why they rejoiced, full of the Holy Spirit, Who declared unto them the Salvation of the Lord! He spoke to them and He speaks to us of what Jesus has obtained for us.
On the Pentecost day of my life, I received an impartation from God that gave me eyes to see the Truth for the very first time. This Faith is the very substance of the soul's hope, and it comes with the intimate blessed assurance of God through the Comforter Whom He has sent. I need no other evidence, nor do I have to justify myself by scripture or deeds; "it is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me." That is a variation of part of an old hymn, what I know in my heart to be true. The hymn is this: "My faith has found a resting place, not in a man-made creed; I trust the ever living One, that He for me will plead. I need no other argument, I need no other plea; it is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me!" This is the Gospel, the Good News that causes a soul to cry out in unfettered praise of God, such as we see on the day of Pentecost. The focus is not tongues, it is salvation! When Jesus is lifted up, what do you see? Your Salvation!
Having long ago been delivered from the foolishness of self-preservation faith, I am just so thankful to God for His mercy toward me. A prodigal son sees the glory of His Father only after he returns from his errors. That Glory instills faith, real faith, the faith that empowers you to endure all things. Though I had this faith in the beginning, who bewitched me? The Word says "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death." "You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts." (James 1: 14-15, and 4:3) I lost sight of the genuine imparted faith when I followed after a foolish faith that was disguised as "growing in faith." No longer content with what I had, through the lusts of my flesh I sought more. It does not matter that I believed I was supposed to seek for more; what does matter is that I left that place of my first love, where I was content, satisfied and secure. My foolish actions could disqualify me from the place of acceptance, very much like the prodigal son I just mentioned, but the love of the Father is greater than the failures of the son, and His love is based upon Who He is, not the performances of either son in the parable. When we really "get" this, we behold the Glory of the Father. This revelation of the Father's love imparts Faith in Him, so that you "know" once again, that he will never leave or forsake you.
As a "testimony" of that time period when God first revealed Himself to me, I want to share what came out of a conversation I had with a brother in Christ who also had the experience around the same time (30+ years ago). Both of us, being brand new born-again Christians were truly "babes in Christ" who were secure in God's love, but knew nothing of the doctrines of the church. Later, having now gone through many schools of thought concerning the Gospel, we found ourselves confused with "formulas" and "laws" that had somehow robbed us of this sure knowledge of God's secure love. In those days we gave up everything to follow Christ, nothing else mattered, nothing else had a hold on us, we were free! Someone bewitched us; but now God is saying, through His Word and in our hearts, "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were first illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions ... and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward." (Hebrews 10: 32-35) Naively, as we received this great salvation, neither one of us could conceive of someone perverting the Gospel for gain. Clearly we understand how Jesus was so angry at the moneychangers!
Now, back to being "KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD." "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD through faith unto salvation...." (1 Peter 1: 3-5) Like the prodigal son and his father, it is His Mercy, through His faith given unto us, that we have this sure, stedfast hope of salvation. Regardless of life's circumstances, when everything seems contradictory, this Holy-Spirit-corrected vision (without which many perish) opens the eyes of our understanding and empowers us to walk by faith and not by appearances. Psalm 13, which has only 6 verses, deals with this conflict going on within us, which apart from the Spirit of God would overwhelm us. Yet, by the power of God, we shall be able to say with the psalmist, "But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13: 5-6)
Peter also speaks of an inheritance that is incorruptible, and undefiled, and fades not away. Paul enhances this understanding in Colossians: "...Now has He reconciled [us] in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel...." (Col. 1:21-23) Other versions word this "free from accusation," which indicates that though you are guilty of failures (like the prodigal) there is Someone greater than your guilt.
This "Keeping" ability of God is our testimony, or should be our testimony. Are we trusting in His Mercy? On the Day the Lord returns, will our testimony be what we have done (in His name) or what He has done, in spite of our unfaithfulness? Test the soundness of your faith. Examine yourself, whether you be of the (genuine) faith. Let your boast be in the Lord, your confidence be in His provision, and your thanksgiving be known to God. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ...." (1 Peter 1: 13) Clear thinking about salvation is recognizing that apart from Him, you will not be saved; so stop fearing the giants that you think will keep you from the Promise, and stop trying to deserve the Promise.
We have the Hebrews as examples. (Hebrews 3: 8-19) After being delivered from slavery, supernaturally walking on the dry ground of the Red Sea, provided with food and water, and clothes and shoes that did not wear out, they grieved God with their complaints. The Bible calls it unbelief; but how was that unbelief exhibited? Clearly, they were not content, they were not thankful, and they forgot what manner of life they once lived. As examples, they are warning us to take inventory of what we have and where we are. If you trade in your secure position in Christ for some temporary comforts, you will be sadly disillusioned on both counts. In going after the riches of this world, you will forfeit the true riches of God, the giants will loom larger than life, and you will not be able to overcome the guilt and shame that goes along with it. Why? Because when we trade our birthright for momentary relief, we are telling God that it is not enough that Jesus died to obtain salvation for us -- we want more! "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end." (Hebrews 3: 12-14) "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation...?" (Heb. 2:3) No, we are to give heed to this Gospel of salvation "which things the angels desire to look into" and "Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently..." (1 Peter 1: 12, 10) They, and the people who believed the prophets, were not the beneficiaries of this grace that would be given unto us. What has been called the "Faith Hall Of Fame" in Hebrews 11 reveals that these people "saw" the Promise(s) of God "afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13) In the same verse it reads that "These all died in faith, not having received the Promises" and later others "Who through faith subdued kingdoms,... stopped the mouths of lions, [and had many "positive" outcomes].... And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings,... were stoned,... sawn asunder,... destitute ... [and had many "negative" outcomes]. (Hebrews 11: 33-38) "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the Promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11: 39-40) This kind of faith is spoken of in the beginning of the chapter: "For by it [this faith] the elders obtained a good report." (Heb. 11: 2) The "good report" was based upon their faith in God, regardless of the temporary outcomes, because they "knew" they had an eternal future with God .... because of His Promises which they believed. These people who obtained a good report through faith could not be made perfect without us, it says in Hebrews 11: 39-40. Why? Because as Hebrews, under the law, they understood that each year their sins were laid aside, but required a sacrificial atonement that neither they nor their priests were capable of providing. "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." (Hebrews 7: 19) This is the Promise of Messiah, that they looked forward to by faith in God's Provision. What is impossible with man is possible with God, and this great salvation was obtained at a great cost. As God provided the ram in the thicket for Abraham, and the food and water in the wilderness for the refugees from Egypt, He now, by sending His Son as the Atonement for sin, has fulfilled His Promise to the forefathers!
Now, we, as beneficiaries of that Promise/Provision are in a very similar position as those people. We have the choice of either focusing on what we don't have, or rejoicing in what we do have. Being Thankful, and by Faith, persevering by His Grace through trials and tribulation, we, "according to His Promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.... Seeing then that all these [temporal] things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?" (2 Peter 3: 13, 11) Since the Hebrews that fell in the desert fell because of unbelief (they grumbled and complained), should we not take heed of their example? Are we not satisfied with His saving our souls? Is not the Promise of Messiah fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ? Is He not the evidence and substance of our Faith? Again, I'm trying to put across that the Gift God has imparted to us, is the substance and evidence of our faith. It is why we believe, and it is enough! The very ability to believe comes from this gift of faith imparted to us. He revealed Himself and made known His purposes in our hearts. He wrote His laws in our hearts, so that we would KNOW that He is!
The warnings throughout God's Word constantly lead us to trust in Him, yet our human tendency is to trust in ourselves. This wrong faith, trusting in ourselves, exalts all situations above God. It causes us to fear the giants and glorify our victories, whereas the faith we have received from God brings us His Peace in all situations and causes us to rejoice in the Victory He has obtained for us in Christ. To those who draw back from the faith provided by God, he says, "MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them who believe unto the saving of the soul." (Heb. 10: 38-39) This drawing back is actually rejecting God's Provision. Even worse, it replaces the Provision with one if its own, a work of the flesh that boasts in men's accomplishments. It refuses the blessings of God. Paul, who implored Jews to receive the righteousness that comes by faith, strongly declares that "they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes." (Romans 10:3-4) Of this rejection or drawing back, the author of Hebrews writes: "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation." (Heb. 6:9)
This affirmation (Heb. 6:9) comes after a strong exhortation to those Hebrew converts who were being lured back into Judaism. The warning was "for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and are made partakers of the Holy Ghost...." (Heb. 6:4) This was not spoken to Gentiles who were backslidden; it is speaking directly to the Old Testament patterns/principles/shadows from which these Hebrews had come. Once they received Christ, Who is the fulfillment, they were no longer to live under that law/type/schoolmaster. "The principles of the doctrine of Christ" (Heb. 6:1) and "the first principles of the oracles of God" (Heb. 5:12) are describing the Prophets of old and the Old Testament Temple procedures of laying-on of hands, baptisms, resurrection of the dead, etc. -- all types of Christ. At the time that these Hebrew converts should be teaching others that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God's plan laid out in the Old Testament, they resorted back to living the Old.
Paul wrote, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Gal. 5:1) This is after he said, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. O Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you...? Received ye the Spirit [Provision of Faith] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Gal. 2:21-3:2) This same conflict, about faith and righteousness, is what the writer of Hebrews is addressing at the end of Heb. 5 and beginning of Heb. 6. "For when for the time you ought to be teachers [of righteousness,] you have need that one teach you again ... the first principles of the oracles of God;... [and you are] unskillful in the word of righteousness." (Heb. 5:12-13) This is evil in the sight of the Lord, and they are not discerning the difference! (see vs.14)
It's actually an old story, or historical recurrence, that is recorded many times. His people embrace His blessings and then go their own way. They reject Him while claiming to be Abraham's seed; and we now, by not learning from their mistakes, reject Him, while proclaiming Christ as our covering, even as we come out from under His covering, by boasting in our faith or our accomplishments (in Jesus' name)! WE take on other coverings that replace Christ. "Repent! Return Unto Me," cries the Lord. We are KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD, not by our tenacious holding on to man-made doctrines of faith.
Let our boasts be "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the Beloved. ...In Whom you also trusted, after that you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: in Whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise, Which is the earnest [down payment, first stage] of our inheritance unto the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." (Eph. 1:6, 13-14) It's all Him, not us! It is "by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...." (Eph. 2:8) His grace has imparted this faith that has enabled us to believe. It comes by hearing the Word of God, and only He can reveal and impart this saving knowledge.
There is coming a fulfillment or completion of this "earnest of our inheritance." There is a "redemption of the purchased possession" that only He can accomplish. Though we may struggle through the obstacles of life, and there are many temptations trying to lure us away from our security in Christ (by getting us to substitute a false security), He is faithful Who promised. He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith, so the very thing you have committed to Him (the saving of your soul), He is able to KEEP until that day. The fulfilling of the Promise comes to those who "have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name. [It is for Christians who are true Christians, who are not like] ... them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie.... Because you have kept the word of My patience, I also will KEEP you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Rev. 3:8-10)
The confirmation and exhortation that comes from Jude is one that we need to pay very close attention to: "Jude, ... to them who are sanctified by God the Father, and PRESERVED in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common [mutual] salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith ... for there are certain men crept in unawares [who are perverting the Gospel of faith, and leading to unbelief and destruction]. (Jude 1-4) Earnestly contending for the faith does not mean witnessing on the street; it means to guard it against corruption. It is God Who sanctifies, and Jesus Christ Who preserves; yet as God established the covenant with Abram based upon God's ability, Abram in obedience laid out the the sacrifice as instructed. Then, before he was put to sleep, before God passed through the sacrifice, "when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away." (Genesis 15:11, see 7-18) In driving them away, he "contended" for the sacrifice. So we see that only God can provide this great salvation, but we are to be diligent to preserve and earnestly contend for the faith!
There is only one other place the word "preserved" is used in Scripture. By definition, it means to keep, guard, and in the prophetic sense, to fulfill. In 1 Thess. 5, Paul writes about the coming of the Lord. The similarities to what Jude wrote are amazing. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be PRESERVED blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calls you, Who also will do it." (1Thess. 1:23-24) As with Abram, God establishes this covenant! The exhortation prior to this (see verses 14-22) instruct us to: "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks.... PROVE all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thess. 5:16-18, 21-22) The word, "prove" means to test, examine, or discern -- and it has to do with your salvation through faith. Are we doing this today? Do you recall why Paul commended the Bereans? Because "they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so [to prove them]." (Acts 17:11).
There was a time period which we call the "Dark Ages," in which the Word of God was kept from men. Though we are no longer in that time, there is a darkness, and a greater darkness coming, that blinds men's eyes to the truth, where, as in the days of Moses, men sought intermediaries to seek after God in their behalf, to the neglect of their own necessary intimacy with Him. They declared that all which God tells the mediators, "We will do;" but without the personal relationship with Him, we do not have the power to do what God calls us to do.
A challenge to your faith, such as this one, should not be threatening; it should be seen as an opportunity to clarify the truth within you, to purge out the falseness, and strengthen that which remains. The Bereans had the right attitude and the wisdom to examine all that Paul taught. Many men feel threatened by such examination, become instantly defensive, and castigate anyone who questions them, but God commends them. It appears that Peter accepted Paul's rebuke when Paul "withstood him [Peter] to the face, because he was to be blamed." (Gal. 2:11) Peter easily could have claimed his position was higher than Paul's, quoted scriptures about not touching God's anointed, and refused the rebuke. Instead, we read later that Peter sees the depth of Paul's wisdom, as Peter writes of Paul's "epistles ... in which are some things hard to be understood." (2 Peter 3:16)
I believe Paul's warning to Peter, and other warnings to the church, especially today, are in regard to our misdirection. Someone has changed the road signs, and we wrongfully think we are heading in the right direction. Today it is self-preservation and merchandising the Gospel for gain. Then, Peter, under peer pressure, had resorted back to not eating with Gentiles (after God had shown him to do so). His diversion from the truth would have misled many others, so Paul rebuked him. When we see others heading in the wrong direction we have an obligation as our brother's keeper to warn them of the danger (even if they will not hear us). In our imaginations, it is so easy to resort back to the false security of our prison life, such as the thinking of the Hebrews delivered from Egypt, or Peter's backsliding.
We need to guard ourselves against "the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end...." (Hebrews 3:13-14) He has written His laws and made known His purposes in our hearts. Do not be led away from this security that He has provided. Our confidence is in His ability to keep all those who trust in Him. He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith, and that (keeping of the soul) which we have committed unto Him, He is able to KEEP! We are KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD, and no weapon formed against us shall prosper (even though a gun could kill you, as a lion did eat many). Do not fear them who can kill the body, nor fear the coming Day of the Lord, as terrible as that will be on the earth. As Peter writes: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His Promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.... You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall away from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:11-13, 17-18)
We can take great comfort in those scriptures, even though they foretell of destruction. Within the instructions there is also a warning about being led away with the error of the wicked. I believe this error is more than living a wicked lifestyle; it is the iniquity that God hates, one in which we foolishly substitute a form of righteousness, and so reject His Provision, His Son! To those (see Matt. 7:21-27) who boast, place their confidence, in what they have done, He will "profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:23) A worker of iniquity is one that rejects the righteousness of God and goes about to establish his own (like those Paul wrote of, in Romans 10:1-10)
While I am emphasizing that we are KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD, and we should not be deceived into looking for another source. Our obedience must be to the Truth, not to concepts of men that could lead us into a ditch. I will conclude with the final words from Jude. "But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. [Those in Matt. 7:21-27 were not doing this.] ...Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 20-21, 24-25)