Peter says Our lives have been guarded by the power of God by faith for a salvation is ready to be revealed (1 Peter 1:5). The word guarded is a military term and the tense of the verb reveals that we are constantly being guarded by God. Believers are not kept by their own power, but by the power of God. We are saved by the grace of God and waiting for the salvation that is yet to appear in its fulness. Does it mean that we are not completely saved? No; we are saved but the end of everything has not come, that’s why peter says we are guarded by the power of God. Why we needed to be guarded? Ephesians 2:1-3 Paul says “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.” This verse gives us a clear understanding of what are we guarded from; so, we guarded from falling asleep or going back to a dead state, guarded from the spirit of the world, cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Jesus said to his disciples that Spirit of truth shall come and when he, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. Our faith in Christ has so united us to him that His power now guards us, guides us and rule over us. we are waiting for the final consummation of that promise where God would rule the entire world with His might. Ephesians 1:11-14 Paul says that we have believed the Gospel of Jesus and Holy spirit is the seal who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire it. Paul complements peter words here by saying spirit of God is the guarantee for the salvation or the inheritance that is about appear.
Are we ready for the salvation about to be revelated?
Jesus teaches a parable about ten virgins prepared themselves to receive the bridegroom. But only 5 were able to receive the bride and other 5 lost the opportunity because they didn’t have enough oil with them to keep the lamp burning. We the church is wating for our bridegroom Jesus Christ, and we have responsibility of keep our lamp burning by faith through the power of the holy spirit. In Revelation 2:10 God reveals this about church of Smyrna that “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you; the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give your life as your victor’s crown”. Psalms 91:11 & 12 says For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;