The Power of God In The Salvation of His People # 5

The Power of God In The Salvation of His People # 5

8. The Power of God in PRESERVING His People

"Who are kept by the power of God through faith" (1 Peter 1:5). Kept from what? Ah, what mortal is capable of returning a full answer? A whole article might profitably be devoted to this one aspect of our subject.

Kept from the dominion of sin, which still dwells within us.

Kept from being drawn out of the narrow way, by the enticements of the world.

Kept from the horrible heresies, which ensnare thousands on every side.

Kept from being overcome by satan, who always seeks our destruction.

Kept from departing from the living God, so that we do not make shipwreck of the faith.

Kept from turning His grace into a license to sin. Weak as water in ourselves, yet, we are enabled to endure as seeing Him who is invisible. This "is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes."

Sin is a mighty monarch which none of His subjects can withstand.

There was more in Adam while innocent to resist sin, than in any other person since, for sin has an ally within the fallen creature that is ever ready to betray him into temptations from without. But sin had no such advantage over Adam, nevertheless, it overwhelmed him.

The non-elect angels were yet better able to withstand sin than Adam was, having a more excellent nature and being nearer to God - yet, sin prevailed against them and threw them out of Heaven into hell.

Then, what a mighty power is required to subdue it! Only He who "led captivity captive" can make His people more than conquerors."

As the providence of God is a manifestation of His power in a continued creation, so the preservation of grace is a manifestation of His power in a continued regeneration. God's strength abates and modifies the violence of temptations. His staff supports His people under them, His might defeats the power of satan. The counter-workings of indwelling corruptions, the reluctancies of the flesh against the breathings of the Spirit, the fallacies of the sences, and the movings of the mind - would quickly stifle and quench grace, if it were not maintained by the same all-powerful blast that first inbreathed it. No less in fulfilling the work of faith - than in ingrafting the word of faith (2 Thess. 1:11)".

The preservation of God's people in this world greatly glorifies the power of God. To preserve those with so many corruptions within, and so many temptations without - magnifies His ineffable might more than if He were to translate them to Heaven the moment they believed. In a world of suffering and sorrow, to preserve the faith of His people amid so many and sore testings, trials, buffetings, disappointments, betrayals by friends and professed brethren in Christ - is infinitely more wonderful than if a man should succeed in carrying an unsheltered candle alight across an open door when a hurricane was blowing.

To the glory of God, the writer bears witness that, but for omnipotent grace, he had become an infidel years ago as the result of the treatment he had received from those who posed as preachers of the Gospel. Yes, for God to supply strength to His fainting people, and enable them to, "Hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end" (Heb. 3:14), is more marvelous than though He were to keep a fire burning in the midst of the ocean!

How the contemplation of the power of God should deepen our confidence and trust in Him, "Trust in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength" (Isa. 26:4). The power of God was the ground of Abraham's assurance (Heb. 5:7). Oh, to bear constantly in mind that, "God is able to make all grace abound toward us" (2 Cor. 9:8). Nothing is so calculated to calm the mind, still our fears, and fill us with peace - as faith's appropriation of God's sufficiency. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" ( Romans 8:31). His infallible promise is, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isa. 41:10).

He who brought a nation through the Red Sea without any ships, and led them across the desert for forty years, where was neither bread nor water - still lives and reigns!!

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)