Kept by the Power of God: 1 Peter 1:1-12 Explained

Scriptures for Today

1 Peter 1:1-12
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  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.  3 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,  4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  7 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:  8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Introduction — A Letter Written to Scattered, Suffering Believers

Peter writes this epistle to Christians who were: scattered (v. 1), persecuted, misunderstood, slandered, suffering for righteousness. They had lost homes, jobs, family, and stability. The world treated them like strangers, outcasts, and nobodies.

Why is Peter writing this? Peter writes to remind them: You may be rejected on earth,
but you are chosen in heaven. You may be hated by men, but you are kept by God.

This letter is not written from comfort. It is written from hardship. And the message is this:

Suffering does not break the believer — it proves the believer. And salvation is secure because God Himself keeps His children.

Verse 1 — Strangers in the World but Citizens of Heaven

1 Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Peter addresses believers as “strangers.” Why? Because they don’t belong to this world. Their citizenship is in heaven. Their identity is in Christ. Their loyalty is to a different kingdom.

Let me be clear here. My loyalty is not to this world. My loyalty is to God. So, in this world, we are strangers. We will not be a part of this world and the ways of this world. We will not partake of the drugs and alcohol in this area that has overtaken it. We will not partake in the laziness that overtaken this area. We won’t do it.

These strangers were scattered geographically, but united spiritually.

Verse 2 — Salvation Is the Work of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son

1 Peter 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.

Three Persons of the Godhead are active in your salvation:

• The Father foreknew (His plan)
• The Spirit sanctifies (He sets apart)
• The Son provides the blood

This is not Calvinism — the word “elect” simply means chosen in Christ (Ephesians 1:4), chosen by God’s plan to save all who believe.

God planned salvation. Jesus purchased salvation. The Spirit applies salvation. Grace and peace are multiplied because salvation is God’s work, not ours.

Verse 3 — Our Hope Is Alive Because Christ Is Alive

1 Peter 1:3
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,

A “lively hope” means a living hope — a hope with power, certainty, and life. Why is our hope alive? Because Jesus is alive. The resurrection is the anchor of the believer: your salvation is secure, your future is guaranteed, your hope cannot die.

Mercy birthed us again. Resurrection secures us. Hope strengthens us.

Verse 4 — Your Inheritance Cannot Be Touched

1 Peter 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Your inheritance: incorruptible — cannot decay, undefiled — cannot be polluted, fadeth not away — cannot diminish in value, reserved — already set aside with your name on it.

You may lose earthly possessions. You may lose reputation. You may lose comfort. But you cannot lose: your salvation, your inheritance, your future.

Verse 5 — The Mic-Drop Verse on Eternal Security

1 Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

This is one of the strongest eternal security verses in the Bible. I use this during the Gospel at the end whenever I need to use this powerful Scripture.

Who keeps you saved? It is not you and the choices you make. It is not you asking forgiveness every time you sin because you don’t do that. It is not you repenting of sin. None of those things keep you saved.

Not you. Not your works. Not your faithfulness. “Kept by the power of God.” If you leave here today with nothing else but this, I want you to remember that right there. Simple phrase. “Kept by the power of God.” My salvation, your salvation, is kept by the power of God!

And for all you soul winners who are in here right now. USE THIS VERSE WHEN YOU NEED IT. It’s pure saving power right there in that verse. PURE POWER from God Almighty.

Your faith connects you to salvation, but God keeps you in salvation. God keeps you saved! If God keeps you, you cannot lose Him and He cannot lose you. God doesn’t lose things like we lose things. We lose things all the time. God never loses anything. Think about it. He said I got you. He said you are mine. He doesn’t lose you.

Jesus says, in John 6:39, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but raise it up again at the last day.” Jesus doesn’t lose you. No man shall pluck you out of His hands. PRAISE GOD!

Your salvation is guarded, protected, preserved, sealed — kept by divine power.

Verse 6 — Suffering Is Temporary, Joy Is Eternal

1 Peter 1:6
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

We rejoice together in the salvation of God Almighty. Three truths you see right there: suffering is for a season, suffering can bring heaviness, suffering has a purpose (“if need be”).

Suffering is not random. It is not wasted. It is not pointless. It refines you. It strengthens you. It proves the reality of your faith.

For example, when I die one day, if I need to suffer through it, I will suffer through it. Don’t send me to hospice and take my life. My kids are here and listening. It’s not your job to decide when I die. It’s not my job to make the decisions on life and death. If I need to suffer, I will suffer. Do you understand me on this? God gets all the glory in all things. If I suffer, I suffer for Him.

Suffering, heaviness, temptations, tribulations don’t last forever. “Though now for a season.”

“IF NEED BE,” I will suffer. If need be, I will be in heaviness and hurting and pain. If need be, I will go through many kinds of trials and tribulations. If need be, I will go through all different types of problems coming from all different directions. IF NEED BE.

Verse 7 — Your Faith Is More Precious Than Gold

1 Peter 1:7
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:

Faith is not proven on the mountaintop at the best points in your life — it is proven in the fire.
Faith grows in fire. Faith shines in trials. Faith glorifies Christ. We have some tough Sundays here at this church. As I was writing this sermon, my good friend Janene in Detroit, is sending me encouragement.

We go through trials. We go through suffering. We go through tough times. But we have the VICTORY. We shall not die but live and we will declare the word of the Lord. I have people all the time sending me encouragement. People who love and support this church. Through trials, we have each other. From faith to faith.

Gold is valuable, but it is temporary. Gold can melt, tarnish, or be taken. But faith outlasts gold. Faith remains when everything else burns away. When God allows trials, He is not trying to crush you — He is refining you. He is burning off the impurities, strengthening what is real, and revealing what He already sees in you.

The fire does not destroy true faith. It exposes it. It purifies it. It displays it. And when Jesus Christ appears, the faith that endured the furnace will result in praise, and honour, and glory — not for you alone, but for Christ who sustained you through every flame.

So don’t give up through these trials. Listen, we love the good days when we’re on the mountain top. But the days in those low valleys are the ones that truly help us and refine us. Understand me right now. The low days make us stronger.

Verse 8 — Loving a Christ We Have Not Seen

1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

This describes every Christian today:

• We have not seen Jesus.
• But we love Him.
• We believe Him.
• And we rejoice with a joy that words cannot contain.

Faith sees what eyes cannot. “With joy unspeakable and full of glory!” We sing that hymn sometimes. “I have found the joy no tongue can tell. How its waves of glory roll! It is like a great overflowing well. Springing up within my soul. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of glory, full of glory. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory; O the half has never yet been told.”

Hey, listen please, you have no idea the level of joy and glory that you will see one day. Stick with us here, and I am telling you that you will be so happy you did.

Verse 9 — The End of Faith: Salvation of Your Souls

1 Peter 1:9
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

This does not mean salvation is future — salvation is present. But the full experience of salvation is revealed in glory. You are saved only because you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. But you are saved throughout each day by faith. And you will be saved FINALLY, in the future, once and for all. You will take that last breath one day. You will see the light. You will be there when Jesus returns in the clouds. You will be there with the majesty on high, God the Father, comes to dwell with us in the new earth.

Faith begins in Christ and ends in heaven. That’s a great beginning of faith, and a great ending. “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” No hell for us. Heaven for us. Why? Jesus. We praise Him today. We thank Him today.

Verses 10–12 — Even Prophets and Angels Wanted What You Have

1 Peter 1:10-12
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

The prophets: searched, studied, prayed, longed to understand, and wanted to see Christ’s sufferings and glory. But God told them: “This is not for your time. It is for the people who will come after — for us.”

Even angels desire to look into the gospel, because redemption is something they will never experience. God loves you so much. You live in the greatest age of revelation — the age where Christ has come, died, risen, ascended, and revealed the fullness of salvation. Others did get that. But you have that.

Application — What 1 Peter 1:1–12 Teaches Us Today

1. You may be a stranger on earth, but you are chosen by God. Your identity is heavenly, not earthly.
2. Your hope is alive because Christ is alive. You have living hope. Jesus is alive forevermore.
3. Your inheritance is untouchable. No sin, trial, demon, or failure can cancel God’s promise.
4. You are kept by God’s power, not your performance. Salvation is secure because God secures it.
5. Trials refine faith, not ruin it. Fire purifies gold — and believers.
6. You love a Christ you have not seen, and He loves you perfectly.
7. You understand mysteries the prophets only dreamed about. The gospel you have is greater than anything they saw.

Conclusion — Kept, Guarded, Secure Forever

Peter reminds these suffering believers: you are chosen, you are saved, you are secured, you are loved, you are kept, you are destined for glory.

Your trials are temporary. Your inheritance is eternal. Your salvation is secure. Your hope is alive.

You are kept by the power of God — forever kept, forever loved, forever His.

Let’s pray.