The security of the believer is completely based on the fact that “salvation of the righteous is of the Lord” (Psa 37:39 KJV) But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. Also that God Himself is our ‘keep’ (1 Pet 1:5 KJV) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The word ‘keep’ has its origins in the design of the English and French castles. The ‘keep’ was the strongest fortification of the compound, and the final place of resort in case of siege or attack.
There are a number of words in the Greek N. T. translated ‘keep’ but the one used to convey the idea of the keeping power of God the Father and Christ, exercised over His people is ‘tereo’. The meaning of to ‘keep’ is to watch over, to guard, to garrison, to preserve, to protect, to tend, to take care of. This keeping power of God over believers is used in John 17:11,12,15; 1 Thess 5:23; 1 John 5:18; and Jude:1.
Keeping Power of God Over Believers
In John 17:11, Jesus ask the Father to keep the disciples when He comes to Him. (John 17:11 KJV) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. In John 17:12 Jesus declares that He kept the disciples while He was with them. (John 17:12 KJV) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. In John 17:15 Jesus prays to the Father to keep the disciples from the evil one. (John 17:15 KJV) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Now, in this same chapter Jesus uses this same Greek word ‘tereo’ to declare that the disciples have kept God’s word (that is to observe or to take heed to God’s word). (John 17:6 KJV) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
Now, how did the disciples keep God’s word? Was it by their own power or was it by the keeping power of God?
In 1 Thess 5:23, Paul ask that God will sanctify the Thessalonians wholly. (1 Th 5:23 KJV) 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. That is their spirit, soul, and body be preserved (that is kept) sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in 1 Thess 5:24,Paul assures them that He who calls them is faithful and that He will do it. (1 Th 5:24 KJV) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Now, how are the Thessalonians going to be preserved for the coming of the Lord? Will it be by their own faithful power or will it be by God who is the only one that is truly forever and immutably faithful?
In 1 John 5:18, John tells us that no one born of God goes on sinning (that is continually and without ceasing), but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and the Evil One does not touch him. (1 John 5:18 KJV) We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
In this verse it seems that the believer is keeping himself but a closer look at the Greek reveals something else. It is the Begotten One, that is Jesus Christ, who is keeping the believer. Again who is it that keeps a close watch on those born of God? Is it our own great free will that we keep watch over ourselves or is it by the only one that truly has free will to do as he will in the army of heaven, and the inhabitants of earth and no one can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou? Daniel 4:35.
In Jude :1, Jude declares that we are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved by Jesus Christ ,and called. (Jude 1:1 KJV) Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
How are the called preserved (that is kept)? What does Jude say ? Is it not but by Jesus Christ Himself that we are preserved?
Keeping Power of God Over Believers Inheritance
This Greek word ‘tereo’ is also used to show the keeping power of God over the things He has in store for us in heaven. In 1 Peter 1:4 and 5, Peter tells us that we have an inheritance in heaven which is imperishable, undefiled and unfading and that God has reserved (that is keep) it for us. Also it is God’s power that is not only guarding this inheritance but also keeping us so that we may inherit this inheritance. (1 Pet 1:4 KJV) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Pet 1:5 KJV) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
If I were keeping this inheritance for you, would you feel secure in your inheritance? Before you answer, I must confess to you:
first I don’t have the same power as God and almost anyone could overcome me and steal what is yours.
second I get tired and sometimes I must sleep. What if somebody came to steal while I was sleeping?
third You know that you could offend me sometime and would I then even care if what was yours was stolen?
Now, if God does the keeping, what do we have? We have a God that is all powerful, that never sleeps, and even though we offended Him, He commendeth His love toward us in that Christ died for us, Rom 5:8. This God is our keep, our guard, our garrison, our security.
Keeping Power of God Over Nonbelievers
This Greek word ‘tereo’ is also used to show the keeping power of God over the nonbelievers. In 2 Peter 2:9, Peter says that our God not only delivers the godly out of temptations but also reserves (that is keeps) the unrighteous unto the day of judgment to be punished. (2 Pet 2:9 KJV) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Now we find that there is another group of people that God will keep in a way that will not allow them to be mixed up with us. There is no way they can swim across and contaminate the chosen because this all powerful, all knowing, never sleeping God is keeping ‘guarding’ them against that possibility.
In 2 Peter 2:17, Peter stresses again that these unrighteous have a place reserved (that is keep) for them. (2 Pet 2:17 KJV) These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. This place for the unrighteous is kept by God Himself and no one , not even the devil, will be able to get out and cross over to tempt us.
In 2 Peter 3:7, Peter tells us that by God’s word, the heavens and earth are kept and reserved for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (2 Pet 3:7 KJV) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Yes Christians, you can go to sleep tonight and not have to worry about the earth being destroyed by an atomic bomb, or a meteorite strike, or a great volcanic eruption. Because our all powerful God is keeping this world and the heavens for the day of judgment and the destruction of ungodly men.
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