Give Praise to God

1. For what He, in His abundant mercy, has donea.Mercy: “kindness or goodwill towards the miserable and afflicted…joined with a desire to relieve them”

b. He has begotten us• “to give birth to; to bring forth”

• The spiritual birth when baptized (Jn 3:5)

c. To a living hope

d. To an inheritance…

2. A powerful assurance of what is ours!

You who are Kept by the Power of God

1. Kepta.A military term that means to be under

the guard and protection of

b. Various translations: “guarded by, protected by”

a.The power of God

b. Within the guard of God’s fortress

2. What are we under the guard and protection of?

3. Again, God is to be praised

The Sobering Reality of the Passage

1.“You who are kept by the power of God…

a. That for which we are responsible

b. What we contribute to what will become of us

a.Not just the initial faith that moves one to obey

b.But also the increase and strengthening of our faith

2. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (R 10:17)

3. All failures my be attributed directly to a lack of faith

…through faith”

What Scripture makes clear:

1.It is not one’s circumstances that determine success, but their faith a.We are not told that God will protect us

from trials

b.He will protect us in the face of trials if our faith holds true

2. “He who hears these sayings of mine and does them/does not do them” (Matt 7:24-27)

3. Do we rightfully conclude that it was a lack of faith?

What Scripture makes clear:

1.We are responsible for the level of faith we will possess a.We will be held accountable for hearing

and applying God’s word

b.Believing, forming convictions, and acting on those convictions in all circumstances

2. And such a faith will demonstrate itselfa.You live what you believe

b.And you will be held accountable for how you have lived

“With Joy you will Draw From the Wells of Salvation”

(Isa 12:3)1.God provides – are we drawing? a.What He supplies through prayer, study,

assembling to worship, etc.

b.What will become of that one who fails in these and other areas?

c. Understand that such a failure is a choice

2. And when someone weakens or falls awaya.Look no further than their faith

b. Did not believe or live out what God said

“You who are Kept by God through Faith for Salvation”

a.We are kept, guarded and protected by the grace of God

b. Accomplished through faith (our faith)

c. Resulting in salvation

2. God will do His part, are we doing ours?

1.Following the principle: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8)