1 Peter 1:5 5who, by the power of God, are being guarded through faith for salvation which is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Peter now describes those who participate in the hope about which he has been writing. The crucial qualification for “you” to inherit salvation is faith. Faith opens the door to experience the blessings that God has planned for us. God’s power is available, but to tap into it and experience it personally, one must believe.
God’s power serves as a shield for our salvation. Guarded (phrouroumenous) has the sense of protecting and keeping something safe. Faith in God keeps us safe and secure. The object of this faith is the resurrection of Jesus from verse 3. If we trust God, God will provide. This verse does not make our salvation dependent upon us, but we must be involved through the willful decision that comes with faith.
What protects us is God’s power. If our faith starts to weaken, we can become disconnected from the One who can protect us. Many things in this world can sap our spiritual and physical energy. God’s power is a shield around us, not because of our own ability to choose the right path, but because we have chosen the right source. Our protection and growth are not from our own power but God’s power. This verse is good news for those experiencing trials and challenging times, like the readers of this letter.
The motivation for our hope is the salvation that will be revealed when Jesus comes again. Without this hope, we are only like any other person of this world. But this living hope is based on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Our hope lives because he lives. God will complete his plan for the salvation of the world at the right time. We do not know when this time will come, but we know it is getting closer. The plan is ready and in place, and we can participate in it now through faith.