Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept, х frouroumenous (G5432)] - 'who are being guarded.' He answers the objection, Of what use is it that salvation is "reserved" for us in heaven, as in a secure haven, when we are tossed in the world as on a troubled sea, amidst a thousand wrecks? (Calvin). As the inheritance is "kept" (1 Peter 1:4) safely "in heaven," so must we be 'guarded' in the world to be sure of reaching it. This defines the "you," 1 Peter 1:4. The inheritance belongs only to those who "endure unto the end," 'guarded' "IN х en (G1722)] the power of God through faith." Contrast Luke 8:13. 'It is God's guarding power which saves us from our enemies. It is His long-suffering which saves us from ourselves' (Bengel). Jude; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 4:7, "keep" froureesei, "guard," as here. This guarding is effected by God's "power," the efficient cause; "through faith," on man's part, the effective means. The believer lives spiritually in God, in virtue of His power; and God lives in him. "In marks that the cause is inherent in God, working organically through them with living influence, so that the means exist also in the cause. The power of God which guards the believer is no force working upon him from without with mechanical necessity, but God's spiritual power in which he lives, and with whose spirit he is clothed (1 Chronicles 12:18; Haggai 1:13). It comes down on, then dwells in, him, even as he is in it (Steiger). None is being guarded by the power of God unto salvation, if not walking by faith. Neither speculative knowledge nor works of seeming charity avail, severed from faith: through faith salvation is both received and kept.
Unto salvation - the end of the new birth; not merely accomplished for us in title by Christ, and made over to us on believing, but manifested, and finally completed (Hebrews 9:28).
Ready to be revealed - when Christ shall be revealed. The preparations have been long going on: "all things are now ready:" salvation is accomplished and only waits the Lord's time to be manifested: He "is ready to judge" (1 Peter 4:5).
Last time - closing the day of grace: the day of judgment, redemption, restitution of all things, and perdition of the ungodly.