1 Peter makes a doctrinal statement that is pretty much ignored by many today. 1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

False teachings and beliefs are disguised in wonderful truths such as “The Doctrine of Grace,” as if certain churches have the corner of grace all to themselves. Calvinist like to teach the modified version of 1 Peter 1:5 as follows, Who are kept by the power of God unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. It is important for the Calvinist to understand that without faith in God, God’s keeping power is not present.

Romans 4:3-5, 16. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

Paul goes through great lengths here to make the readers understand that faith is not a work. Contrary to the favorite claim of Calvinist that faith is a work. Also to the destruction of the false doctrine that Grace is given to a person solely at Gods discretion. Many don’t care what this passage of scripture says, they have what they believe and that is good enough for them. But how many people sit under this false doctrine in our churches across this great country every Sunday and are taught that this is what grace is.

One of the greatest tragedies of our day is the wide spread ignorance of what faith is.
Faith without a doubt is the condition for salvation and the only condition for salvation.

John 20:31 but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.

Every instance of the word “believe,” is used in the present tense. Believing is not something a person does 20 years ago, believing is what a Christian does everyday.
As a Christian you actively believe in Christ every moment, and as a person, God has given all of us the ability to not only place our faith in Christ but to continue to keep our faith in Christ.

Col 1:19-23 For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fullness dwell; 20, and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. 21, And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled 22, in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: 23, if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.

Lets look at some wonderful truths in this passage.
V. 20, Christ has reconciled us to himself! Even though we were enemies.
V. 22, To present us holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him!
V. 23, If we continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, not moved away from the hope of the gospel!

The verb “Continue in” means literally to stay at or with (ἐπί). And is used elsewhere in scripture. But lets use the Calvinist method of interpreting scripture for a moment to look at some other verses.

Using Calvinistic methods lets say right up front that Col 1:23 does not mean you must continue in the faith to the extent that it is possible to turn from your faith and be lost.

So therefore we can conclude that, Philippians 1:24 yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake. Paul does not really believe that he can stop “Abiding in the flesh”.

Or that, Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Paul doesn’t really believe that we can stop “continuing in sin”.

Or that Paul thinks a Christian can be cut off as he states here, Rom 11:22 Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God’s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Surely Paul does not think that the Jews can stop continuing in unbelief as he states here, Rom 11:23 And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

A careful word search of these passages will show that the same word is used in the same way for each verse. Yet it becomes grossly ignorant of me to say that one has no choice but to “abide in the flesh”, when clearly we do not abide in the flesh forever. Likewise it is a violation of Gods word, to say we continue in the faith without choice when scripture clearly warns us we must continue.

No my friend the truth is that if an unbeliever will “continue not” in unbelief, he will be saved. Just as a Christian, if they will “not continue” in faith, they will have committed apostasy and are not recoverable.