Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 18:1 (Spring 2014)
Article: Sermon: “Don’t Be Surprised When You Suffer For Christ, But Rejoice!” (1 Peter 4:12-19)
Author: Jarvis J. Williams

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SBTJ 18:1 (Spring 2014) p. 145

Sermon: “Don’t Be Surprised When You Suffer For Christ, But Rejoice!” (1 Peter 4:12-19)1

Jarvis J. Williams

Jarvis J. Williams is the associate professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from where he earned his Ph.D. in New Testament. Dr. Williams is the author of Maccabean Martyr Traditions in Paul’s Theology of Atonement (Wipf & Stock, 2010), One New Man: The Cross and Racial Reconciliation in Pauline Theology (B&H Academic, 2010), For Whom Did Christ Die: The Extent of the Atonement in Paul’s Theology (Paternoster, 2012), and has published articles in the Princeton Theological Review and in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. Dr. Williams also preaches often in churches and conferences throughout the country. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Institute for Biblical Research, the Evangelical Theological Society, and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Introduction

I want to highlight four truths from this text. First, don’t be surprised when you suffer for your faith in Jesus Christ (v. 12). Second, rejoice, and glorify God when you suffer for your faith in Jesus Christ (vv. 13-14). Third, don’t be ashamed to suffer for your faith in Jesus Christ (vv. 15-18). Fourth, trust God when you suffer for your faith in Jesus Christ (v. 19). In order to understand vv. 12-19, I will first discuss two introductory points about the context of our text.

1. Context Of 1 Peter 4:12-19.

First, in my view, Peter wrote this letter to exhort Christians who suffered for

SBTJ 18:1 (Spring 2014) p. 146

their faith in Jesus Christ to be holy and to hope in God as they suffered for their faith in Christ. For example, in 1:6-7, Peter states that these Christians should rejoice although they suffer “various trials” so that their faith would be tested (i.e., refined) and proven to be real at the revelation of Jesus Christ. In 1:13, he exhorts them to hope in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, grace that will be offered to them when Jesus returns (see also 1:13-16). In 2:18-25, he exhorts Christian slaves to endure their suffering at the hands of both unjust masters and just masters in a...

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