Sermon Tone Analysis

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Suffering (fiery trial) - 4 times

Glory - 3 times

I. Recognize the Certainty of Christian Suffering

A. Those to whom suffering is expected.

Peter here returns to the central them of his Spirit inspired letter to the elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Except in this letter he calls them something different.

He calls the elect exiles and sojourners, Beloved.

Who do we think of when the writers of the NT use this term?

What does this word mean to those who are recipients of a message and called Beloved?

John MacArthur writes, Beloved is a common pastoral word conveying tenderness, compassion, affection, and care.

Consider that for a moment, as Peter writes this letter to the young NT church scattered across the region he wants them to know what he is about to teach them is not from a hard heart, a lack of compassion, but his exhortation comes with a sympathetic, tender heart, filled with brotherly love for these believers.

He wants them to know that he cares for them, loves them, and desires to see them living faithful, joy filled lives even in them midst of suffering for the glory of God.

B. The way in which this suffering will come.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you.

We have already unpacked the imagery of fire as means of the purification of gold and precious metals in Chapter 1.

Peter uses this imagery in

Peter says do not be surprised when these things happen.

Don’t be caught off guard when testing comes.

Remember we have a suffering Savior.

He didn’t just come in the flesh and live as Sovereign King on earth.

He came as carpenter whose mother and father couldn’t even find a room to birth him in.

He spent his first years on the run.

He spent the three years of his public ministry fighting with the pharisees and scribes who wanted to kill Him.

He finally spent the last hours of His life being tortured and ultimately crucified.

Peter also reminds us that He suffered as our example so that we might follow in His steps!

Hence Peter’s exhortation, do not be surprised....

Here I also want us to notice the intensity and severity which Peter is warning the Beloved of.

There is a sense in which the coming trials are going to be a hot, burning, painful persecution of these believers and believers for years to come.

Let me give you and illustration of this from the time of the reformation.

We spent time at the site where these men I am about to read to you about were martyred last week.

On October 16th, as they waited for the fire to be set, they prepared themselves for prayer.

Ridley’s brother in law interrupted their praying to give each of them a bag of gun powder to tie around their neck.

This, he told them, would shorten their sufferings.

They took the bags gladly, as a sign of God’s mercy.

The executioner stepped forward to light the fire.

This time it was Latimer’s turn to embolden Ridley.

He said, in words that have become mortal, “Be of comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man.

we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”

The fire was lit.

The kindling caught quickly engulfing the stake in black smoke.

Bishop Latimer , old and frail, was overcome with smoke inhalation and died instantly.

Ridley, however, was not so fortunate.

Latimer had died quickly.

Ridley however, suffered terribly in the last minutes.

The wood and hay on his side had been packed too tightly, and with not enough air getting into it only the lower half caught fire, causing his letgs to burn off; his upper body was untouched.

He screamed in agony.

“For God’s sake let the fire come to me!

I cannot burn!

Lord have mercy on me!” Finally, someone loosened the logs, letting the fire breathe; the flame shot high into the air.

The fire quickly reached the bag of gunpowder, mercifully ending Ridley’s life.

Belcher, Richard; In Search of Deep Faith.

Intervarsity Press; Downer’s Grove IL. 2013 Pg. 26, 29.

Do you see the reality of these fiery trials that came upon men of God in the 1500’s?

The Intensity of the suffering of these men who stood for the truth of God who refused to recant of their belief’s in the Scriptures and justification by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone?

These types of fiery trials and martyrdom are still happening today.

How about us are we willing to stand on the truth of the Word of God to the point of death if necessary?

C. The Purpose of Trials

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

These trials come upon the Beloved for their testing.

The faith of the believer is tested through these fiery trials, through suffering, and affliction.

These trials test us so that we might see Christ is enough.

These trials cause us to look to Christ, to lean on Christ and His power, and to ultimately be willing to say “even if this suffering is unto death I know there is a greater life coming.”

Tom Schreiner explains, “This notion is standard in the New Testament paraenesis, for God uses the trials of life to strengthen the character of believers and to make them fit for his presence.”

Every time a Christian is sustained through suffering by the Holy Spirit he or she recognizes God promises are true.

Each circumstance in suffering increases the believers faith, causes them to look more like Christ, and emboldens them to prepare for the next test.

You may be able to remember when you first took a stand for Christ, you were nervous, unsure on how folks would respond, but then you made it through the situation, God gave you the strength and then the next time became easier.

Again think about Peter,

He denied Christ at Calvary.

He was restored, filled with the Holy Spirit and preached at Pentecost.

He would go on in the book of Acts to rejoice with John after they had been beaten.

Ultimately would be crucified upside down because of his stand for Christ.

See the progression?

See the sanctification?

Notice what Peter calls Christians to following his call to recognize the reality of suffering.

Secondly he calls Christians to,

II.

Rejoice as You Share in Christ Sufferings

Twice in this verse Peter calls the Beloved to rejoice in suffering as they are sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

Notice the way the NASB reads,

13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ Keep on rejoicing!

When the persecution and pain comes keep on rejoicing.

When the testing and trials come keep on rejoicing.

When we are sharing in Christ suffering keep on rejoicing!

Let me give you some Scriptural examples.

Do you see how the apostles responded to sharing in Christ’s suffering?

They were not saying “oh woe is me I have it so bad”.

Instead they rejoiced, sang, prayed, and praised God in light of their afflictions.

They thought it was a privilege to suffer for Christ.

They understood they were not even worthy to share in the suffering with Christ and understood that these sufferings would result in being glorified with Christ?

Pastor David wrote in his study guide, “Rejoicing and shock stand at opposite ends, and a deep awareness of our union with Christ—and all that it entails—preserves the Christian from surprise that metastasizes into disenchantment and disillusionment.

To expect suffering, it should be emphasized, is not to welcome it in some blindly fatalistic way; it is however, to be realistic about our union with Christ.”

Think about what Jame wrote,

How will you and I respond to affliction?

Will you and I sing hymns of praise when persecution comes?