Why not justify yourself when you’re falsely accused?

Last week we heard Peter tell us that all Christians have the vocation to suffer unfairly in this life.

But here, in the verses immediately before, he’s more specific. He tells us we will face false accusations.

Why that? Why so specific?

Because of what he’s just said about who we are in vv. 9-10:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

We are citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Forgiven people. Justified people.

So what happens when citizens of the kingdom of heaven, pass through the kingdom of the world?

Peter says we face pressures that attack our identity as justified people and tempt us to justify ourselves instead.

And especially when you are treated as if you’re wrong—when you’re falsely accused—everything inside you wants to prove that you’re right.

That’s the moment Peter is talking about. And here’s how he says it:

1) In the kingdom of the world, there’s constant pressure to justify yourself (v. 11)
2) But living as already justified in the kingdom of heaven is God’s advert (vv. 12-18)
3) Because God sees this and counts it right (vv. 19-20)

So, first: In the kingdom of the world, there’s constant pressure to justify yourself.

Everything Peter’s about to say is captured by v. 11:

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Our external situation is a clash of kingdoms: we are sojourners and exiles.

This world is not our home, because it wants people to prove themselves, but you don’t need to.

And our internal life in this world is a clash of wills, he warns: abstain from the passions of the flesh.

Something inside us constantly wants to prove ourselves because it still refuses to believe we’re forgiven.

Both of these things, Peter says, the world outside and flesh within,wage war against your soul. they are always fighting the verdict that I’m already forgiven.

The previous verse, v. 10, defined who you are externally:

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people;

and internally:

once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy

That’s who you are.

But the world around you, and something inside you, is always pushing back.

“You’re not really defined by forgiveness.”
“You haven’t really received mercy.” They say.
—>“You still need to prove yourself.” They argue.

In the kingdom of the world, there’s constant pressure to justify yourself

But—Peter’s second point—living as already justified in the kingdom of heaven is God’s advert.

The key idea is in v. 12, just look there with me:

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Here’s the warning that sits inside everything else Peter says:

when they speak against you as evildoers

Not         if they speak against you…
But         when they speak against you…

You can expect to be accused of things—you should expect this. Because that’s what Peter says this world is: A world that operates in accusations and conditional approval.—things that pressure you into feeling that you must justify yourself.

And as that happens he says: keep your conduct honourable so that when this happens—as it inevitably will—it will be something useful, that God can use for good.

You will become his advert for what a forgiven person looks like.

Here’s what that means: People will speak against you as evildoers. But you don’t respond in detail, giving a point by point defence. You don’t need to—because you’ve received mercy.

You don’t retaliate or try to discredit the people who accuse you. You don’t need to—because you’re already forgiven.

A person who is already justified doesn’t need to argue.
They just quietly pray for their enemies—knowing God’s on it.
They just patiently show love—knowing God’s already loved them.
They just quietly get on with their own vocations in life faithfully, patiently—knowing God will handle this well.

This isn’t a technique, a strategy, or a subtle way to win. This is just what your life starts to look like the more and more you realise you don’t need to prove yourself.

And Peter doesn’t say there’ll be an immediate change, or there’ll be a sudden turn of the tables, or that there’ll be some grand moment when you win in court.

No, he says:

they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation

The day of visitation is an Old Testament idea. It’s not necessarily the final day of judgment.

Rather, it’s what happens after a slow, patient, period of waiting when God, in his perfect timing, visits to take action and make sense of what people saw in you.

Exodus 4:31, after years of patient suffering and prayer, we’re told:

And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

1 Samuel 2:21, after years of suffering, tears and patience in prayer:

Indeed the LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD.

You and I will face false accusations.

And the response, Peter says, is simply live as those who have already received mercy!

You are already released from the need to prove anything—you have no need to be impatient.

You are already free from the need to justify yourself—nothing essential can be taken away by this.

And by living as one already justified in the kingdom of heaven—you become God’s advert.

Not immediately. Not on a timeline that feels comfortable. But in the perfect timeframe—on the day of visitation.

Look at how Peter now illustrates for that for us, vv. 13-17:

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Be a good citizen, Peter says, because government is given to reward the good.

And do you see the encouragement tucked into v. 15?

Institutions can only twist out of shape so far. Eventually your good deeds will silence your accusers.

And Peter calls them ignorant, because their accusations are inconsistent with the truth.

You don’t need to fight back.

You don’t need to shut them up.

He gives another example from our employment, v. 18:

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

In the last few weeks, I have spoken to you and others outside our congregation, about life in the workplace.

One person has faced false accusations from a colleague crossing their boundaries.

Another faced challenges to their work because of false accusations in their home life.

Yet someone else was confronted with false accusations of a semi-public nature.

The difference between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of this world is seen by how people use power.

And in the world of work—whether an office, an online meeting, people in unconnected branches to you, or in a club, a bar, a halls of residence, or a garden… …whatever your workplace and work community looks like—some people have power over others.

And the nature of this world is that people will use power badly: to coerce, threaten, cajole, accuse, manipulate, harass.

Peter tells us, in those circumstances, to act with respect, and be subject to proper authority where it does exist.

That doesn’t mean being simply accepting people’s false claims to authority.

You don’t need to submit to that colleague who crosses boundaries and claims power they don’t have.

But you also don’t need to attack, take them down, or discredit.

Simply live as one already justified in the kingdom of heaven—because by doing so you become God’s advert.

So, finally, why do this?

Because—three—God sees it and counts it right

That’s vv. 19-20, please look at those verses with me:

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Remember in v. 11, Peter said it’s not just the world around us that wars against our soul, but also

the passions of the flesh.

Internally, all of us want to justify ourselves.

But, says Peter,

this is grace, (the original Greek is more assertive than “a gracious thing”) this is grace: when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly

Peter directs our attention:

When you’re accused—don’t look at the accuser.
When you’re accused—don’t look at how unfair it is.
When you’re accused—don’t look at yourself.
When you’re accused—look at God, and his attitude to you.

Be mindful of him—the one from whom you have received mercy.

Because this is a credit to you. That’s not a great translation. The word really means “honour, report” or “fame”.

Peter’s saying: when you face false accusations with faith, (being mindful of God), he is mindful of you:

He sees it. He sees you. And he says in that moment: “That’s right.” It is grace before him. It is him displaying Christ in you.

Not to earn favour before him… not to prove anything to him… not even to prove anything to yourself… …but because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous positively, graciously, kindly.

And one day he will direct the eyes of world to see what he has created in you.

Partially, patiently and slowly in this life, on the day of visitation.

Fully, forcefully and finally in the next life, on the day of judgment.

So, Why not justify yourself when you’re falsely accused?

Hear this: In the moment that accusation comes to you: you don’t need to win—because before God, it’s already settled.

1) In the kingdom of the world, there’s constant pressure to justify yourself

We will especially experience that in false accusations.

2) But living as already justified in the kingdom of heaven is God’s advert

You have already received mercy
—you have no need to prove yourself right
—you have no need to prove others wrong.

3) God sees this and counts it right

So live, mindful of your Father in heaven. Think on him. Ponder him. Consider him. Because, no matter what people may say to you… …in Christ you are justified already.

Now go, and enjoy the freedom of living like it.