Shame of Sin
While it may not be possible for us to ever fulling comprehend the wickedness of our sin, God’s word gives us clear revelation that it is a terrible thing. He demonstrates it to us somewhat by recording some of the punishments mete out even upon the people he had chosen to be his (in his mercy they were never as severed as they deserved, though they include some brutal suffering all the same).
Perhaps the most shocking example of judgement, however, is the one he took upon himself for the sins of the whole world. Though he alone had done nothing to deserve punishment, Christ suffered betrayal, mocking, abuse, torture, and death in one of the most agonizing ways ever devised because that was the punishment deserved by those whom he redeemed. This is after living a life humbled beyond the estate he deserved, taking the form of a servant though he was creator of all.
Given what our sins deserve, it is easy to see how we may desire to hide our sin. The moment sin entered the world, Adam and Eve covered themselves in shame. Immediately, sin came between God and man and man was embarrassed at the imperfection found within himself.
Since sewing leaves together to cover themselves, the children of Adam have tried just about everything to cover up the shame of our sins. We have lied about it, tried to convince others it was actually a good thing, sinned still more in an attempted to destroy the evidence of it, etc…
Ultimately, the only thing which sets us free from this shameful state we are born into is the freedom from sin offered in Christ. Because of his sacrifice, no condemnation remains for those who trust in him.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
However, even with the condemnation lifted, the sin we have is an unsightly thing we would rather not have on display.
Love Covers
Peter, in a letter to the church, wrote about how believers ought to be self-controlled and sober-minded in our prayers. While there is great value in such clear-headed prayers, sinful temptations abound to creep in and destroy that focus. Peter offers a remedy for the distractions of sin.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8
The word translated “covers” here is one that can mean to hide something. Not as if sin can be hidden from God so that justice requires no punishment or that we ought to pretend it doesn’t exist. Instead, the love believers have for one another covers over or hides the many sins which could otherwise distract from effectual prayer and fellowship.
We do not let them keep our attention and, therefore, keep our attention away from Christ. Instead, in love, we choose not to hold even a multitude of sins against our brothers. We can together seek Christ without distraction, offering forgiveness to those who wrong us.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:21-22
Correction Covers
The same phrase used for covering a multitude of sins is used by James in a letter to a church, as well.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
While forgiveness can keep the one who was wronged from becoming entangled by sin and kept from a right relationship with God and one another, repentance is needed to keep the one who does wrong from estrangement from Christ and the fellowship of believers.
The love we have for one another ought to lead us to forgive easily, but it also ought to lead us to seek the good of the offender by offering correction. To simply ignore the sin as if it were not sin would only be apathy.
Christ came to free sinners from their sins and not only the consequences. To act as if sin is a trivial thing is to minimize the powerful work that Christ did for his people! Instead, we should recognize that sin is sin, but that Christ has overcome it.
Christ Is Bigger
Sin is not small and in our lives it has abounded. Though we may try to downplay it, the sin nature into which we are all born shows itself in many and very ugly ways. Instead of trying to minimize that, we must realize that the love of Christ is bigger still.
No matter how serious or many our sins, forgiveness and repentance have the ability to completely cover them over so that they have no effect on our relationship with one another and with God. God offers that forgiveness freely to all of those who would set themselves upon following Christ, and we ought to as well. In doing so, we cover over a multitude of sins.
