James Covering Sin

 

James

Covering Sin

 

James concludes with the issue of covering sin

Have you ever thought about the issues of covering sin?

Do you know the difference between proper covers that bring forgiveness

And mercy, and improper coverings that keep us from prospering?

God saw the need for Adam and Eve’s sin to be covered

Both had different ways of covering sin

The Psalmist says

 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalms 32:1

But Proverbs says

He who conceals his sins does not prosper Proverbs 28:13

Do you know the proper way to cover your sins and the sins of others?

If we don’t know the difference

We will not be able to do what James tells us to remember

“Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”James5:20

 

 

Covering Sin
 

James concludes with

the issue of covering sin.

 

Have you ever thought about

the issues of covering sin?

 

Do you know the difference between proper

covers that bring forgiveness and mercy…

 

And improper coverings

that keep us from prospering?

 

In the first 4 chapters of Genesis,

 we find the first uses of covering.

 

When Adam and Eve disobeyed

God, they saw a change.

 

Something was very different

with this one act of sin…

 

Then the eyes of both of them were opened,

and they realized they were naked;

so they sewed fig leaves together and

made coverings for themselves.

Genesis 3:7

 

We should not quickly look over Adam

and Eve’s response to their sin.

 

Before their sin, they were

both naked and felt no shame.

Genesis 3:25

 

But when they acted in disobedience…

 

Then the eyes of both of them were opened,

and they realized they were naked;

so they sewed fig leaves together and

made coverings for themselves.

Genesis 3:7

 

God called to them and they responded…

 

"Where are you?"

He answered, "I heard you in the garden,

 and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

 

And he said,

"Who told you that you were naked?

Have you eaten from the tree that

I commanded you not to eat from?"

Genesis 3:9-11

 

In the next verses, we see Adam and Eve

covering their sin again.

 

 This time blaming others, not taking

responsibility for their actions.

  

God then tells them of the consequences.

 

 Then God covered their nakedness…

 

The LORD God made garments of skin

for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21

 

These two passages show us

the two ways to cover sin.

 

Blessed is he

whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man

whose sin the LORD does not count against him

and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Psalms 32:1-2

 

There is a way to have our sins covered

where God does not count our sins against us.

 

There is also a way in which we cover our sin.

 

He who conceals his sins does not prosper,

but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Proverbs 28:13

 

James closes the Book with the need to…

 

 “Cover over a multitude of sins”

 

How do we find forgiveness

so our sins are covered?

 

In what ways do we conceal our sin?

 

Adam and Eve saw the need

to cover their sin.

 

God saw the need for Adam

and Eve’s sin to be covered.

 

Both had different ways of covering.

 

The Psalmist says…

 

 Blessed is he whose transgressions

are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Psalms 32:1

 

But Proverbs says…

 

He who conceals his sins does not prosper.

Proverbs 28:13

 

Do you know the proper way to cover

your sins and the sins of others?

 

If we don’t know the difference,

 we will not be able to…

 

“Turn a sinner from the error of his way will save

him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

James5:20

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 5:19-20 NIV

 

19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.