Charity Shall Cover the Multitude of Sins”

“Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:8). And we do all have a multitude of sins. James said, “In many things we offend all” (James 3:2). If I love you, I realize you are like me, a person with a multitude of sins. I do not excuse my sin, or yours. But if I love you I will cover your sins, just like I do not want mine to be exposed. “Love covereth all sins” (Proverbs 10:12), and “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love” (Proverbs 17:9). I am so thankful for His love that has covered my sins with the precious blood of His Son. Oh, that I might be the one who covers, who remains silent, who does not seek to expose my brother’s sin. To do so is contrary to love, for “Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

Pastor Todd Nibert

A Faithful Witness

Some of you may carry a feeling of guilt because you have not put more pressure on your neighbors, friends, and family to attend church, believe the gospel of God’s grace, and receive Christ. I would not, for a second, excuse indifference nor justify those who are ashamed of the gospel, for the true believer has no greater joy than the joy of glorifying God and telling a sinner the good news of God’s mercy in Christ.

But, in our day, it is most difficult to FIND A SINNER! Almost everyone I know wants to discuss or argue religion, find answers to foolish questions, or tell us how good they are and how certain it is that they shall be in heaven. I refuse to carry the blame for their condemnation; it rests upon them. They have a BIBLE they refuse to read, they have a CONSCEINCE they refuse to heed, they have FAITHFUL PREACHERS they refuse to hear, and they have a GOD they refuse to worship and glorify! Their condemnation is just (Psalm 51:4).

I stand ready and eager to preach the gospel to all who will hear, to give a taped sermon to all who will listen, to share my experience with all who are interested, and to witness about Christ, the bread and water of life, to all who are hungry and thirsty. But I also stand ready to praise and glorify the righteous justice of God in the condemnation of rebels and self-righteous men.

Natural men, “will not be persuaded, though one rose from the dead;” however, they will be persuaded if God, by His Spirit and Word, RAISES THEM FROM THE DEAD! So preach the Word and leave the pressure and persuasion to Him who said, “It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit” (Zech. 4:6).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1988)

I Think Myself Happy

“I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews” (Acts 26:2).

When the apostle Paul stood before king Agrippa he had been in prison for two years (Acts 24:27). The Lord now opens the door for Paul to declare the gospel unto both Festus the governor and Agrippa the king and he does so by first declaring that he was a happy man. Paul was saying that he was abundantly blessed of God. That is the reason even though in bondage he was rejoicing in the Lord. He writes to the Philippians from prison in Rome and says, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

That is the exact case of every believer. Even though we live in this body of sin and in the bondage of death and are plagued by many trials, heartaches and much grief, we should always consider our case to be the same as Paul; “I think myself happy.” Believers are abundantly blessed in Christ above all people of the earth and have every reason to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ and be of good cheer (John 16:33; Eph. 1:3-7).

Consider what David says in the Psalms about those who are blessed of God:

Psalm 32:1-2, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

Psalm 34:8, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Psalm 65:4, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee.”