2. The Wrong Attitude toward Sin in Others Sometimes we are hypocrites Sometimes we are faultfinders Sometimes we are self-righteous and deluded Sometimes we want more mercy than we are willing to give Sometimes we only think of justice – not mercy Sometimes we think we are too righteous to associate with sinners Sometimes we are too busy with church work to leave the 99 and seek the lost Sometimes (if our brother sins) – we run and tell the preacher and everyone else

3. An important principle that is often forgotten when dealing with sin Love covers a multitude of sins This thought is found twice in both the Old and New Testaments Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 10:12; 1 Corinthians 13:7; 1 Peter 4:8

4. He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. (Proverbs 17:9 NASB) He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. (Proverbs 17:9 NIV) 1

5. To cover means to hide from the sight of others To repeat means to say again This separates close friends He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. (Proverbs 17:9 NIV)

6. It is especially bad when friends REPEAT a matter If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. (Psalms 55:12- 14 NIV)

7. The Tongue, more than anything, separates friends My Gossip and Repeating things can not only make me lose friends – but it can separate people who have been friends all their life A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28 NIV)

8. The tongue, can wound just like a sword or arrows They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. (Psalms 64:3 NIV) Matthew 5:21-22

9. The tongue, is like a fire in its power and destuction So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. (James 3:5-6)

10. Those who listen to gossip are not innocent The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. (Proverbs 18:8 NIV) Listening to gossip is like wanting our favorite food – it is a craving we can’t seem to resist

11. Here is the solution Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. (Proverbs 26:20 NIV) The most important thing to do, to cover a multitude of sins is to……

12. Once you have spread the gossip … renewing your friendship is very difficult A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Proverbs 18:19 NASB)

13. Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. (Proverbs 10:12 NASB) Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12 NIV) 2

14. All are sinners … if we love a sinner we will not try to … Embarrass them Humiliate them Discredit them Or Avenge them A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 NIV) Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10)

15. Love bears (Stego) all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7 NASB) 3

16. Greek word “stego” 4722. stegw stego, steg'-o from 4721; to roof over, i.e. (figuratively) to cover with silence (endure patiently):--(for- bear, suffer. God is saying put a roof of protection over your brother. Protect him with silence, don’t gossip about him or do him any harm with your lips. Bear long with patience in regard to his shortcomings and sins.

17. Covering sins is a part of love Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NASB) Be as protective of your brothers and sisters in Christ as you would be of your own mate or children

18. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 NASB) Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 NIV) 4

19. Covering sins is necessary if … We are going to have love & peace continue in a congregation If husbands and wives are going to stay together and children have a warm atmosphere to grow in the home We are going to be like Jesus My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12 NIV) Jesus went to the cross to cover our sins with his blood

20. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV)

21. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV)

22. Sins not to cover … Don’t try to cover your own sins from God 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. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalms 32:1-5 NIV) He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13 NIV)

23. Sins not to cover … Don’t try to cover your own sins from God Don’t try to cover your sins from man Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5:1-4 NIV)

24. Sins not to cover … Don’t try to cover your own sins from God Don’t try to cover your sins from man Don’t cover the sins of others that threaten to tempt others or are a danger to others - expose them Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'“ … … He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:6-9; 13-14 NIV)

25. Sins not to cover … Don’t try to cover your own sins from God Don’t try to cover your sins from man Don’t cover the sins of others that threaten to tempt others or are a danger to others - expose them When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. (Galatians 2:11-13 NIV)

26. Sins not to cover … Don’t try to cover your own sins from God Don’t try to cover your sins from man Don’t cover the sins of others that threaten to tempt others or are a danger to others - expose them It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. (1 Corinthians 5:1-3 NIV) Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump, clean out the old leaven that you may be a new lump (1 Cor 5:6-7)

27. Sins not to cover … Don’t try to cover your own sins from God Don’t try to cover your sins from man Don’t cover the sins of others that threaten to tempt others or are a danger to others - expose them Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning. (1 Timothy 5:19-20 NASB)

28. Sins not to cover … Don’t try to cover your own sins from God Don’t try to cover your sins from man Don’t cover the sins of others that threaten to tempt others or are a danger to others - expose them Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. (Romans 16:17 NASB)

29. Two Verses to help Review And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. (Jude 1:22-23 NASB) My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20 NASB)

31. 1. How sweet, how heavenly, is the sight, When those that love the Lord In one another's peace delight, And so fulfill the word. 1 – How Sweet, How Heavenly – Red 709 Words by: J. Swain Music by: William B. Bradbury © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

32. 1 – How Sweet, How Heavenly © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

33. 2. When each can feel his brother's sigh, And with him bear a part; When sorrow flows from eye to eye, And joy from heart to heart. 2 – How Sweet, How Heavenly Words by: J. Swain Music by: William B. Bradbury © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

34. 2 – How Sweet, How Heavenly © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

35. 3. When, free from envy, scorn, and pride, Our wishes all above, Each can his brother's failings hide, And show a brother's love. 3 – How Sweet, How Heavenly Words by: J. Swain Music by: William B. Bradbury © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

36. 3 – How Sweet, How Heavenly © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

37. 4. When love in one delightful stream Thru every bosom flows; When union sweet and dear esteem In every action glows. 4 – How Sweet, How Heavenly Words by: J. Swain Music by: William B. Bradbury © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

38. 4 – How Sweet, How Heavenly © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

39. 5. Love is the golden chain that binds The happy souls above; And he's an heir of heaven who finds His bosom glow with love. 5 – How Sweet, How Heavenly Words by: J. Swain Music by: William B. Bradbury © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

40. 5 – How Sweet, How Heavenly © 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™