How does love cover a multitude of someone’s sins?

by David Leach
(Temecula, Ca USA)

How does love cover a multitude of someone’s sins?

1. Love does not expose someone’s sins to other people, but instead overlooks them.

1 Pe 4:8 Have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Pro 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.

Pro 17:9 He who covers a transgression preserves love, But he who repeats a matter separates close friends. (To cover is to not talk about another’s sin)

Pro 19:11 ...His glory is to overlook a transgression.

2. Love forgives the sins of others knowing that as we do God also forgives them:

Since in the verse prior to this one Jesus said “receive the Holy Spirit” the Amplified notes that our forgiveness of others should be as led by the Holy Spirit, as in everything else:

Jo 20:23 Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him, if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained. (so, who we forgive, God forgives) AMP

The Apostle Paul said when he forgives he does so in the presence and person of Christ.

2 Cor 2:10 (Apostle Paul) For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of (KJV) in the person of Christ.

3. Love doesn’t keep a record of others’ sins, but forgets them, just like God forgets ours:

1 Cor 13:5 Love does not keep a record of wrongs (nor keeps bringing them up); TEV

Heb 10:17 (God) Their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.

4. Love prays for the person who sinned, for God to restore His life to them:

1 Jo 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death (a renouncing of faith in Christ), he will ask (pray) and He (God) will give him life (re-lifed with God’s life) for those who commit sin not leading to death...

5. Love turns a person back from their sins and so covers a multitude of sins – like Jesus:

Acts 3:26 And as soon as God had brought His servant (Jesus) to life again He sent Him…to bless you by turning you back from your sins. TLB

James 5:19 Brethren, if anyone among you (a Christian) wanders from the truth and someone turns him back (from sin, by restoring him to God’s truth).

James 5:20 Let him know that he who turns a sinner (referring to a Christian)from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. How do we get love that covers a multitude of sins?)

Eph 3:16-17 (I pray) That He (The Father) would grant you...to be strengthened with might (His word) by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love....