The Gospel in Real Life

I’ve been thinking about this lately, what it means, how it works and why it’s needed. What did Peter mean when he said that love covers a multitude of sins? Did he mean that if we love others like we’re supposed to, their sins would be forgiven?  No, it can’t mean that because the forgiveness of sins is something only God can grant through repentance and faith in embracing the message of the gospel. Does it mean that we’re supposed to just ignore the sins that we commit against others or that others commit against us? It can’t mean that because Scripture tells us that the sins that we commit against one another need to be confessed and forgiven (Matthew 5:23-25). Does it mean that if we love each other like we’re supposed to, God winks at sin and turns a blind eye to it as though it didn’t exist? That can’t be either because God doesn’t wink at sin. There is a death penalty for sin (Romans 6:23) and the soul that sins will die (Ezekiel 18:4). It can’t mean these things, so it must mean something else.

When Peter wrote the words, “love covers a multitude of sins”, he wrote them in the context of our relationships. Here’s the passage in its fuller context:

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11)

Part of loving one another earnestly means that we are quick to forgive others when they sin against us. “Above all”, Peter said, “keep loving one another earnestly” SINCE or BECAUSE “love covers a multitude of sins.” In this passage, loving one another earnestly means that I possess a heart and attitude of love and readiness to forgive that enables me to do real life things with others like offer hospitality without grumbling or complaining, use my spiritual gifts to serve others, and ultimately, to want to see God alone glorified through Jesus Christ.

Here are some results of not loving one another in this way:

• The majority of my relationships will be superficial and most may be short term. People will tend to not stick around too long. They will be in my life for a time, and then vanish.

• Bitterness may overcome me because instead of being quick to forgive others, I may start to harbor ill will. Bitterness is a cancer of the heart and can grow into hatred and spread to others if it’s not repented of. Deal with bitterness quickly (Hebrews 12:15)

• I can become critical of others, especially those who seem to practice loving one another and who have solid relationships beyond theological acquaintances.

• I may be unwilling or even unable to take responsibility for my own actions or thoughts because in my own eyes, I am never wrong. I may become so focused on performing well in the Christian life that over time, I become defensive, abrasive, and harsh to others because I’ve convinced myself that I rarely, if ever, do wrong.

• I may require others to love me in a way that covers my sin, but I will not or cannot reciprocate.

Peter also reminds us that our motivation to love one another in a way that covers sin, is the gospel. We don’t love one another this way, just because. We love one another this way because we’re loved this way and we’ve been empowered to love one another this way.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Peter 1:22-23)