Tag: cover

1 Peter 4:8 – Demonstrate Fervent Love

Posted on by Will

Above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Truth to Learn

Love means forgetting your own pain in order to help a brother or sister grow in grace.

 

Behind the Words

The expression “above all things” is translated from the Greek words pro pantōn. The word pro means “before.” It can refer to place, time, or importance. In this case, it refers to importance. The word pantōn means “all things.” Hence, Peter is literally saying “before all things,” that is, having more importance than all other things.

“Love” is translated from agapē, which in fact does mean “love.” But it is only one of several Greek words that is translated that way. The best way to describe this type of love is that it is the kind of love which is more concerned about the well being of the loved one than of self.

The word “fervent” is from the Greek word ektenēs, which literally means “stretched out.” As used here it means “continual or intense.”

The word translated “cover” is kaluptō, which means “to hide or cover.” The opposite of this is the Greek word apokaluptō, meaning “to uncover” or “to reveal” from which we get our English word apocalypse.

 

Meaning Explained

Since we know that our time is short, as stated in the previous verse, we need to be serious and dedicate ourselves to prayer. But, Peter tells us in this verse, of greater importance than even these things, we need to have fervent love for one another. Since Peter is writing this letter to Christians (1Peter 1:1, 2), it means that we are to love our fellow Christians with a self-sacrificing love, being more concerned for their well-being than our own.  But it’s not just love, it is “fervent love” that we are to have for one another.

Why are we commanded to have fervent love for each other? Peter says it’s because love covers (or hides) a multitude of sins. This is not to say that we are to ignore the sins of a brother or sister. It means that we are to love each other this way so that we will be gracious and forgiving of each other’s faults. We need to be more concerned about the well-being of our Christian brothers and sisters than our own selfish motives and feelings. If a brother of sister is living in sin, we have a responsibility to approach him or her in a loving (agapē) manner with his or her ultimate good in mind. It also means that when a brother or sister sins against us, we need to be more concerned for their spiritual well-being than our own bruised selfish pride. Again, it doesn’t mean that we ignore the offense; rather, it means that we approach the offender in a loving (agapē) way to let him or her know that they injured us, having already forgiven them and freed them of any blame.

Keep in mind that love is an action verb, not just a feeling. In light of what Peter just told us in the previous verse (“the end of all things is near” and “be self-controlled unto prayer”), we should consistently demonstrate fervent love to our Christian brothers and sisters.

 

Application

When we approach a Christian brother or sister who is living in sin or who has offended us, we need to do it while standing in their shoes. We need to confront them lovingly the way we would want someone to treat us if the tables were turned.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 5:20 – A Converted Sinner

Posted on by Will

let him know that the one turning a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Truth to Learn

We need to proclaim the truth of God to all people.

 

Behind the Words

“Sinner” is translated from the Greek word hamartōlos, from the verb hamartanō, meaning “to miss the mark” or “to sin.” The word hamartōlos refers to a person whose life is characterized by sin, one who is constantly sinning.

The word translated “soul” is psuchē (or psyche), which is a derivative of the verb psuchō, meaning “to breath.” Hence, it refers to the immaterial portion of man.

The Greek word kaluptō is translated here as “cover.” This word means “to envelop or wrap around, like the bark of a tree.” That is, it means “to completely cover over” or “to hide.”

“Multitude” is from plēthos, which is derived from the verb plēthō, meaning “to fill.” Hence, plēthos means “fullness” or “a very large number.”

 

Meaning Explained

Though the previous verse speaks of those who have known the truth (believers) and have turned away from it, this verse seems to be talking about the conversion of the unsaved. Let’s see why this is so. In the previous verse James addressed his audience as “brothers.” He also said in the previous verse, “… if any among YOU should stray …” referring to someone who is part of this group of brothers.

In this verse he starts out with, “let HIM know …” The “him” referred to is the one who causes the conversion, that is, the brother. The next part of this verse literally reads, “… the one turning back a sinner from his wandering way shall save a soul from death …” James is not talking about saving a body from death, but a soul. He is not talking about physical death, but spiritual death. So, either he is proposing that a Christian can lose his or her salvation, or he is talking about an unsaved person. The key can be found just a few words earlier, “… he who converts a sinner from …” This refers to a person whose life is characterized by sin, not a born-again Christian. As the Apostle John teaches us:

Everyone remaining in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him nor known Him. (1 John 3:6)

Now you may say, “But everyone sins, even saved Christians!” And you are correct. What John is talking about (as is James) is a person who continually, or habitually, sins. Now, of the one who does not abide (or remain) John says:

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they were of us, they would have remained (continued) with us. But they went out so that it might be revealed that they are not all of us. (1 John 2:19)

In other words, James is telling us that there are people who call themselves Christians who know the truths of God’s word but who have never truly submitted to the will of God. These who have called themselves “brothers” have wandered away after erroneous doctrines. James tells us that if we bring them back to the truth and to a saving faith, we are doing a great work (actually, God is doing a great work through us) in the plan of salvation!

 

Application

We need to reach out, not just to those who have never heard the message of salvation, but also to those who have heard the word but have turned away. We will not reach them through fighting and arguing. We must reach out to them with the Word of truth proclaimed graciously, in love, for God’s glory.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved