Romans 4:7

THE COVERING OF SIN

‘Blessed are they … whose sins are covered.’

Romans 4:7

How to get sin covered has been the question which has exercised man’s thoughts ever since he became a sinner. Consider—

I. What cannot cover sin.

(a) Distance from God does not cover up our sins. Wherever in the universe—out of Christ—God’s eye sees a sinner, there He sees the uncovered sin.

(b) Sins are not covered by lapse of time. Every unforgiven sin cries aloud for vengeance.

(c) Concealment from fellow-men of no avail. ‘There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed.’

(d) Suffering has no power to cover sin, even though it be the direct consequence and manifest punishment of sin. ‘Without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.’

(e) Every effort by keeping God’s commandments to cover past sin is vain.

(f) Repentance, sorrow for sin, is powerless to do away one particle of sin. Verse preceding text shows that.

II. With what can sin be covered?—The covering must be one that will stand in the Judgment Day. Obviously, it must be of God’s providing. Has God furnished it? Hearken while he speaks. ‘I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions.’ ‘He Who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.’ The sprinkled blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is the only covering for sin. It is of God’s providing: it is adequate and effectual. On this covering God’s eye rests with satisfaction. ‘When I see the blood I will pass over you.’ The source and origin of salvation is God’s forbearing love to man as, and while, a sinner. Christ Jesus crucified for us, living for us—this is the covering for our soul.

Rev. E. P. Hathaway.

Illustration

‘A woman came to a clergyman, carrying in her hands a quantity of wet sand. “Do you see what this is, sir?” she said. “Yes. It is wet sand.” “But do you know what it means?” “I do not know exactly what you mean by it. What is it?” “Ah, sir!” she said, “that’s me, and the multitude of my sins can‘t be numbered”; and she gave way to passionate weeping. The minister, calming her, asked her where she had procured the sand. “On the shore.” “Go back then and take a spade with you and dig till you raise a good mound, shovel it as high as ever you can and leave it. Stand back on the shore and see the effect of the waves upon it.” The meaning came home to the woman. The blood of Christ would wash all her sins away. Her sin would be covered.’