Putting Others On The Right Path

"Charity shall cover a multitude of sins" (I Peter 4:8)

To return Christians who have erred from the way of salvation is just as important as saving the souls of those who have not yet tasted of the heavenly gift. Fortunately, we should not be apprehensive about approaching these people, since (hopefully) they have been in the church, and we have a chance to acquaint ourselves with them.

How then shall charity cover sins? Should it simply gloss over them as if they were nonexistent? God forbid. James speaks of it in his epistle, chapter 5, verse 20: "He which converteth a soul from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" -- that is, many sins shall not be committed because of the corrective influence. Jesus even gives us protocol for dealing with people who persist in iniquity: first talk to him (or her), then bring others to talk to him, if he won't listen, then tell the church, and if worst comes to worst, "let him be to thee as an heathen" (Matthew 18:15-17).

We must at all times show in our conduct the righteousness and holiness that is in our hearts ("be holy for I am holy"), because of what our Lord Jesus has done for us - that others might see our good works and glorify God.

Sin is the very antithesis of God's character. Therefore, as His representatives, we should always strive to keep one another out of sin, and in the way of righteousness.