Covered by the Blood?

[NHInsider]

Good evening-

I realized recently that I have been hearing for years from my Protestant brothers and sisters that our sins are “covered” by the blood of Jesus - that when God looks at us He does not see our sins but instead sees the blood of Jesus (a fundamental difference between Catholic Christianity and much of Protestant Christianity is that those Protestant doctrines that derive from the Calvinist branch do not believe that we are cleansed from Original Sin - we continue to be hopelessly depraved but God substitutes the Passion of the Lord Jesus for our condemnation and so accepts us anyway). But - I’m trying to figure out where this comes from? Most of these folks are “Scripture-only” believers and I cannot figure out what Scripture they might be using to support a “covered by the blood” understanding of justification?

 

[Cluny]

It’s based on what John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God who covers the sins of the world.”

(For those who don’t get it, I’m being ironic.)

 

[Trishie]

Because the quote is actually, “Behold the Lamb of God who **takes away **the sins of the world”. (John 1:29)
The phrase ‘covered by the blood’ isn’t in Scripture.
What is meant by the phrase is that we are redeemed from our sins by Christ’s sacrifice.
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). On the night before He died, Jesus took the cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). The wine symbolized the blood of Christ which would be poured out for all who would ever believe in Him. “…The precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) paid the debt of sin we owe to God. “His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14 )

 

[Bookworm88]

I Immediately thought of Romans 3:21-26.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

As verse 25 says, God has set forth Jesus as the propitiation for our sins, and this happens by the blood of Jesus. Therefore, because of our faith in Jesus, our sins are passed over. They are no longer counted against us. This doesn’t take works on our part to make it happen. but rather it is " to all and on all who believe" as verse 22 says. So even though all have sinned, we can see that all who believe are justified freely by God’s grace.

 

[Trishie]

Because the quote is actually, “Behold the Lamb of God who **takes away **the sins of the world”. (John 1:29)
The specific phrase ‘covered by the blood’ isn’t in Scripture.
What is meant by the phrase is that we are redeemed from our sins by Christ’s sacrifice.
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). On the night before He died, Jesus took the cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). The wine symbolized the blood of Christ which would be poured out for all who would ever believe in Him. “…The precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) paid the debt of sin we owe to God. “His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14 )

 

[Luke65]

“Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)



It seems there’s a scriptural problem with this Protestant theology. Can you imagine that? What with the Bible being their only Authority, and the Holy Spirit guiding them, you would think somebody would have noticed!

 

[Trishie]

Absolutely! I think the OP was looking for the origin of the specific words, “covered by the Blood”, but we’re in agreement on the fact the Jesus has redeemed us by the shedding of His blood.

 

[2John1vs3]

… I cannot figure out what Scripture they might be using to support a “covered by the blood” understanding of justification?

Listen to the sermon “Born Again” at:

Google Sites: Sign-in

Access Google Sites with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

sites.google.com

The preacher discusses the Biblical doctrine of being “born again.”
Hang in there. It’s like nothing you’ve ever heard. If you can avoid prideful indignation in defense of Catholicism, you might get a chance to reexamine “Faith” in the light of true Bible teachings.
God is in control. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the Shepherd of His sheep. He will lose nothing of what the Father has given Him. If you’re one of His Elect look at the assurance you have (and you CAN’T lose it):
1 Peter1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, **reserved in heaven **for you,Who are **kept by the power of God **through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

 

[2John1vs3]

“Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

Let’s be honest here. Who has the power to turn a sinner from the error of his way. You? Me? Don’t you think that passage talks in truth about the power of God? It might occur through human agency, but are you the agent of conversion, or is God? Study the Bible line by line, precept by precept, line by line and understand that God turns the sinner AND saves him from death AND covers over a multitude of sins, not you, or me, or some priest.

And even the second clause “love covers a multitude of sins”. Remember: “God is love.” Again, it’s a statement about God and His love, not you – although you are able to love by the Spirit of God which worketh in you.

Give up your notions of works. God is sovereign. He has made sheep and goats for the day of judgement. Never in history [HIS-story] has a sheep done anything that enabled it to become a goat. Never in history has wheat become tares. They are separate creations by God’s will. There are those born for salvation, and those made for the day of His wrath. Proverbs 16:4 “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”



It seems there’s a scriptural problem with Catholic theology. Can you imagine that? What with the Bible being forbidden until recently (off topic Anti-Catholic site link removed), and the pope guiding them, you would think somebody would have noticed!

 

[NHInsider]

Listen to the sermon “Born Again” at:

(off topic Anti-Catholic site link removed

The preacher discusses the Biblical doctrine of being “born again.”
Hang in there. It’s like nothing you’ve ever heard. If you can avoid prideful indignation in defense of Catholicism, you might get a chance to reexamine “Faith” in the light of true Bible teachings.

Sorry, friend - I was born in an Evangelical family and spent twenty years in that intensive, oh-so-comfortable immersion in Scripture. But it was the study of Scripture that led me into the Church. And I could never walk away from the Body and Blood of Jesus.

The great strength of Evangelical Christianity is the deep knowlege of Scripture necessitated by the conviction that salvation comes from “knowing Jesus” and that the only way to know Him is by knowing His word. And there is nothing wrong with that - except for that forever unsettled question of “how do we know what is Scripture?” Pull that thread and it all unravels - not the faith, because the faith is genuine, but the doctrine, because sola scriptura is unscriptural! (So, incidentally, is once-saved-always-saved, which I see you also included in your invitation.)

But there are verses which can be used as a basis to argue OSAS, albeit that they require you to explain away other verses that clearly contradict it. I could not remember any verse about God viewing our sins only through the “veil” of Jesus’ blood, nor could I find one. The verses suggested here would seem to indicate the same, that is, no one else has found the expression, either.

Clearly we are saved by the Blood of Jesus, no believer questions that. But the notion that the way this “works” is that God looks at us and can’t see our sins because they are covered by the blood is, I think, an extrabiblical gloss. I’d still like to know where it came from - was it Calvin or Zwingli, or is it one of the twentieth century evangelicals? I’ve been hearing it for long enough that I don’t think it originated with any of the current crop. . . .

This is an academic exercise and not particularly important for the questions of faith. What is significant about it, of course, is that it is a direct expression of the doctrine of total depravity which teaches that Jesus’ sacrifice does not remove our sin but God saves us anyway because of it.

 

[simplynoone]

It seems there’s a scriptural problem with this Protestant theology. Can you imagine that? What with the Bible being their only Authority, and the Holy Spirit guiding them, you would think somebody would have noticed!

Don’t Catholics pray to Mary and others who are dead?

Deuteronomy 18:
9When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

definition of necromancer: conjuration of the spirits of the dead for purposes of revealing the future or influencing the course of events

Don’t Catholics believe Jesus is God?

Hosea 11: 9
…for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee…

Num 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Isa 45:21-22
…there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Isa 42:8
I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Perhaps they did not notice for the same reasons that Catholics do not notice what is written concerning the true Nature of God.

 

[dawid]

Listen to the sermon “Born Again” at:

sites.google.com/site/AV1611Reformation/Home/sermons

The preacher discusses the Biblical doctrine of being “born again.”
Hang in there. It’s like nothing you’ve ever heard. If you can avoid prideful indignation in defense of Catholicism, you might get a chance to reexamine “Faith” in the light of true Bible teachings.
God is in control. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the Shepherd of His sheep. He will lose nothing of what the Father has given Him. If you’re one of His Elect look at the assurance you have (and you CAN’T lose it):
1 Peter1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, **reserved in heaven **for you,Who are **kept by the power of God **through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

The NT books of the Bible are Catholic books!
They were based on teachings from Jesus to his Apostles. During the fourth century the Magisterium selected those writings that they considered to be the inspired Word of God to form the Canon of Christianity.
Sacred Tradition is relevant in interpreting and understanding the Gospel.
Considering that, the pastor starts with a disadvantage if he does not look at Scriptures in the context of the teachings of the Church fathers.

 

[dawid]

Don’t Catholics pray to Mary and others who are dead?

Deuteronomy 18:
9When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

definition of necromancer: conjuration of the spirits of the dead for purposes of revealing the future or influencing the course of events

Don’t Catholics believe Jesus is God?

Hosea 11: 9
…for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee…

Num 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Isa 45:21-22
…there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Isa 42:8
I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Perhaps they did not notice for the same reasons that Catholics do not notice what is written concerning the true Nature of God.

I believe you have shown a total lack of understanding or knowledge of the practices of the Catholic Faith which is that of the early Church fathers.
There are adequate resources at Catholic Answers website that will assist you to understand the origins of the Christian Faith and the practices.

 

[dawid]

Let’s be honest here. Who has the power to turn a sinner from the error of his way. You? Me? Don’t you think that passage talks in truth about the power of God? It might occur through human agency, but are you the agent of conversion, or is God? Study the Bible line by line, precept by precept, line by line and understand that God turns the sinner AND saves him from death AND covers over a multitude of sins, not you, or me, or some priest.

And even the second clause “love covers a multitude of sins”. Remember: “God is love.” Again, it’s a statement about God and His love, not you – although you are able to love by the Spirit of God which worketh in you.

Give up your notions of works. God is sovereign. He has made sheep and goats for the day of judgement. Never in history [HIS-story] has a sheep done anything that enabled it to become a goat. Never in history has wheat become tares. They are separate creations by God’s will. There are those born for salvation, and those made for the day of His wrath. Proverbs 16:4 “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”



It seems there’s a scriptural problem with Catholic theology. Can you imagine that? What with the Bible being forbidden until recently (see: youtube.com/watch?v=5qKEqz-nMkM “Catholic and Protestant Soul Winners Worship a False Image of God” by Pastor Nelson Turner), and the pope guiding them, you would think somebody would have noticed!

You fail to realise that the Scripture of the NT is Catholic!
…In the words of St Francis of Assisi: “Let me be an instrument…”

 

[dawid]

… So even though all have sinned, we can see that all who believe are justified freely by God’s grace.

…so would you suggest that we are justified by faith then?
We believe we are justified by God’s Grace - through that we may believe. If we truly believe, we will, through love, perform works that please Him.

 

[Jerusha]

Hey, I can read Afrikaans!!!

To me, those who invoke that seem to be saying that Jesus’ sacrifice means that they can continue sinning, because their sins have been covered. They don’t understand that “Every time you sin, you hurt Jesus”

My understanding may be biased, because of experience with bigots of the Calvinistic type.

 

[simplynoone]

I believe you have shown a total lack of understanding or knowledge of the practices of the Catholic Faith which is that of the early Church fathers.
There are adequate resources at Catholic Answers website that will assist you to understand the origins of the Christian Faith and the practices.

I was raised Christian… Sunday morning and night Services, 2 (yup!) midweek services, and Christian School (kindergarten through graduation). I would say that I have been exposed quite a bit to the Christian Faith … couple that with a mind that rarely stops questioning, it was only bound to happen that I would uncover the many contradictions that are in all of the different Christian doctrines. Catholicism is certainly the most baffling to me as it seems to contain the largest amount of blatant contradictions. That is why I found the premise of this thread to be ironic.

And for the record, I have done much reading on this board to try and understand the mentality to which you all hold… and will admit that I still fall flat in understanding it. I do not have a mind that can ignore contradictions simply because I am told to do such. Still, I find it so fascinating that I am here trying to understand your views as well as share my own. In the views I hold to, I am allowed to question and grow that way. I can question my own views and not be scolded for it… and I do … often in fact. It is what allows me to reach new depths of knowledge and understanding concerning the Word of God.

 

[Cluny]

This doesn’t take works on our part to make it happen. but rather it is " to all and on all who believe" as verse 22 says. So even though all have sinned, we can see that all who believe are justified freely by God’s grace.

Isn’t the act of saving faith itself a good work? After all, YOU are the one who actually has to do the believing.

 

[Howie01]

Jerusha:

To me, those who invoke that seem to be saying that Jesus’ sacrifice means that they can continue sinning, because their sins have been covered.

That’s not what Calvinists believe; you’re making it up.

Jerusha:

My understanding may be biased, because of experience with bigots of the Calvinistic type.

Your understanding is wrong, and that can’t be for your having talked to someone who knows and understands Calvin’s position. Therefore, ISTM you’re making up your statement above.

 

[Monica4316]

the Catholic position is that our sins aren’t “covered up” by the Blood of Jesus, but washed away

imo, that is much better!

and more supported by Scripture. We become “white as snow”… we don’t just LOOK white as snow.

Protestants believe that Christ’s righteousness is applied to us… the Church teaches that God’s grace* transforms *us, we actually BECOME righteous, by His merits.

There is no Scriptural support for Protestantism except some Bible verses taken out of context. I used to be a Protestant and it was reading the Bible that helped me see that. I always got worried when I read James and the Gospels, which seemed to contradict everything I was taught…

now as a Catholic I don’t have to ignore any Scriptures