"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
(Hebrews 8: 12, NASB)
Sometimes during conversations between Christians about God forgiving our sins, the question gets raised, "When God forgives our sins does He remember them anymore?" Such a question gets asked because sometimes we have doubts to whether our sins have really been all forgiven. We wonder, when we die and face the Lord or when He returns at His Second Coming, will He remember our sins and reject us? These are some thoughts that sometimes trouble believers. The question is, is there really any merit to such nagging questions that arise?
This of course deserves an
answer. Because if God does remember our sins, that is not very reassuring for
Christians who have placed their faith in God's forgiveness for their sins.
There are a few Bible verses that come to bear on this subject before us on
whether God remembers our sins or not. These Scripture passages are as follows:
Isaiah 43 :
25
1. "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine
own sake, and will not remember thy sins" (Isa. 43:
25, KJV). The Lord identifies Himself as the one who blots out our
transgressions. The word "blotteth
out" means "to wipe off; to blot out; be removed, to put away,
etc." The phrase "for mine own
sake" indicates that it is not by our own merits, but by the divine
goodness and free mercy of God that He has removed our sin. However it does not
end there. For the Lord then goes on to say I "will not remember thy sins." There is a threefold
progression seen here: (1.) The Lord identifies Himself as the one who initiates
the action against our sin; (2.) He is the one who chose to "remove, wipe
off, erase" our transgressions according to his mercy and grace; (3.) then
finally, He chooses not to ever remember our sins.
2. "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every
man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the
least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their
iniquity, and I will remember their sin
no more" (Jer. 31: 34b, KJV). We see here in Jeremiah chapter 31,
verses 27-40 the foretelling of the "New
Covenant" (Heb. 9: 15) in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This "New Covenant" includes both
Jew and Gentile. "There is neither
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor
female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3: 28, KJV, see
also Rom. 3: 22; 10: 12; 1 Cor. 12 : 13Jeremiah 31 : 34
"Ver. 34. This
must not be so interpreted as if under the gospel there should be no more need
of ministerial teaching, for Christ himself sent out his apostles to preach;
nor yet as if there should be no more need of brotherly teachings, by
instruction or conception; the contrary is commanded, Col
3:16 . It is only an expression signifying the increase of
knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord, that should be after the pouring out of
the Spirit: we have such expressions 1Jo 2:27. The learned author of our
English Annotations thinks this phrase signifies, that under the gospel there
should be a greater measure of means of knowledge, and of knowledge got by that
means, and of clearness of understanding in persons, or ability to conceive
things revealed, and a greater number of persons that should be enlightened
with the saving knowledge of God. Others say, that by knowing the Lord is to be understood the first knowledge of God;
Christians should not need be taught the first rudiments: but the apostle
speaks otherwise, Heb 5:12 .
Others by knowledge understand the
fear of the Lord. God saith, they should all know him; but it must not be
understood of the same degree and measure, but in a degree of sufficiency for
the duties which God expected from them upon their notion and apprehension of
God. God makes the root of all this grace to be the free pardon and remission
of their sins."[1]
Now as for the phrase, "and I will remember their sin no
more" is a promise under the "New Covenant" that is assured
to each born again believer. The text does not say "I will forget their
sin," no, it says "I will
remember their sin no more." To suggest that God "forgets"
our sin is to entertain the idea that the Lord is imperfect like us. The fact
is, He is NOT us, for He is perfect, righteous, and holy. He cannot forget.
However, God does something far better. He chooses not to "remember" our sin, which is far more reassuring.
3. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I
remember no more" (Heb. 8: 12, KJV). So what does God choose to
not remember anymore? Our unrighteousness,
(Gr. Adikia: not meeting God's
righteous standard; falling short of God's holy standard) sins, (Gr. Hamartia: an
offense committed against God; the guilt associated with having broken God's
law) and iniquities, (Gr. Anomia: the transgression of God's law).
Daily Bread writer, Joanie Yoder gives this insightful comment:
"The idea that
God forgets my sins isn't very reassuring to me. After all, what if He suddenly
remembered? In any case, only imperfection can forget, and God is perfect. God
doesn't say He'll forget our sins--He says He'll remember them no more! His
promise not to remember them ever again is stronger than saying He'll forget
them. Now that reassures me!"[2]
4. "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Heb. 10: 17, KJV). This verse we
have here further reinforces the truth of chapter 8: 12. This further reassures
us of God's promise to not remember our sin anymore. Like links in a chain,
each of the four passages of Scripture is a reference that corresponds to one
another (see Isa. 43: 25; Jer. 31: 34; Heb. 8: 12; 10: 17). Another writer made
this statement in reference to Hebrews 10 : 17
"We are often
told to "forgive and forget." But God does not forget; He chooses not
to remember. Forgetting is a lapse of memory; choosing not to remember is an
act of the will. How wonderful to know that our God has chosen to completely
put our sins out of His mind, to love us so dearly that He does not call them
to His remembrance. Let us emulate His example."[3]
Is this not wonderful news, that
when God redeems a sinner He no longer chooses to call to His remembrance our
offenses against Him. Though we had greatly sinned against Him, He no longer
holds our sins against us. Yes, we deserve God's eternal punishment for our
sins, but instead we are forgiven of our sins and destined for heaven. Now
that's amazing grace!
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