Does God remember our sins?

NO!

I am so glad He doesn’t! It is hard to comprehend that God chooses to not remember our sin.

How does “not remembering” and complete forgiveness work?

We just ask for it and repent (turn from our sin). So simple!

Once we ask forgiveness, accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are “born again.” 

In John chapter three, Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the night and says, “We all know that God has sent you to teach us”.. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” What do you mean? exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus said, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So, don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.”

The NLT explains this so clearly. Only humans reproduce life, But the Holy Spirit gives birth to Spiritual Life.. hence, rebirth through the Spirit.

When we ask forgiveness and turn from our sins, God is there to give it to us. It is a gift from God.

You see, God is in the Mercy-Grace-Forgiveness-Forgetting and Restoring business. He wants us to move forward not backwards. In order to do that, He wants our hearts for Himself. 

Deuteronomy 6:5-6 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.”

Luke 10:27a “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.”

But does He really forget what we’ve done?

Psalm 103:12 NLT “He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.” 

The commentary at the bottom of my study Bible for Psalm 103:12 says, “East & West can never meet. This is symbolic portrait of God’s forgiveness: When He forgives our sins, He separates it from us and doesn’t even remember it. We need never wallow in the past, for God forgives and forgets. We tend to dredge up the ugly past, but God has wiped our record clean.” – Life Application Bible NLT

In this particular Psalm, the theme is God’s great love for us. What God does for us tells us what God is really like. In verses 1-2, it begins with David praising God for all the good things He has done for him.

Verse 3-18 tells what God is really like…

He forgives all my sins.

He redeems me from death.

He fills my life with good things.

The Lord gives righteousness and justice.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry.

He will not constantly accuse us.

He does not punish us for all our sins.

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him.

He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west.

God is tender and compassionate.

The love of God remains forever with those who fear Him.

By now, I’m sure you get the picture! Take some time to read Psalm 103. It is an amazing picture of how much God loves us, despite our sin. And we really do not deserve it!

The Bible is full of God’s grace and mercy toward us.

Jeremiah 31:34b “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Jeremiah 31 is a chapter on hope for restoration. Again, God’s love for us. The Old Testament still speaks to us today. The word of God never changes.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God, (NLT).  The NIV says “God-Breathed”.

Jeremiah 33:8 “I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion.”

Forgiveness is a GIFT from God.

We do not earn it.

The Bible says, “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved… For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:4-6, 8 NIV

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving us so much, that You forget our past sins and to know we will not be judge on our pasts. Your loving kindness, grace and mercy we don’t deserve, yet that is Your gift to us. Thank You for this awesome gift!

We love You Lord.

Deb Cool

Deb Cool is passionate about Jesus and women’s ministry. She currently leads a women’s small group through her church, LCBC Waynesboro.

Deb has been married for 43 years to the love of her life, Rodney. They have awesome sons whom have beautiful wives. And they are blessed with nine amazing grandchildren.