Does God forget our sins?
God Knows Who Sinned
And Has Full Memory Of It
I’ve heard pastors, on occasion, make claims that God actually forgets the sins of those who have been saved, and casts them into the “Sea of forgetfulness” (a non-biblical phrase). They almost always cite from one or more of the following passages in support (Heb 8:12)(Heb 10:17)(Isa 43:25)(Jer 31:34)(Ps 103:12)(Mic 7:19)(Isa 38:17)(Isa 44:22).
Identifying Passages
These types of passages are called metaphors (See: Biblical Metaphors & Figures Of Speech).
(The Representation use of a word in a figurative meaning on the basis of the similarity of two objects or phenomena in some way.)
For example, some passages speak of using blood for washing. They are spoken in the figurative sense.
Gen 49:11 “……. he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:”
Rev 1:5 “…… and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
Rev 7:14 “……washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Washing is usually used to represent some type of “cleansing” and blood usually represents the “source” (from who or what/ man, animal, etc.) that is somehow associated with the washing.
God Has Complete And Perfect Knowledge Of All Things
For God to be sovereign over His creation of all things, whether visible or invisible, He has to be all-knowing.
The Bible declares that God “knows the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21), that “His understanding is infinite” (Ps 147:5), and God is greater than our heart, and knows all things (1 Jn 3:20). If God does not remember something, then that would mean God doesn’t know everything.
Since God knows what type of sin we committed, and when we committed a sin, he, therefore, has perfect memory of it, however, God does not hold “those sins” against the believer “after” God forgives him of those sins.
A sin is always sin. It, however, can be “pardoned” (forgiven) but only according to God’s plan, not some man-made plan of salvation.
The confession of sin before God is integral to the obedient Christian life (1 John 1:9).
Some present the argument that there are sins we may have committed unaware? The Bible addresses that concern like this:
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Jas 4:17
God knows the heart of each individual (Ps 147:5). Doing something wrong and being aware that it is a sin may not invoke the same judgment of God. For example; a child may take an item that does not belong to him but there is a level of understanding that must be taken into account. God is a just God and justice is extended to everyone. Therefore we must have an understanding of God’s justice ( Pro 3:5, 1Cor 14:20, Php 3:15, Eph 5:17).
“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48)
Note: Every circumstance is unique and this in no way is intended to portray all individuals as making the rapture (the first resurrection of the saints) but that there is a final judgment day (Acts 17:31, 2 Cor 5:10, 1 Peter 1:17). It is those new “unrepented” sins that have not been acknowledged (or forgiven) that are not forgotten by God and are recorded in the Book of Life.
The phrase “And I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer 31:34) is probably best understood as God will not hold those “specific” sins, which God had forgiven, against them.
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