GOD forgives and forgets

 One of my favorite things to do is to listen to sermons while I'm washing the dishes. Since my brain is pretty much on autopilot when I'm doing the dishes, I prefer to feed my soul. So I listen to sermons.

Earlier this week, as I was listening to a sermon the preacher said  something that caught my attention, he said: " God forgives and forgets". It stayed on my mind the whole week, but I didn't quite get it. I  was like : "I know that when we repent of a sin, God forgives us, but what does it really mean he forgets?

Friday,  when I was meditating on that word trying to understand what it really meant I decided to do a little bit of research about it. That's where Google comes in handy(lol). So I typed that same sentence  to see what scripture related I can get to understand more. Then i came across two scriptures. The first one is in Isaiah 43: 25 :" I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins". The second is in Hebrews 10:16-18: 16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”17 then he adds, "  I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. 
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin."


It says that God when he forgives, he forgets, that means he keeps no record of our sins, it means whenever we decide to repent he forgives us  and forgets all about it. Man that was a major revelation for me. All of a sudden I felt peace in my heart , like a heavy burden was lifted off my shoulders. I experienced true freedom. This is why I love God, everyday I get to experience another side of God's love towards me.
 So this means whenever the devil or someone tries to remind me of a sin that i repented from trying to make me feel bad I can boldly say :" get over it! You're the only one still having a record about that. And whenever i am tempted to go back to that sin i can say :"get away from me devil me and Jesus have already won that battle."
I don't have to beat myself up  anymore for something that no longer exists. I can move forward and enjoy my new creation status. This does not allow us to do whatever we want though, and then ask for forgiveness. We have to be accountable and ask God for his strength so that we don't fall into temptation.  As Phillipians 4:13 says"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." So he's got our back.

 The holy spirit reminded me also that we are called to be Christ-like so we too, have to forgive people who hurt us and forget . I know it's not easy, but in order to go forward, we have to forget , to overlook the offense, choose love over hate. We have to be able to give second changes . Sometimes you can forgive someone but that particular person keeps on hurting you. I think in that case you may have to love that person from a distance until they get it.(My opinion). Some of us may feel like they are not welcome in the church because they feel like they do not fit in, that even though God did forgive them, he still remembers their past and is watching them so that if ever  they make another mistake they will no longer benefit from the grace of God. They feel like church is only for pure hearted people who never ever sin. Let me tell you something, that is a lie. Church is a gathering of sinners who have repented and are in the process of being Christ-like. Nobody is perfect but, we all strive for progress in our walk with God. God is still God  and his mercy endures forever. I love  how Ephesians 1:3 to 14 explains it all so well.

 Overall the good news is  GOD FORGIVES AND FORGETS so whatever your sins are is or however your past looks like if you are willing to repent, turn from your bad ways and accept Jesus as lord and savior. You become a new person, free from the past, child of God,  a new creation . Receive God's forgiveness and the tremendous peace that comes with it.

Praise God.