Does God Forget Sin?

[House of Light]

Here is the question posed in Sunday School today. Once God has forgiven us of our sin, does he forget the sin?

I said yes......based on Hebrews 8:12....."For I will forgive their wickedness, and remember their sins no more."

Anyway, our teacher, disagreed, and so I asked what scripture was he using that said that God forgave, but did not forgive our sins....he could not give me any.

So, what do you think? Could you give me verses that state either way?

[AnnaC]

That is interesting that you ask that question, because we were just talking about that in Sunday School this morning.


The conclusion that we reached was that God does not forget our sin; rather He chooses not to remember it. I'm sure that God has a really good memory- I'm not sure He could forget anything. (But of course then you could go into the whole argument of God can do anything- but can He make a rock so big that He can't lift it. :rolleyes) But when He forgives us, He chooses not to remember our sin anymore. He doesn't think about it; He doesn't remind us of it. Does that make sense?

[SharpSabre]

He sends it to the Recycle Bin and then empties it.

[matheteou]

But we have a part to do for it to be "remembered no more" and that can be found in 1 John 1:9. That doesn't mean you can loose your salvation if you die with unconfessed sin, it does mean you may (or will) suffer loss.

[graceforme]

Psalm 103:12 says "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

This is equivalent to blotting out our sins, as in Acts 3:19 and Isaiah 43:25, which says "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

I've heard people say that we should forgive and FORGET when others sin against us. Probably not possible from a human standpoint, but God is all-powerful and has decided to forgive AND forget our sins. What a God we serve!

[LaMontre]

Here is the question posed in Sunday School today. Once God has forgiven us of our sin, does he forget the sin?

I said yes......based on Hebrews 8:12....."For I will forgive their wickedness, and remember their sins no more."

Anyway, our teacher, disagreed, and so I asked what scripture was he using that said that God forgave, but did not forgive our sins....he could not give me any.

So, what do you think? Could you give me verses that state either way?

I am sure your applying that verse to this dispensation created a doctrinal problem in his mind.

But you are right on IMO. :thumb

[Comfort me]

Hebrews 10:17
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

[Robbinson]

I think there was a good thread on this very question on this board last year. You can do a search if you are interested.

[Hootmon]

Does God Forget Sin? That isnt the right question to ask.

God doesnt 'forget' anything. However, He does choose to 'not remember' (not bring to mind) those sins that He has forgiven.

The 'not guilty' verdict has already been rendered. The 'no double jeopardy' rule is in efect.

[House of Light]

That isnt the right question to ask.

God doesnt 'forget' anything. However, He does choose to 'not remember' (not bring to mind) those sins that He has forgiven.

The 'not guilty' verdict has already been rendered. The 'no double jeopardy' rule is in efect.


The question was part of our bible study on forgiveness.

We had talked about how the myth is that we are to forgive and forget. We asked if people really can "forget".....in its truest sense. Then, it was posed, in the study whether or not God can forget. If he so chooses......