Forgetting: a Vital Component to Forgiveness

We have the opportunity to act like God!

Sacrifice of Christ

By the death of Jesus, who was a God being, who came and lived a perfect life without sin and spilled His blood for us, we can have the opportunity for forgiveness.

Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

How Does God Forgive AND Forget

Psalms 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

He does so thoroughly

Psalms 103:11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalms 103:13 As a father pities [has compassion] his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

If the sins can not be found then they are forgotten. How does the sin exist as a mark against us in the first place – it is in the mind of God. If it is removed (or forgiven) it does not exist anymore in the mind of God – therefore it is forgotten.

To not forget, is to keep the sin against us ever present. This is a burden to us that we need to let go. We cannot truly forgive, if we do not forget

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

Hebrews 8:10 FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS IN THEIR MIND AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Hebrews 8:11 NONE OF THEM SHALL TEACH HIS NEIGHBOR, AND NONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR ALL SHALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST OF THEM TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
Hebrews 8:12 FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Jeremiah 31:34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Jeremiah 50:20 In those days and in that time,” says the LORD, “The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; And the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found; For I will pardon those whom I preserve.

Forgetting Our Own Sins

Leaving the old man “forgetting him”

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

1 Peter 1:16 because it is written, “BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Our sins separate us from God. And we are not being Holy as He is – so we cannot walk with God in agreement – in oneness. We cannot be at one with God if we are sinning.

Paul answers Emphatically in the next verse):

Romans 6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

We are to come OUT of it and not live IN it any longer. That was there problem, they were content to live IN it and use the excuse that it makes God great because He can show more grace.

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

In a similar way we go down into the watery grave and die as Christ did, the difference being is that we go down with our own sins.

Walk in Christ

If we forget, won’t we do it again – not if we replace it with a different way that is better and righteous.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Now notice how Paul continues to emphasize our union WITH Christ in this process down through :8; we do not do this alone; ; that He goes through all of these things WITH us

We see that baptism is a symbolic Burial and Resurrection pointing to a literal-> burial at death then resurrection at the return of Christ

walk in newness of life …

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Action; how we are to be acting; walk as Jesus Christ walked; walk with Him

1 John 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 John 2:4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Romans 6:5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Romans 6:7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.[freed from the penalty of sin and the hold it has on us].
Romans 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
Ephesians 4:23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Ephesians 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Do not focus on the past – look to the future

Continuing to fret about past sins may seem like repentance.

But it’s more like self-punishment. The truth is that God wants repentance, not penance. He doesn’t want us to punish ourselves once He’s forgiven us.

He doesn’t want us to throw old sins back into His face by continuing to be consumed with thinking about them.

We cannot deny Christ, what He says and did for us

He wants us to trust Him and His desire to completely forgive and forget.

After forgiveness, those sins no longer exist to God.

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Most of us have experienced the feelings: pain, Sorrow, Guilt, resentment that leads to Bitterness; anger that leads to hate; condemnation.

Forgiveness of Others is a Prerequisite for Our Own Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Luke 17:4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Matthew 18:22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

We are then to be acting a certain way [Expound: which way is that]

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, [perfect, holy righteous, character][we are to be moving on to perfection like Him].
Colossians 3:11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Forgetting the Sins of Others

Reactions to Being Wronged

Why do we hold on to another’s sin against us? Is it for protection against harm to us so that we won’t suffer injustice again? Is it because of pride – we feel justified in holding a grudge – we were “so righteous” or misguided that we need to teach them a lesson? Is the sin too big to forgive?

Remember that Jesus Christ suffered far more than we ever have and He is willing to forgive and forget!

Satan wants us to be divided. God wants unity and oneness like They have.

The commandments are about relationships – to God and our fellow man. When they go awry we are to reconcile. We should forgive and then forget and only remember any lessons learned.

Steps to Forgetting

With the Help of God

Don’t won’t to minimize but this should go without saying:

Hebrews 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Have this Christian State of Mind

2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Replace Carnal Actions with Godly Ones

And how do we put that into practice?

This is turning the other cheek

Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Matthew 5:40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
Matthew 5:41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Matthew 5:42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 5:47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Matthew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
Romans 12:20 Therefore “IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.”
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Fruits of Forgetting

We Become More Like God

We truly and completely are able to forgive! We have the opportunity to be like God. That is what we are supposed to be doing with our time here on earth. Putting on the mind and Christ and becoming the express image and character of God. This is a profound way that we can do it – that we need to be doing it

Forgiveness Unburdens Us

It frees us from: guilt and heal hurts and pain sorrow, and anguish resentment Bitterness; anger hate.

We have freedom from the negative effects that can enslave us

Renews Our Relationships

Through reconciliation we become one again and strengthen the bonds of family

We CAN forget

Children forget their altercations with brothers and sisters most readily

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Study on forgetting. By de-emphasizing the memory we tell our brain to passover the engrams where the information is stored. Forgetting memories also has a functional role in allowing our brains to operate at an optimal level. The science behind forgetting and memory recall suggests that memories are stored within engram cells. These are ensembles of cells that are reactivated when successful recall takes place. In contrast, forgetting occurs when the engram cells cannot be reactivated.

While different forms of “natural forgetting” are impacted by such variables as time course and reversibility, all forms of forgetting are tied to circuit remodeling. When engram cells are in an accessible state, they can be reactivated. Similarly, the cells may also be inactivated making them inaccessible. In this scenario, the memories still exist, but cannot be accessed.

The Sooner the Better

The sooner you forgive [active component necessary] the easier it is to forget (how we remember is in contrast to this).

Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
Ephesians 4:23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Ephesians 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR,” for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:26 “BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
Ephesians 4:27 nor give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.