What does the Bible
say about forgiveness?

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What does the Bible say about forgiveness? Many people say that they can FORGIVE, but not FORGET, the wrongs others have done to them. Why do people do this? Does the Bible teach this belief? How does God forgive US?

Does God completely and totally forgive us when we ask him? Does God forgive and FORGET? In addition, if He does forget, since He is God, can he still remember our sins at any time?

The scriptures are clear as to God's forgiveness:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9, NKJV throughout)

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I WILL NOT REMEMBER YOUR SINS." (Isaiah 43:25)

"For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” (Jeremiah 31:34)

"'For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.'” (Hebrews 8:12)

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He REMOVED OUR TRANSGRESSIONS FROM US." (Psalm 103:12)

God means exactly He says! His forgiveness, through the sacrifice of Jesus (John 1:29, etc.), is perfect and complete. What does that mean? If we sincerely pray for forgiveness, through the sacrifice of Christ who became sin for us (Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-11), he promises to forgive.

How awesome is God's forgiveness? Let us say that ten minutes after we ask God, in prayer, to forgive us certain sins (which he does) we bring back up those same sins. What would be God's answer? No doubt, it would be something like "Sins? I do not remember any sins that you committed!"

It is simple. Since God forgives and totally forgets our MANY sins, we can and should do the same for the sin or two our fellow humans commit against us. Even Jesus, in great physical pain after being TORTURED and nailed to the cross, still found reasons to request those who were KILLING him be forgiven:

"And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  Then Jesus said, 'FATHER, FORGIVE THEM;  FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.' " (Luke 23:33-34)

There is yet something more amazing. God promises there will come a time when He will decide NEVER to remember our sins FOREVER!

"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 31:34)

In conclusion, how SERIOUS is it that we forgive and forget the sins of OTHERS as God forgives US? Jesus, in what is known as the Sermon on the Mount, made it plain what God expects of us and the consequences for not obeying him:

“For if you forgive men their trespasses (sins), your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you DO NOT FORGIVE men their trespasses, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES." (Matthew 6:14-15)

We do not truly forgive, as God wants us to, unless we also forget.