Forgiving and forgetting

God is certainly one who forgives and forgets. He states with absolute certainty: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25). The writer to the Hebrews draws on Jeremiah 31 in relaying these words from God: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12). God’s forgiveness is complete.

The Bible’s message is that people who enjoy God’s forgiveness through faith in his Son Jesus Christ are to forgive others who sin against them. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

In response to the apostle Peter’s question about the frequency of forgiving people for multiple offenses committed against him, Jesus told the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35). The account ends with the Lord referencing the harsh treatment the servant who did not forgive others received, and then pronouncing: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). In the sermon on the mount, after teaching his disciples to pray “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,” Jesus warned: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15).

Forgiving others is our responsibility and privilege. Forgetting the sins people have committed against us may not be all that easy. There may be visible, ongoing reminders in life of some sins that people have committed against us. In addition, our sinful nature will not want to let go of the wrongs people have done to us. Still, trying to move on from the memories of other people’s sins will be best for our spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health.

How can we grow in our Christian lives as “forgivers” and “forgetters”? Faithful, regular use of God’s gospel in word and sacrament is essential. The more we understand and appreciate the great debt of sin that God has forgiven us, the more we will be motivated to forgive—and forget—the smaller sins that people commit against us (cf. the parable of the unmerciful servant).