No More Remembrance!

TEXT:

‘For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more’ (Jeremiah 31:34).

Hallelujah! What a wonderful promise. It sounds too good to be true. So often people regard God as the one who, because of our past, brings down judgment but this scripture reveals God in a totally different light. There are three things I want us to consider:

1. The Problem

• We can remember what we have done – ‘I remember my faults’ (Genesis 41:9)

King David wrote, ‘For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is always before me’ (Psalm 51:3).

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine will trigger memories in those who have been involved in warfare in the past, particularly if they have killed someone. The guilt of such actions never easily goes away.

In Exeter I visited a house and spoke to the wife. When asking about her husband, he shouted from the kitchen, “God can’t forgive me, I’ve killed someone”. He explained he was ex-military and knew the Bible said, ‘You shall not kill’.¹ He was amazed when I corrected him by saying, “It says you shall not murder. You did not kill in a pre-meditated way but were only following orders”. A look of relief spread across his face.

I know what I have done and why I did it, even if no one else does. But God also knows and that’s the problem because it’s before God that I will have to stand to give an account of my life, no one else. Sometimes we find it very difficult to forgive ourselves and forget the past.

• We can be reminded by others – ‘The accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night’ (Revelation 12:10)

A parent, spouse or children can constantly remind us of our failures, never letting us forget or move on. They can blame us for making their life the way it is, when perhaps the truth is more of their playing the victim instead of taking positive steps to change and forgive.

The Bible reveals we have an accuser, Satan, whose plan is to weaken our boldness in faith through accusation and self-examination. His goal is for us to continually think we are not worthy to receive anything from God nor do anything for God. A Christian paralysed by guilt and fear is easy prey for him and certainly not a threat to his kingdom.

2. The Promise – ‘I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more’(Jeremiah 31:34)

God had removed the nations from the Promised Land because of their sin, but the Children of Israel were warned if they repeated those sins, they would be removed too. Due to their idolatry, they ended up as slaves in Babylon. Yet Jeremiah prophesied this amazing promise of forgiveness and no more remembrance of sin.

Isaiah also prophesied, ‘Come, let’s talk this over, says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!’ (Isaiah 1:18 TLB).

How can the God who knows everything, not remember our sin when He looks at you and me? The truth is, only because He sees the Christian in Christ. God the Father said of Jesus, ‘You are My believed Son, in whom I am well pleased’ (Mark 1:11). Jesus was the sinless, spotless Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.

God has placed the believer in Christ and so sees Christ when He looks at us. He is the Head and we are His body. God has chosen not to remember our sin, but more than that, Jesus has taken away the right for God to remember our sin, because He took the punishment for it on the cross. Now I do not have to fear dying or the prospect of the second death (See Revelation 20:14-15.

Yes, because of my memory I can still see my hands, scarlet red, but God cannot. He sees them snow-white because I am in Christ, the very place God has chosen to put me.

Now God can look at me and say, “You are My beloved son”. Now I can come in faith to Him, my Father, believing the promise, ‘How much more shall your Heavenly Father give good things and the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?’ (Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:13).

3. The Procedure

God has done His part but it’s up to us to do ours, because God cannot make us do it. The Bible says, ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them … we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God’ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Reconciliation has to be two-way.

The Lord promises:

• If we call, He will answer – ‘Call to Me and I will answer you’ (Jeremiah 33:3)
• If we repent, He will forgive
• If we believe, He will save

I do not want to face the future alone and certainly not the appointment with God after death. Jesus has promised to represent me as my advocate. I could dismiss Him and represent myself or I can gratefully ask Jesus into my life and let God miraculously put me into Christ.

The choice is mine!

‘Choose this day whom you will serve’ (Joshua 24:15)

Choose wisely!