A God Who Is "Ready to Forgive"-"Their Sin I Shall Remember No More"

Jehovah promised regarding those in the new covenant:  "I shall forgive their error, and their sin I shall remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:34)  Does this mean that when Jehovah forgives he is unable to recall sins anymore?  That could hardly be the case.  The Bible tells us of the sins many individuals whom Jehovah forgave, including David.  (2 Samuel 11:1-17; 12:13)  Jehovah is obviously still aware of the errors they committed.  The record of their sins, as well as that of their repentance and forgiveness by God, has been preserved for our benefit.  (Romans 15:4) What, then, does the Bible mean when it says that Jehovah does not "remember" the sins of those whom he forgives?

The Hebrew verb rendered "I shall remember" implies more than simply to recall the past.  The Theological Workbook of the Old Testament) notes that it includes  "the additional implication of taking appropriate action."  So in this sense, to "remember" sin involves taking action against sinners.  (Hosea 9:9)  But when God says "their sin I shall remember no more," he is assuring us that once he forgives repentant sinners, he will not at some future time act against them because of those sins .  (Ezekiel 18:21, 22)  Jehovah thus forgets in the sense that he does not bring our sins up again and again in order to accuse or punish us over and over.  Is it not comforting to know that our God forgives and forgets?

Next time: A God Who Is "Ready to Forgive"-What About the Consequences?

From the book: Draw Close to Jehovah