Choosing to forget

On Sunday morning, when we looked at Q25 in the catechism, we reflected a bit about how good our memory is, asking the question - do you forget things? No-one of us has a perfect memory.  It is simply impossible for us to remember everything we have experienced, read or person we meet.  Yet, we also know what it is to want to forget things, but we simply can't.  Some memories and experiences haunt us. God's different - he can remember everything.  However, when our sins are forgiven through Jesus, he chooses to forget them.  And when he chooses to forget, he truly does.  To take that further, the wonderful hope of the gospel is that he can help us forget them too, bringing his peace to our disordered hearts. Here's the question

Q25. Does Christ's death mean all our sins can be forgiven?

A. Yes, because Christ's death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ's righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

Some more points to ponder:

• The price is FULLY paid

This goes against the grain of our thinking.  We want to make a contribution.  We feel we should.  Especially after we have 'sinned again and let God down'.  We need to make it up to him. The thing is, there is nothing to make up.  The penalty is done.  The price has been paid.  There is nothing left for us to 'contribute too.'  Even that sin, the one which you feel you let God down - Jesus paid for that one too.

• Our account is in credit

The price has been paid.  The debt cancelled.  But our account balance is not zero.  We are in credit.   The balance is bigger than you can ever dream.  Greater than you can ever accumulate. That's what 'God graciously imputes Christ righteousness to us as if it were our own.' means.  All his goodness is ours.  It is credited to our account.  When you think about that, it makes the idea of us contributing anything ridiculous.  When you have so much money in the account, lodging a few extra pennies is pretty meaningless.

• God truly forgives and forgets

Have you ever had the frustration of trying to get someone remember a time you had together - but they just can't recall it? That's what it is like with God.  When he chooses to forget something, he can't recall it.  No matter how much the accuser reminds him.   You can tell him the story again, and again.  You can give little prompts to remember - but he will not.  He cannot.  He has truly forgotten our sin. When he chooses to forget, he really does.