What does it mean to remember no more? - Jerry Bridges

What does it mean,  "To remember no more?"

To remember no more is God's way of expressing absolute forgiveness. In Hebrews 8:12 (which quotes Jeremiah 31:34) God says:


For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

And again in Hebrews 10:17-18, He says,

Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.


Note that in both passages remember no more is equated with forgiveness.

Psalm 130:3-4 states that the same truth in a somewhat different way:

If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who should stand? But with you there is forgiveness, therefore you are feared.

Here the Psalmist considers the prospect that God does remember our sins, that He does keep such a record of them.

If this were true, it would be a terrifying thought. The Psalmist says: "Who could stand?"

It is a rhetorical question. None of us could successfully stand before God's bar of judgment.

But then the Psalmist goes on to exclaim: "But with you there is forgiveness."

God does not keep a record of our sins. Instead He forgives.

This, of course, anticipates the sacrifice of Christ for our sins, for "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness"  (Hebrews 9:22)

       From The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges

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It's a "bad news/good news" story -- the bad news first: yes, we are great sinners in the eyes of God.

Next the really good news: God has forgiven us of all our sins--past, present and future.

Now that's really good news!