Jack was praying to God, confessing his sins and asking to be forgiven for Jesus’ sake. As he was praying, he remembered a man named Frank who had wronged him.  Frank was a member of the same church Jack attended. Jack figured that Frank would also talk to God and confess his sins, so it occurred to him to ask God a question. Jack said, “God, I know that Frank prays to you every day and confesses his sins. I was wondering, God, can you tell me what he told you?” Jack was thinking it might be good to have some ammunition to use against Frank if he needed it. God said, “Let me get back to you on that tomorrow.”

The next day Jack was praying again and asked God, “Remember what I asked you yesterday? Did Frank confess his sins to you?”  God said, “Yes, he did.”  Jack asked, “Can you tell me what Frank’s sins are?” And do you know what God said? “I don’t remember.”

That is what God says about the sin of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. “I don’t remember.” We know that Jesus paid for sins so that we would not have to. That’s the reason He came into this world. The author of the letter to the Hebrews was making this point when he quoted a passage from the prophet Jeremiah: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) God says that to all those who believe that Jesus took our place in punishment.

We rejoice in the knowledge that we have this forgiveness. It enables us to live with confidence. We would do well to share it with others. We like knowing that God does not remember our sins, but we do not forget what others have done to us. We admonish each other to “forgive and forget,” yet we know it is just about impossible to do so.

No doubt you have heard, “To err is human, to forgive divine.” Many think this is from Scripture, but it was actually written by Alexander Pope in “An Essay on Criticism.” The point is valid. An attribute of our fallen human nature is to err. We all do this daily. But when Jesus came to earth and became a true human being, he was able to live without sin. He did this to accomplish forgiveness for everyone. When we forgive others, that is a reflection of what God has done for us in Christ.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Those who have experienced God’s forgiveness for Jesus’ sake will share that forgiveness with others. And may God enable us to imitate His divine forgetfulness so that we say of the sins we have forgiven, “I don’t remember.”