Dr. BJ Condrey

I have heard before that when God forgives, he casts our sins into a sea of forgetfulness. At face value, this promises immense comfort to the person that cannot find a way to forgive themselves for past deeds. Language like “sea of forgetfulness” is probably based on verses like Micah 7:19: “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” This paired with other Bible verses seems to paint a picture of God, who is otherwise omniscient, choosing to delete our sins from his memory. For example, God speaks in Jeremiah 31:34: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 reads: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 states, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” The message seems to be clear: God not only forgives but forgets. But what does “forget” really mean? Without much reflection, we might assume that this means a type of literal amnesia. 

But does this make sense? 

And is it even desirable? 

In my view, the answer is no on both accounts. If God were to literally forget our sins, as in erasing them from His memory in the way that humans forget trivial details, this would introduce serious theological problems. God is omniscient—He knows all things, past, present, and future. For Him to truly forget something in the way we do would mean that there is something outside of His knowledge, which contradicts His very nature. Moreover, would it really be comforting to serve a God who no longer remembers key moments of our own story? Many of us still wrestle with the consequences of past sins, seeking healing in relationships or struggling to embrace His grace. If God had no recollection of our failures, how could He guide us through the restoration process? How could He remind us of His faithfulness in bringing us out of darkness and into the light?

Instead, the biblical language of God “remembering no more” must be understood in a relational sense rather than a cognitive one. When Scripture says God does not remember our sins, it means He no longer holds them against us. They no longer define our standing before Him. This is the essence of forgiveness—God does not treat us according to our transgressions, nor does He let them hinder our communion with Him. Psalm 32:2 affirms this truth: “Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” The emphasis is not on divine amnesia but on the complete removal of guilt and condemnation.

In reality, we need a God who remembers, not to condemn, but to redeem. So often, He uses the memory of our past failures to shape us into people of greater wisdom, humility, and compassion. Many who have sinned grievously and been forgiven find themselves called into ministry that speaks directly to those struggling in similar ways. How often does God use our wounds—many of which we inflicted upon ourselves—to comfort others with the comfort we have received (2 Cor. 1:3-4)? A God who forgets in the way we do would not be able to transform our brokenness for His glory.

This is why Romans 8:28 rings true: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Our past sins, once confessed and forgiven, are not simply erased from history but woven into a greater redemptive story. Augustine, one of the greatest theologians in church history, writes: “For the Omnipotent God, whom even the heathen acknowledge as the Supreme Power over all, would not allow any evil in his works, unless in his omnipotence and goodness, as the Supreme Good, he is able to bring forth good out of evil” (The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Love). The comfort of divine forgiveness is not that God loses track of our failures but that He remembers them in a way that leads to restoration, renewal, and ultimately, our joy in Him. There is no condemnation for those in Christ, so we can be assured that whatever he remembers, he graciously remembers for our good and his glory.