The Forgetful God?

Seems silly doesn't it. An all knowing, all powerful and ever present God forgetting something? Yet we have this comforting promise:

Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.12For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. ESV

What does it mean that God will not remember sins? Hebrews 8 presents Jesus as the High Priest of the new covenant. This covenant would not require the shedding of animals blood for the remembrance of sin but rather the shedding of the Lamb of God's blood for the washing away of sin. Sin is gone completely and separated from us as far as the East is from the West.

This is the radical difference between biblical Christianity, other religions in the world and unfortunately what passes for Christianity in many circles. Success preachers, purpose dribblers, papists and left behinders all teach we owe God big time for this free gift. Yes we owe Him big time but He asks us to receive this from His hand. These liars will always cast a person back on themselves to see if he or she is saved not point to Jesus' finished work.

The Gospel places no demand upon us. Jesus' perfect life, bitter sufferings, shameful death and glorious resurrection are not to be added to nor can they be improved upon. God, the good deed originator, does not need our deeds. We do not need them to get in good with God. But our neighbour does. With a thankful heart we help our neighbour in our daily rounds partially because we may feel good doing it but partly due to love for God our Father.

Thanks be to God! †