When God forgives our sins, do we and he then forget them?
(Gen. 42:7-24; Isa. 55;11; Matt. 25:41-46; Luke 23:34) Blog Aug 08-14, 2021
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Rest is a gift from God. Sin is the primary thief of rest. Jesus offers rest from sin and help in walking in paths of righteousness. We can rest from striving to save ourselves by trusting in the work that Jesus completed on earth. Besides showing us how to find rest from the guilt of sin and from striving to save ourselves, the Bible also gives principles that restore rest in families and societies.
Joseph & his Brothers
1. When at his father’s command Joseph took provisions to his ten brothers in Shechem what happened? Joseph’s brothers stripped off his coat of many colors, cast him into a pit, sold him to Ishmaelite merchants, dipped his coat in blood, & showed the bloody coat to Jacob their father (Gen. 37:12-35).
2. Which of Joseph’s brothers was guilty of suggesting that they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelite merchants? Joseph’s brother, Judah, was the one who suggested that they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites who sold him into Egyptian slavery (Gen. 37:26-27).
3. How was Judah’s life filled with sinful, turbulent unrest after selling Joseph into Egypt? After selling Joseph into Egypt, Judah married a Canaanite woman, she died after bearing him three children, his sons were wicked, he consorted with a “prostitute” who turned out to be the daughter-in-law that he had defrauded, & she tricked him into justice (Gen. 38:1-19).
4. When did Joseph find rest in relation to the sin his brothers committed against him? Joseph found rest in his heart when on his journey to Egypt he committed himself to God & forgave his brothers in his heart (Gen. 39:1-4).
5. Through what means was the Holy Spirit working to convict Joseph’s brothers of their sin? The Holy Spirit worked through the individual consciences of Joseph’s brothers, through Ruben’s remonstrance, & especially through Joseph’s rough treatment of them when they came to buy corn (Gen. 37:26, 29-30; 42:21-22).
6. Besides Judah’s restless experience what must have been the experience of all of Joseph’s brothers during the many years that they didn’t confess their sins against Joseph and his father? Joseph’s brothers must have been continually harassed by their guilty consciences which gave them no rest (Gen. 42:21-22; Isa. 57:20-21).
7. What should we learn from the difficult tests that Joseph put his brothers through before he revealed himself to them? We should learn that Joseph acted like God who acts with extreme love & a desire for us to confess our sins & give evidence that we have turned from them (like Joseph’s brothers did by not envying Benjamin’s receipt of greater favors). When we do this God reveals himself to us with greater blessings (Lev. 5:5-6; 26:40-42; 1 Kings 8:33-35; 1 John 1:9).
Jesus and Us
8. How did God describe himself to Moses when his people greatly sinned at Mount Sinai? God revealed to Moses that he was, “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” (Ex. 34:6-7; Psa. 86:5).
9. If God is so anxious to forgive why do people not find peace and rest in his forgiveness? People don’t find peace & rest in God’s forgiveness because they don’t ask for it (John 16:24; 1 John 1:9).
10. What should we understand from Jesus’ statement on the cross: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”? Jesus’ words on the cross show us God’s willingness to forgive any sin against him if we will but ask (James 4:2; 1 John 1:9).
11. Who else besides the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers are included in Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness on the cross? Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness on the cross includes everyone who nailed his hands & feet – that is every human being, for it was our sins that nailed Jesus to the cross (1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 2:2).
12. What price did God have to pay in order to be able to forgive our sins? In order to be able to forgive our sins, it cost God the price of suffering the torment of hell for every person that has ever lived (Luke 24:26; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).
13. When God forgives our sins, do we and he then forget them? A forgiven sin is not a forgotten sin. Joseph’s brothers did not forget their sin when they were forgiven but still remembered it 17 years later when their father died & God does not blot out our sins & close his record books the moment we accept his forgiveness, but rather forgetfulness comes at the time of final judgment (Gen. 50:15-19; Jer. 18:23; Acts 3:19).
14. How does the story of the two debtors in Matthew 18 illustrate that “to forgive is not to forget”? Jesus’ story of the two debtors illustrates the truth that forgiven sins can come back upon a person if that person does not forgive others (Eze. 18:24; Matt. 6:15; 18:23-35).
Us and Others
15. When we forgive another’s debt to us what do we lose? When we forgive another’s debt, we lose all that was owed to us (Matt. 18:23-35).
16. What should continually inspire us to forgive others? The realization of what God has forgiven us should be a continual inspiration for us to forgive others (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13; Heb. 2:3).
17. In Simon’s house what truth about forgiveness did Jesus state? In Simon’s house Jesus stated that those who realize how much they have been forgiven will respond with love towards their forgiver & towards others (Luke 7:36-48).
18. When should we choose to forgive a person who sins against us? Before the sun sets we should think through the situation & deny ourselves revenge (leaving that up to God) & choose in our heart to forgive the person that sinned against us, for only thus can we have peace & rest (Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-22; Eph. 4:26-27, 31-32; Col. 3:12-13).
19. When should we tell those who sin against us that we forgive them? We should tell a person that we forgive them only after we have forgiven them in our heart & when that person repents & asks us to forgive them (Lev. 19:17-18; Luke 17:1-4).
20. Besides confronting and forgiving in our heart those who sin against us what else does Jesus recommend we do? Jesus says: “Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44).