…then He adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” (Hebrews 10:17 ESV)
Forget
A few years ago, we paid off a home mortgage. The bank did not continue to send me notices and reminders to pay the monthly installments. The debt was forgiven, and therefore was forgotten.
A few years ago, I was cited by the police for driving my car without proper insurance. Not only did that infraction remain on my record for a time, but my insurance company increased my rates. But a couple of years later, my record was cleared, and the insurance company went back to billing me normally. My crime was forgiven, and therefore was forgotten.
A few years ago I failed an exam while in college. I was embarrassed, disappointed, and motivated to overcome that F. By the end of the semester, I was able to raise the class grade to an A. It was not an A, with a sub notation of a hidden F. My laziness was forgiven, and therefore was forgotten.
But somehow, we often decide that the VERY expensive payment God made (the death of His Son) to procure our forgiveness, is not really forgotten. We fear He keeps score.
But He does not.
The debt of sin is forgiven, and therefore forgotten.
Not forgotten just because God feels like forgetting, or alters His divine memory, or is only sort of forgotten, but is more like a hidden grudge.
But God absolutely forgives, to the same degree that His Son, Jesus, pays for our Sin. Absolutely.
He does not remember, because Christ’s payment completely paid.
God does not remember, because there is nothing to remember.