SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN

PROCLAMATION

“ ‘This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,’ declares The Lord.  ‘I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.  No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know The Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares The Lord.  ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’ ” Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the prophet Jeremiah and proclaimed to the people of Judah.  The Lord God promises peace, prosperity, joy, and happiness to Israel and Judah after He returns them to their homeland. (Jeremiah 31:1-17)  He says that He will watch over them as they build and plant. (Jeremiah 31:27-28)  He also said that the days are coming when He will establish a new covenant the people of Israel and Judah. (Jeremiah 31:32-34)  Then He says that He will forgive and forget their sins. (Jeremiah 31:34)

APPLICATION

If we would live like we recognize and remember that The Lord God is our God and we are His people, then we would enjoy the promises of God, His peace, prosperity, joy, and happiness.  Our problem is that we want to do whatever it is that we want to do, and we don’t want to obey God’s Holy Word.  We claim that we love The Lord, but we don’t want to obey Him.  Jesus, The Christ, said “If you love me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)  Sinless perfection is not required.  However, after we sin, believers must ask God to be forgiven, and then our sins will be forgiven and forgotten.