Have you ever been identified by your past sins or mistakes? Mr. John is describing you to Mr. James. Mr. James could not recollect until Mr. John said, “… that one who did …”, or “… don’t you remember that brother who was caught in …” The sin you committed or the mistake you made becomes your identity.
There is good news for you. Your sin is not your identity. It is for this reason that Jesus died. The Word of God declares,
“For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, ‘This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’ Then he says, ‘I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.’ And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.” (Heb.10:14-18).
Wow! God decided He will never again remember your sins and lawlessness. The only sin you may be identified with is the sin you have not confessed and repented of. John says,
“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” (1 John 1:8-10).
God does not remember Peter’s denial
What is as bad as public denial of one’s master? Jesus Himself declared that public denial of faith in Him carries consequences.
“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” (Matt.10:32-33).
Peter crossed that red line.
“Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, ‘You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.’ But Peter denied it in front of everyone. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said.
Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. ‘I don’t even know the man,’ he said.
A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, ‘You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.’ Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed.” (Matt.26:69-74).
Did you notice the sequence? The first time it was a mere, verbal denial; the second time it was an oath; and the third time he cursed himself if ever he knew Jesus. That was a complete public denial of Jesus Christ.
But, he repented. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly. (Matt.26:75).
For Peter, his denial of Jesus Christ was public, but his repentance was private. Although he sinned, he never hardened his heart against the Word of God. He allowed the Word of Jesus to convict and convert his heart. When he made that U-turn, and returned to his faith in Christ, he became one of the pillars of the Gospel. God never remembered his sins any more.
God never remembered the sins of Saul
Do you still remember Saul of Tarsus, who later became Paul the Apostle? Saul was a murderer. He persecuted the saints; he masterminded the persecution and death of Stephen. He was fuming with rage against the Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-5). But, when he gave his life to Jesus Christ, a new page opened, a page that was not stained with the dirt of his past life.
We can see in Saul who later became Paul, and Peter that God, when He has forgiven, does not remember our sins any more, whether we are sinners turned saints or saints who sinned or suffered character failure and repented.
Please do not remember
If God does not remember, why do we make it our responsibility to torture somebody with the memory of the past? Why do we still identify people with their past sins and mistakes? A Christian who never forgets the sins and trespasses of people is working in the ways of the ungodly.
Dear Christian, could you make it a practice to see people just as God sees them? Would you like to make a commitment today to always identify people with their positives, and not their negatives?
May God grant us the grace to be sources of encouragement and hope, instead of discouragement and despair, in the name of Jesus Christ.