God Literally Forgets !

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” — Luke 6:37

I. Biblical Treatment of Youthful Conduct

Scripture consistently distinguishes between adult moral culpability and the conduct of youth. Children and adolescents often act from immaturity, incomplete understanding, and developmental limitation, rather than from conscious rebellion against God.

Deuteronomy 1:39 establishes that children lack full moral knowledge, while 1 John 3:20 affirms that God evaluates intent and heart, not mere outward behavior.

II. Knowledge, Intent, and the Definition of Sin

Biblically, sin requires knowing and willful transgression. Actions committed without mature understanding do not meet this definition. Proverbs 22:6 recognizes that youth is formative and requires instruction rather than condemnation.

Accordingly, youthful misjudgments should not be retroactively reclassified as deliberate moral violations.

III. The Error of Lifelong Condemnation

Preserving and rehearsing decades-old youthful conduct as evidence of moral failure reflects a misapplication of biblical justice. Scripture does not authorize perpetual judgment based on immaturity.

Such practice elevates memory above mercy and ignores the biblical framework of growth, repentance, and restoration.

IV. Unforgiveness as a Separate Moral Violation

Scripture repeatedly warns that harboring resentment and rehearsing the faults of others is itself sinful. Hebrews 10:30–31 reserves judgment to God alone.

Matthew 18:21–22 teaches forgiveness without numeric limit. The refusal to forgive transforms memory into accusation and constitutes an independent moral failure.

V. Divine Forgiveness Includes Forgetting

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” — Jeremiah 31:34

Divine forgiveness is not conditional or partial. Jeremiah 31:34 affirms that God chooses not to remember forgiven sins. Psalm 103:12 illustrates forgiveness as complete separation, not retained recollection.

This establishes a biblical model in which forgiveness necessarily includes deliberate non-recollection.

VI. Obligation to Mirror Divine Mercy

Colossians 3:13 commands believers to forgive as God forgives, implying both release and forgetting. Forgiveness that preserves a mental ledger of offenses falls short of the biblical standard.

Ephesians 4:32 further ties forgiveness to kindness and compassion, identifying forgiveness as restorative rather than punitive.

VII. Supporting Scriptural Authorities

Additional Biblical Foundations

Isaiah 43:25 — God declares that forgiven sins will not be remembered.

Micah 7:19 — Sins cast into the depths of the sea.

Hebrews 10:17 — New Covenant confirmation of divine forgetting.

Isaiah 44:22 — Transgressions blotted out like mist.

Psalm 103:12 — Total separation of sin from the forgiven.

VIII. Conclusion

Scripture affirms that youthful immaturity is judged differently, that forgiveness includes forgetting, and that clinging to past offenses constitutes its own moral violation.

True biblical love does not maintain an archive of accusations. It forgives, releases, and restores, reflecting God’s mercy rather than human resentment.