Sins forgotten?

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Is there anywhere in the bible that says that once we confess our sins and repent that our sins are forgotten?

Or in general does the bible anywhere say that our sins are forgotten, to God they never did exist?

I was having a discusion with my grandmother whom is Lutheran and she believes that sins are forgotten, meaning to God they never did exist.
 
I now understand as a Catholic that our sins can be forgiven in this age or the age to come, but not forgotten, we still have to answer to them.
 
We still have to answer for the temporal punishment of our forgiven sins. I think one of the best verses to support this is “He will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Cor 3:15). This implies some of us have to go through a cleansing even though we are saved. Of course the temporal punishment can be here or in our afterlife if we are saved.

The CCC references this in 1472-3, and it cites in the Bible Eph 4:22, 24. Much of this doctrine came out of the Council of Trent, if you wind your way through that there will be other references I am sure.
 
John Paul III:
Is there anywhere in the bible that says that once we confess our sins and repent that our sins are forgotten?

Or in general does the bible anywhere say that our sins are forgotten, to God they never did exist?

I was having a discusion with my grandmother whom is Lutheran and she believes that sins are forgotten, meaning to God they never did exist.
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The purpose of penance is perfection. The purpose of purgatory is perfection. They are meant that we may be made perfect and completely cleansed of unholy desires and attachments.

I do disagree with your grandma in a way though because it leads to the idea that sin is some actual thing. Sin is a privation of the good by a free act of man. Grace is given to fill the privation. We are given grace so that we can be fully in union with God. In order to recieve this grace we must make ourselves accustomed to it so that we can recieve it. Through prayer and other penance we can be accustomed to it. The grace replaces any privation which we have.

In a way it can’t be forgotten intill our privation no longer exists. God knows all things therefore He can only forget(it is impossible for God to forget but this is the closest word I can think of) something that is no longer in existence. As revelation says nothing impure shall enter heaven. God forgets what does not exist. He forgets imperfections when they no longer are part of us.
 
Maybe thisis what she was referring to.

Hebrews 10:16-17 this is the covenent that I will make with them After those days,says the lord; I will put my laws on their heart, and on their mind I will write them, He then says And their sins their lawless deeds I will remember no more. V18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things,there is no longer any offering for sin.

Also in Psalms103 :12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

I cannot say what context these verses are used in and I am not even sure if they apply to us.
But, I have heard these verses used the way your grandmother used them before. If indeed these are the ones she was referring to.
 
John Paul III:
Is there anywhere in the bible that says that once we confess our sins and repent that our sins are forgotten?

Or in general does the bible anywhere say that our sins are forgotten, to God they never did exist?

I was having a discusion with my grandmother whom is Lutheran and she believes that sins are forgotten, meaning to God they never did exist.
Click to expand...
Have your grandmother read:

Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, shall never have forgiveness, but shall be guilty of an everlasting sin.
**Matthew 12:32 ** And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come
**Luke 12:10 ** And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven.

She might just change her opinion on the topic.
 
I don’t think our sins are forgotten, and I’ve read in more than one place that they aren’t. After all, we still need the grace to help us resist the sin we’re struggling to overcome, because even after we repent the temptation will probably remain. How could God give us the grace we need if He forgot what we had been struggling with?
 
There is a story coming to mind, the details of which I forget but the essence I can recount. Forgive me in advance for the bad presentation. :o

There was once a man who claimed to be having visitations from Jesus. In one of these visitations Jesus told the man to go to his Parish Priest and tell him about the visits and what the Lord requested of the PP.

Of course the PP did not believe the man and so dismissed him. The man returned time and time again, after being sent by Jesus, only to be dismissed each time.

Eventually the PP said to the man in frustration “If it is Jesus who is appearing to you then ask Him what were the last sins I confessed before I was ordained a priest. If you can recount them I will believe you.”

The man took himself off and during the next visitation of the Lord put the request of the PP to Jesus. "My PP wants to know what were the last sins he confessed before he was ordained a priest?

Jesus looked lovingly at him and said “I forget”

My friends, such is the incomprehensible mercy of God. Of course he forgets our sins once they are sincerely confessed.
 
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