He Will No Longer Remember
From the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) ~
56. What do you believe concerning the “forgiveness of sins”?
I believe that God, because of [the Messiah’s'] satisfaction, will no longer remember any of my sins or my sinful nature which I need to struggle against all my life. Rather, by his grace God grants me the righteousness of [the Messiah] that I may never come into judgment.
Huh.
God will no longer remember any of my sins or my sinful nature, which I need to struggle against all my life.
And it’s the struggle that makes it hard to believe that God won’t remember our sins, isn’t it? There’s this daily struggle, and daily reminder, of our sinful nature, and depending on your temperament, that could really get you down. But what the catechism desires for us to grab hold of is the greater truth that his mercy is more. “Where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more.” (Romans 5:20)
So, dear reader, let’s take hold of the grace of God for today, let’s bless Yahweh today, because he grants us the righteousness of our Messiah, Jesus. Because of him, we will not come into a judgment that damns us, but instead experience one day a welcome into the Master’s eternal celebration (Matthew 25:23).
1 Bless Yahweh, my entire being;
all my being, [bless] his sacred name.
2 Bless Yahweh, my entire being;
don’t put out of mind all his dealings.
3 He’s the one who pardons all your waywardness,
who heals all your illnesses,
4 Who restores your life from the Pit,
who garlands you with commitment and compassion,
5 Who fills you in your finery with goodness,
so that your youth renews like an eagle.
8 Yahweh is compassionate and gracious,
long-tempered and big in commitment.
9 He doesn’t argue permanently,
he doesn’t hold on to it for a long time.
10 He hasn’t acted towards us in accordance with our wrongdoings;
he hasn’t dealt to us in accordance with our wayward acts.
11 Because in accordance with the loftiness of the heavens over the earth,
his commitment has been strong over people who hold him in awe.
12 In accordance with the distance of east from west,
he has distanced our rebellions from us.
13 In accordance with a father’s compassion for his children,
Yahweh has had compassion for people who hold him in awe.
14 Because he himself knows our frame;
he is mindful that we are earth.22 Bless Yahweh, all his works,
in all the places where he rules.
Bless Yahweh, my entire being.
— portions from Psalm 103, The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation
