Remember

This word joined the list because someone asked me a question to the effect of, “If the Scriptures teach that our sins will not be remembered, how will we know who we are in Heaven, and does this mean that God forgets some things?”

The word “remembered” in Scripture may be very simply explained as this: “considered,” or “contemplated.”  After the Flood, Yah said, “The bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Gen 9:14, 15)  This does not mean that He would literally forget (as we use the term today) not to flood the world until He saw a rainbow; it means that this would be a visible sign of the promise, something that may be contemplated as a “token” of the covenant. (verse 13)

We read also, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Yahweh.” (Psa 25:7)  “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isa 43:25)  “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Heb 8:12)

These verses do not mean that we will actually forget what happened on earth.  A number of passages tell us that our knowledge will be increased, not decreased, as here: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1Cor 13:10, 12)

The Book of Hebrews includes the passage, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Heb 12:1)  Looking back at the previous chapter to see what the “wherefore” is about, we realize that the author is including also the number of the saints that died before Christ came.  In the world to come, the followers of Christ and, in a special sense, the last generation of saints, will have much to teach those who have preceded us by way of the grave.  In the resurrection (this passage is not addressing life after death, as some would hold) the 144,000 will have a special place, having followed the Lamb “whithersoever He goeth,” (Rev 14:4) and reflecting the light of His character most clearly.

That these individuals who learn are called a “cloud of witnesses” is significant, for they will not know, by observation, things about us that we do not know about ourselves by experience.  Paul writes, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” (1Cor 6:3) Clearly, we will have access to the events of even the spiritual plain as it pertains to this age.