The Bible has a lot to say about forgetting the past. On one hand, there are verses that encourage leaving the past behind and not dwelling on past mistakes or hurts. Philippians 3:13-14 says “But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Here Paul is encouraging the Philippians to forget the past, both the good and the bad, and press on toward the future God has for them.
However, there are also many verses that talk about the importance of remembering what God has done in the past. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses tells the Israelites to remember the 40 years in the wilderness and how God provided for them, so that they would not become proud and forget God when they entered the promised land. The Passover feast was instituted as a way for God’s people to remember how He delivered them out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:14). Remembering significant events is presented as an act of worship and gratitude towards God for His faithfulness and provision.
So how do we reconcile these two biblical themes? Here are a few key principles on remembering versus forgetting the past from a biblical perspective:
1. Forget the sins, failures, and hurts – don’t dwell on the past
The Bible encourages believers to repent and receive God’s forgiveness for sin, and then move forward. When Satan reminds us of past sins and failures, we’re told to focus on Christ’s finished work on the cross rather than our own shortcomings (Romans 8:1, Hebrews 10:17-18). We should also forgive others freely, not holding grudges or reminding people of their past offenses against us (Colossians 3:13). Dwelling too much on hurts inflicted by others or ourselves leads to a victim mentality rather than the abundant life Jesus promises (John 10:10).
2. Remember God’s faithfulness, promises, and blessings
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly told to remember the covenants God established with their ancestors and how He delivered and blessed them time and again despite their disobedience (Deuteronomy 5:15, Psalm 105). Remembrance of spiritual markers and God’s faithfulness spurs gratitude and praise. Even the practice of communion memorializes Christ’s sacrifice and the “new covenant” established for our salvation. Remembering specific examples builds our faith when we face uncertain times. If God provided manna in the desert before, He will provide for us again.
3. Learn from past mistakes
While we should leave sinful regrets behind, some memories can serve as valuable lessons. Paul remembers how he persecuted Christians before his conversion and uses his experience to motivate his tireless missionary work (1 Corinthians 15:9-10). His thorn in the flesh kept him dependent on God rather than self-sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Scripture urges believers to remember times of disobedience and repentance to learn obedience and remain vigilant against temptation (Ezekiel 36:31, Revelation 2:5). Remembering leads to wisdom when we reflect biblically on the past.
4. Remember others positively
Hebrews 11 recounts the faithful exploits of saints long gone to inspire present-day perseverance. Paul warmly remembers fellow workers like Barnabas who encouraged him (Galatians 2:13). Timothy is charged to rekindle the spiritual gift given him by the laying on of Paul’s hands (2 Timothy 1:6). When Scripture records exemplary lives, it implicitly commands their commemoration as models for emulation. We remember the godliness and courage of those who’ve gone before us.
5. Our identity is secure in Christ
Dwelling on the past can leave us irrevocably defined by mistakes or experiences. Paul’s identity as a persecutor could have paralyzed him with shame. But he declares, “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). His sense of self was anchored in Jesus, not his checkered background. Corrie ten Boom recalls forgetting her identity as a Holocaust survivor because being a child of God became her overriding community. In Christ, we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17).
6. God has prepared good works for us to do
Rehashing the past continually can distract us from God’s purposes for our lives right now. In Ephesians 2:10, immediately after discussing salvation by grace, Paul says believers are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We can only walk in those prepared works if we’re focused on partnering with Christ in the present rather than dwelling on what’s behind us. When God calls us to action, we must let go of what lies behind.
7. We can’t change the past – only learn from it
Bitterly rehearsing past hurts and failures accomplishes nothing. We can’t change what has already happened. All we can do is receive God’s forgiveness and move forward in His grace and wisdom. Condemnation keeps us shackled to the past; Christ came to set us free (Romans 8:1). Scripture instructs us to learn from the past, then walk in righteousness by the Spirit’s power (1 John 1:7; Galatians 5:16). What’s done is done; we can only choose how we move forward today.
8. God promises to forget our sins when we repent
A beautiful promise for believers is that God chooses not to remember our sins. Isaiah 43:25 declares, “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Psalm 103:12 says “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” God purposefully “forgets” pardoned sins, cleansing our conscience so we’re unhindered in serving Him (Hebrews 10:1-2). Divinely forgetting the past secures our future hope.
9. Our citizenship is in heaven
When consumed by past failures or accolades, we operate with an earthly mindset. But Philippians 3:17-21 contrasts living for earthly things with setting our hearts and minds on heaven. Believers are citizens of God’s eternal kingdom. We’re just “foreigners and exiles” passing through this life. Our hope isn’t foundationally in this world or its happenings, but in the home Jesus is preparing for us (John 14:2-3). Keeping an eternal perspective minimizes the past’s hold.
10. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever
We find great comfort in the unchanging nature of Christ. Our Savior doesn’t differ over time. Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His love, mercy, justice, power, promises, and character remain steadfast, no matter what we’ve previously experienced. When everything else shifts and fades, Jesus is our rock. Who He has been and will be guides how we remember, forget, and live today.
The Bible offers wisdom for remembering or forgetting the past in a balanced, godly way. Refusing to dwell on past sins and failures honors God’s redeeming grace. Recalling lessons learned and God’s faithfulness spurs spiritual growth. Our identity rests in Jesus alone, not past deeds. Clinging too tightly to what’s behind can distract us from partnering with God in the present. But by walking in biblical remembrance and forgetfulness, we live fruitful, Christ-centered lives marked by faith, wisdom, and hope.