When to forget

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 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.” (Phil. 3:13:14 ESV) 

Forget the sins of others

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

 “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Heb. 10:12 ESV)

 Forget your old ways of sin

 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.” (Isa. 43:18 ESV) 

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

“Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 ESV)

Therefore…

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1 ESV)

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isa. 43:25 ESV)

Quotes:

“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” - Johnny Cash

“We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.” -Rick Warren