Let’s learn how to forget about the past, i.e., your sinful life. A good start is to do as Paul did and said to the Philippians, “I forget what is in the past…”

Updated: Saturday, June 10, 2023

How To Forget About The Past, Your Sinful Life

graphic of a bridge for your sinful life

STM Bible Snack

Philippians 3:13 [read Philippians 3:12-16 (13)]: Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. (ERV); KJV: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Dead to your sinful life

Romans 6:1-2 and 6 [read Romans 6:1-14 (1-2 and 6)]: Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. (NLT); KJV: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

How to forget

What is a solution, how do we forget, and let go of the past?

Hebrews 12:1 [read Hebrews 12:1-2 (1)]: So we have learned about many people who trusted God long ago. They are like a very big crowd all round us and we should copy their example. We must be like people who run in a race. We must throw away everything that stops us from running well. The sins that we do make us fall down very easily. We must not let those sins rule us. God has prepared the way that is in front of us. We must continue to be strong while we run along that way. We must choose to run that race well. (EASY); KJV: 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,

A. Adjust

1 Corinthians 15:33 [read 1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (33)]: Don’t let anyone fool you. “Bad companions (people; friends; company; associations) make a good person bad.” (NIRV); KJV: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
2 Corinthians 6:14 [read 2 Corinthians 6:14 (14)]: Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along with someone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same? (CEV); KJV: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

B. Explore

Stay busy exploring your new life and the new hope that it brings.
Proverbs 16:27 [read Proverbs 16:27-30 (27)]: Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece. (TLB); KJV: An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
2 Corinthians 5:17 [read 2 Corinthians 5:12-21 (17)]: If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation [the new creation has arrived; or that person has become a new creation]. The old things have gone; [look; behold] everything is made new [the new has come]! (EXB); KJV: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

C. Change

Develop new habits, new ways of living and treating people. After all, you are a new person!
Colossians 3:12 [read Colossians 3:1-25 (12)]: You see, God loves you. He picked you to be his own special people. So you have to live a new way for him. You have to be good to other people. You have to feel sorry for people that have trouble and try to help them. Don’t think that you are more important than other people. You have to be easy on other people, and don’t get angry with them, even if they give you trouble. (PEV); KJV: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Leave your sinful life in the past

Yes, as stated in Romans 6:6 the old life—sinful nature was crucified so we should no longer be a slave to sin. Forget about your past life—let go—’put off the old [sinful] life’. You have the help you need to adjust, explore, and change through the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:22 [read Ephesians 4:22 (22)]: Stop being the person you used to be in your old life. That person was bad because he wanted to do wrong things. (WE); KJV: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

I pray that you have enjoyed this Bible snack. Now you know how to forget about the past. The old you is dead, now live in an active and holy new way! Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺