Paul’s invitation to “forget those things” feels radical, especially when you consider the countless voices urging us to cling to our past mistakes, regrets, or even so-called spiritual accomplishments. But stepping into Paul’s mindset means embracing a reality untethered from guilt or boasting—a mindset fueled by grace, not grit.
Why Forget the Past? It’s Not What You Think
Most folks hear “forget those things” and think, “Easy for Paul to say—he had an incredible conversion.” But hold on. Paul was dealing with a serious past: a persecutor of the church who once hunted down believers. If he could let go of that past, what’s stopping the rest of us? Remember, Paul wasn’t advocating selective amnesia or pretending his history didn’t happen; he was inviting us to quit living as if our identity is glued to our former sins or empty achievements.
There’s a soaring freedom in that. As grace believers rightly divide the Word of Truth, we see this isn’t about earning God’s favor or dragging around chains of guilt. It’s about realizing that in Christ, God has wiped the slate clean. Paul’s mindset is an act of faith—trusting that God’s grace is enough to cover everything, even the worst parts we secretly wish no one found.
Setting Our Sights Forward: The Goal is the Prize
Paul talks about pressing toward the goal, that prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. It’s an image both simple and staggering. What does it take to forget what’s behind and strain forward? Guts. Hope. A willingness to die to self-crucified old patterns and desires.
For grace believers, this prize isn’t about perfection or moral checklist ticking. It’s about the relationship—the eternal bond with Jesus that pulls us forward. Paul’s mindset isn’t to beat ourselves up over yesterday’s failures but to throw our energy into what God is doing inside and through us now.
Think about it. How much time does the average believer spend ruminating about past slip-ups or even moments of shallow faith? Paul says, “Cut it out.” We have God’s grace as an uncontested power source; dwelling on what’s behind is spiritual sabotage.
Old Self vs. New Creation: The Radical Grace Perspective
There’s a huge difference between legalism’s “work harder to fix your past” and grace’s “your past is nailed to the cross with Jesus.” Paul’s calling to forget isn’t just forgetfulness—it’s a deliberate rejection of the old self. That old self lived under the law’s condemnation and died to the possibility of merit. The new self? Born from grace, alive in God’s love, invited to live by faith, not fear.
This changes everything. When you get this mindset, you stop trying to perform for God and start performing from God’s already accomplished work. The old Paul was a Pharisee, but grace transformed him. Now he pursues Christ, not rules. That shift is the heartbeat of rightly dividing the Word—it unveils God’s unshakable love, not conditional approval.
Why Holding Onto the Past Is a Trap
You’d think Christians should always reflect on their past for spiritual growth. Sure, but the difference lies in what you embrace or reject. Paul knew that clinging to failures or sacrifices made before coming to grace creates a toxic mix of guilt and arrogance. Guilt that drags you down. Arrogance that inflates your pride in works.
Remember Galatians? Paul was blunt—trying to earth your salvation by mixing law and grace is deadly. Clinging to things behind steals your peace and distorts your identity. It tricks you into measuring yourself by what you did or didn’t do rather than what Christ did. That’s why Paul’s “forget those things” is so desperately needed.
What Does Forgetting Look Like in Real Life?
It’s not as if Paul wanted believers to play memory games. No one has the power to erase memories at will. Forgetting is an act of the will, a conscious decision to refuse past sins and accomplishments a voice in your present identity.
Maybe it means you stop telling yourself you’re still defined by that terrible choice last year. Maybe it’s not bragging that you once fasted and prayed for a month, expecting to earn God’s favor. Forgetting is a day-by-day mindset that says, “My worth is not wrapped in my history but in the finished work of Christ.” In practice, that looks like taking thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and refusing old narratives.
Imagine how much lighter your soul would feel if you stopped dragging your past like baggage on a hiking trail. Paul’s mindset is freedom with a capital F.
Grace as the Power Behind Forgetting
This is where grace believers find their sweet spot. Without grace, you’re stuck either feeling condemned or boasting self-righteously. Grace says, “Neither your condemnation nor your self-boasting hold any power here.” Forgetting is rooted in grace—choosing to believe that the transaction on Calvary completely covers it all.
The beauty is that grace is not a license to sin but a foundation to live differently. When you truly internalize that God forgives completely, that He is the author and finisher of your faith, you naturally leave the past behind. It’s an ongoing peaceful rebellion against the bondage of performance.
Challenge Yourself: What Are You Holding Onto?
If Paul’s mindset convicts you, good. It should. Ask honest questions: What chains of past guilt am I wearing? Which spiritual “achievements” am I hiding behind? Are these anchors weighing me down instead of propelling me forward in Jesus?
The answer doesn’t come from willpower but from resting in God’s promises. Looking to scriptures like those found at Verse for the Day can help reset your heart and refocus. Daily renewal happens through God’s Word and Spirit, not human striving.
So here’s a provocative thought: What if the biggest obstacle to your spiritual growth isn’t your sin but your unwillingness to forget it? That’s Paul’s mindset speaking—inviting you to press on, forget the rest, and run your race with eyes fixed upward.
Living as a grace believer means living with the freedom of forgotten failure and forgotten boasting. When your identity rests solely on Christ’s work, every step feels lighter, faster, freer.
It’s messy, imperfect, and beautifully real. And it’s exactly what Paul’s mindset looked like on the road to Damascus—and continues to look like today.