Many things come to mind when we think of Easter. Forgiveness kept coming to the forefront of my mind the last few weeks. After all, that is why Jesus had to die – so we could be forgiven of our sins.
What kept coming to my mind, particularly, was how powerful forgiveness really is. Forgiveness provides so much relief. No doubt we all have done someone wrong and had feelings of regret. What relief and joy we have when that person forgives us and our relationship is restored. That is normally the way we see forgiveness – someone doing something for us. In this case, forgiving us.
Chattanooga Times Free Press President Jeff DeLoachAnother huge power of forgiveness is forgiving. Surely we all have experienced feelings of someone doing us wrong. Our nature is to want to get them back in some way. We may spend hours, days or even years being angry, frustrated and bitter; those nasty feelings can make life miserable and separate us from the joy of living. Now think about when someone did you wrong, and you truly forgave them – and maybe you not only forgave them, but you completely forgot about the wrong. Wow, what a relief that is. Your joy was restored, and that relationship was restored. The feelings that separated you from the joy of living were gone. How powerful forgiving others can be!
To achieve the most joy and happiness that forgiving has to offer, forget whatever you gave forgiveness for. In Hebrews 8:13, we learn that God said, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Once we forgive and remember no more, our complete relationship and joy with that individual is restored. All of that is based on the individual who wronged us truly wanting forgiveness. And in many relationships, both parties have to ask for forgiveness.
We can achieve this same forgiveness from Christ, and our relationship with him can be restored, no longer separated from him because of our sin. The Scriptures teach us that Jesus (the son of God) had to suffer death for our sins but rose from the dead on the third day for us to be given the opportunity to be forgiven for our sins.