What is forgiveness?

Today I was watching a bit of TV and this question was posed between two characters. The one hoped it was a clean slate, having others forget what happened, no longer needing to feel bad about something. The other character didn’t know if that was possible. That would mean the deed was undone and that can’t happen.

I’m so grateful for forgiveness. While, as a human, I may not forget what someone did, I can be free from bitterness and bad feelings about it. And sometimes I even forget.

Scripture tells me that is the reason Jesus humbled himself, came to earth and went to the cross to die a shameful death — to forgive me.

¹³You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. ¹⁴He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Colossians 2:13-15

This feels really complete to me — canceling the charges, taking it away, disarming spiritual authorities, shaming them publically — it seems to me he erases the record making it like it never happened. I can stop feeling bad about it and maybe others will even forget what I did!

Now that’s a great way to begin (or end) this Tuesday!