Because of our connection with sin, we were doomed for death. The Bible claims, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

However, God figured out a way to free us from our death sentence. Jesus Christ came to earth to cancel the effect of sin upon our lives. The book of John records that “John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Jesus willingly came to earth to take the death penalty for our sin against God. The whole “cross” deal was done FOR us. Jesus Christ suffered and died for you and me. He experienced what we should have experienced. His blood was spilled instead of ours and now that blood is said to satisfy the demand that we each die for our sins, and his blood “purifies us” from our sin. John wrote, “The blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from every sin” (1 John 1:7).

From God’s perspective, every one of the stupid, evil things you did in the past is now forgotten. You are forgiven. That means there is no reason for you to live under the guilt of what you have done in the past. No matter how bad you were, God made a way to cleanse you and make it as though it never happened (people may remember, but God doesn’t – and he will help you get past the judgments of people). It turns out that God’s forgiveness is stronger than all the terrible things you may have done. The good news is that Jesus’ righteous actions on our behalf weigh more heavily in God’s mind than the evil we do.

Romans 5:20 makes the claim, “Where sin increased, grace (God’s favor to forgive) increased all the more.” People commit unspeakable crimes like murder, rape, incest, etc., and feel that God could never forgive them. But this verse declares that God’s kindness and forgiveness extends even those who have done what society and others will never forgive them for. God’s love overrides sin!

The word “forgiveness” used in Bible days was a word used in reference to the releasing of prisoners. It literally meant “to send off, to release, to let go or to let be.” When you understand that Jesus died for you (in your place), you understand that his death causes all your sins and failures are sent away and you are forever released from the prison of your past mistakes.

What a picture that paints for us. When God forgives us, there is no evidence before him in Heaven that we ever committed sins! Listen to these great Bible verses that take this view:

”As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

”For you have cast all my sins behind your back” (Isaiah 38:17).

“He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. Yes, Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).

These promises mean you don’t have to live in the guilt of your past.

Paul wrote, “Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet God declares us ‘not guilty’ of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins” (Romans 3:23-24).

Though there are times we need to make amends for the damage we have caused others, we don’t have to hang our heads in condemnation or believe we can never make it in life because of our wrongdoing. The Bible boldy declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

God never remembers your past; the bad news is that there are those who never forget it. Satan, the enemy of your spiritual life, loves to control people through guilt over the past. By doing so, he can keep you locked into old habits and destroy your future. But your past cannot be used against you now. Not if you remember Jesus’ death for you. The Bible claims you are now a child of God. You don’t have to identify with your past life; you have a new life in Christ.

So sweet.