Completely Forgiven

Cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross. _{Colossians 2:14}

When it comes to Easter, the way that society celebrates this occasion and the way the Church celebrates it, are worlds apart. As the Christian observes the bitter-sweet scene of cross and tomb, those around us are living out an Easter Holiday commercial. There is barely an acknowledgement of the one who took on the sin of every single person and carried it all to the cross.

There is so much for us to ponder this weekend, and we look forward to celebrating the glorious fulfilment of the empty tomb, which declares that the Son of Man truly was the Son of God. Death could not hold Jesus, but he still endured the agony of it so that we could live free. I absolutely rejoice in the resurrection and in the fact that I serve a living God, but I never want to gloss over the anguish, the torment and the distress that Jesus bore, in order to cancel the record of debt that stood against me.

Sin creates a debt that demands to be paid, and the sacrifice of every lamb in the world would never be enough, because sin never stops. The Father knew that our debt would only ever increase, so he drew a line, not to stop the sin, but to end the demand upon us to pay for it. Our debt, this he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Acknowledging this, and all that it means, enables us to experience the full joy of the risen Saviour, because –

God made [us] alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. _{Colossians 2:14}

You are completely forgiven. Do not diminish what Christ has done for you by continuing to carry any past sin. Surrender it fully, leave it at the cross, and live in the freedom that Jesus secured for you.