Reading through Colossians last week, I read this verse and it hasn’t left my head since. ” Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross ” (Colossians 2:14). What a gift of love is given to us in the person of Jesus Christ. I’ve been pondering Christ’s love lately, and I was blown away when I read this verse. I don’t think I’ve ever so clearly seen exactly what Christ did with all those sins of mine. Let’s look at this verse in more detail.
” Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross ” (Colossians 2:14). Jesus Christ, in His death on the Cross, took the sin that was contrary to us and took it away, blotting out the record and nailing it to His Cross. I’ve never read a more perfect definition of forgiveness. Just stop and think about this for a minute. Imagine a list of all the sins you’ve ever committed. That’s a pretty scary thought isn’t it? Now imagine Jesus. He took that list and nailed it to the Cross, where His blood washed away those sins and erased their record. In His eyes they no longer exist. Have you ever read anything more wonderful?
Forgiveness, because it is a word we use so often, can lose it’s meaning if we’re not careful. If we read a verse like this, however, forgiveness take on a while new meaning. Forgiveness means that the record of our sins has been erased. All those sins that were ever held against us are blotted away when we accept Christ as Saviour. And how does this happen? Jesus Christ washed our sins away when He died on the Cross. He took upon Himself all of our sin and nailed it to the Cross as He Himself was crucified. What love, what a gift!
Each and every day we can be forgiven. Because our past sins are already forgiven, we don’t need to be forgiven again for them. Those sins that we commit each day, just because we’re sinful humans, however, need to be confessed. I John 1:9 reminds us, ” If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness “. All that unrighteousness is washed away as Jesus cleanses us. Nothing else can wash us, except the blood of Jesus Christ – shed on the Cross. Daily we can come to Him, lay our sins at His feet and be forgiven. Again, what a gift?
Have you accepted this gift yet? We’re all sinners in need of a Saviour (Romans 3:23). Accepting Jesus Christ is the only way that we can gain salvation and forgiveness for those sins (John 14:6). Don’t you want to be forgiven? What are you holding on to? With forgiveness comes perfect peace and a heart set free. Forgiveness wasn’t free for Jesus, but it is freely given, if you but ask. ” In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace ” (Ephesians 1:7).
Friends, think back to that list of sins. If you’ve accepted Christ, the list is gone. Are you living as if it’s gone? Ponder this forgiveness for a while, and let your heart be light. Then start walking in the newness of life (Romans 6:4) that comes with having Christ as your Saviour. There’s nothing greater and there’s no other way to walk in the abundant life He’s promised us (John 10:10). Walk like one set free, my friends, because if you’re forgiven you’re free indeed.