Forgiveness is a concept that we all think we know or understand but yet few truly understand it while even fewer are able to forgive. However, regardless of ability or willingness forgiveness has been shown that there is a positive correlation between genuine forgiveness and positive mental health, especially the older we get.

Easter is just around the corner and along with it comes the idea of new birth, spring, and chocolate. Because of this we may not think much about forgiveness during Easter. Everything revolves around getting the children in their cute dresses or suits, or getting ready for one of the two times a year many will go to church. With this idea of newness, though, it would make sense that forgiveness should be at the center of Easter. What better way to begin a new relationship from one that was recently broken through the power of forgiveness?

This is the promise Jesus offers to everyone through His own death and subsequent resurrection. A promise of a restored relationship to God through forgiveness by way of His own blood.

But what is the overarching theme most Christians have about Easter? In my experience it seems to be one of reverence, guilt, and sorrow. Just one example is the practice of Ash Wednesday. “Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God”. Although this may be true for those who have not given their life to Christ those who have are freed from grief, guilt, and condemnation. So why spend a day that “celebrates” our imprisonment? Does a parolee celebrate his confinements by visiting his jailer every year? Does a pardoned murderer honor his day of freedom by spending the night in the cell block? Does a slave freed choose to run back to his chains? Obviously the answer is a resounding “NO”! So why do we choose to celebrate Easter in a way that sends us back to our prison? The only answer is that we do not understand the nature of the cross or to what depths Jesus forgave us.

If you have time read Romans 7-8:17. In case you don’t have time I will try my best to summarize what Paul is saying in chapter 7. In this chapter Paul addresses the law in regards to sin. The law is everything written in the Old Testament. It was established, in part, to show us how far we fall short of keeping it. The law even convicts us of things we do not know was wrong. The law is not sinful but it points out our own sin. Since the law was given by God the law is good. It shows us a better and perfect way to live. So we should not hate the law since this would mean hating what is good and given by God. But this good law ends up bringing about our own death.

This is in fact a brief summary of the entire Old Testament. God establishes a law even early on “you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. Yet it was a law we could not keep. After this God would expand the law but each time He provided a “you shall not” we would invariably violate it. He’d add more and we’d violate those too. The attempt to keep the law was tried by kings, prophets, priests (read Hebrews), judges, etc but each one fell short. It’s basically this; no matter who your are, what your past is, who is in your pedigree, or how powerful you think you are no one is able to live up to the law.

Because of this violation to the law there is a punishment that is required. What should that punishment be? Well The law was given by the one who is life. All life came from the words of the one who also spoke the law. Through His words comes life therefore the law is life as well. Nothing God speaks contains anything less than life including the law. Since we violated life, life must be given. This is why sacrifices were so important since it’s the blood through which we live, so blood must be given. The problem is that an animal is not on the same sacred level as a person. We cringe at the idea of cannibalism but have no issue over eating a pig, cow, goat, chicken, etc. This alone should show how much we value people over animals. So blood must be the payment and it cannot be the blood of an animal since an animal is not the one who violated the law and an animal is not as sacred as a person. In order for an adequate repayment to be made for this violation of the law the life-blood of a person must be spilt and the blood must come from someone who was found innocent before the law.

Now, so far this has been a lot to cover but i feel it needed to be covered at least briefly so there could be an understanding as to “why Christ” versus someone else. In understanding Easter we can see the beginning pieces of why Christ had to die. But more importantly His sacrifice was enough to pay the penalty we are subject to for our violation of the law. Since He paid this debt in full “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Stop there for a minute. Please understand what I have said so far, we are all guilty of violating the life giving law of God. This violation requires death since when we violate life the only thing that is left is death there is no grey area here. The only suitable payment is the blood of someone who never once violated this law. Since Jesus kept every aspect of the law His blood was sufficient to pay the debt no one else could. By His sacrifice all those who believe in Him will also be given a life that in no way has ever violated the law. So once we follow Him the life we live under the law is put to death and we are given the life Jesus lived.

So this is where chapter 8 of Romans comes in. This idea of “no condemnation”. What happens when you break something and you know it is your fault? You get this sense of guilt. That is what the law does it shows what is good, we know we do not live up to it, and as a result we know we are guilty. Just as an illustration have you ever driven by a cop going faster than you know you should be? What happens inside of you? Your heart might start racing, you hope the cop doesn’t come after you, your stomach starts turning, you know you are guilty. But what happens if you drive past that cop while doing the speed limit or slightly under? You no longer have that sense of panic of “did he catch me”. You may even wave to him you don’t care that he sees you, you KNOW you’ve done nothing wrong. So when Paul says there is “no more condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” why do we still feel guilty?

This is because the vast majority of Christians DO NOT understand the idea of God’s forgiveness. We want to make up for something. We know we screwed up and want to make it right. We live in a world that if we screw up, the system in place makes the guilty pay the price. If you murder someone you go to prison, if you steal you pay a fine and community service, if you drive with a suspended license you give up your license. All around us we see this idea of the person that did the crime does the time. The idea that someone else “does the time” for our crime is so foreign to us that we almost reject it. We continue to try to do something that will help add to what Christ has already done. Sadly this idea is so foreign to us that even those who go to church on a daily basis try to use this guilt to get others to follow “what a good christian should do”. But Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection secures us into a life where there is no more condemnation.

Psalm 103:12 “as far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us”. Preachers may say that “Jesus’ blood has covered up your sin. I do not like this analogy, why? Because there is this idea behind it that, that spot may come up again. The Bible does not teach this. The Bible teaches that God does not remember anything you’ve done. Once you become a believe in Jesus your sins are gone! It is not even ancient history it no longer exists. The good news is not that God has forgiven you just enough to get into heaven. No! He has given you a life that is marked by righteousness, purity, and Holiness. He has given you a life that will be glorified just as Christ is glorified. He has given you so much grace, love, and compassion, that just bringing up the past, present, or future sins, He says “I do not know what you are talking about”.

We may ask for the forgiveness of Sin but Jesus says “what sin? I already paid that price why do you keep bringing it up”? You are freed from the guilt that comes with sin. You are freed from death, you are free from rituals, you are free from everything that says “you fall short”. Why is Easter such a big deal?Because there is now no more condemnation. Do not feel guilty this Easter. Do not let another Christian tell you how you should live. Do not believe for one minute that Easter, or even Good Friday is a time of somber reflection. No! This and every Sunday is a time of celebration! Your guilt is dead, your sins are dead, you are no longer condemned.

So in all honesty I am quite literally saying live however you want! Jesus came not to condemn the world but to give life to its full (John 10:10). Enjoy life! There is no reason to feel guilty, there is no reason to be reminded of your guilt, shame, or failure! There is no reason to continue the traditions that hold to a system designed to make us feel guilty when guilt is just as dead as the power of the law. Before we jump off the deep end I do need to add some things before I finish.

First this is ONLY for those who have given their lives to Christ. If someone has not done so they are still under the law and have every right to feel guilty since the law has condanmend them. There is no hope of an eternal experience of freedom apart from shame and guilt outside of Jesus. There is only death, pain, hurt, sorrow, a feeling of inadequacy, and trouble apart from Him. The only way to be freed form this is to give your life to Christ and believe that through His death and resurrection you are no longer under the penalty of not being able to live up to the Law and the subsequent guilt that follows.

Second, Those who say they Love Jesus will also say they love the law. Why? Because the Law is life and Jesus is life. Jesus can’t be separated from the law any more than a zebra can be separated from its stripes. If we truly love Jesus we would take care in showing that love to Him by keeping His commands (John 14:15). He has given us a life that is one of Holiness therefore we must live accordingly. Jesus’ brothers and sisters are sons and daughters to The King. Those in Him are royalty. We should live like it, we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard, not out of obligation or a way to win more of our salvation but as a way to show our love for what Christ purchased on the cross. So even though we are able to live how we would like with the knowledge that our sins are no longer counted against us we should take special care in living in such a way that is worthy of the gift we have been given. Our freedom, purchased by Christ, is not one where we are free to pursue our own desires since this is what lead us to being guilty under the law in the first place. But this freedom allow us to pursue a higher calling that allows us to pursue life instead of chasing after things that will lead only to our own destruction.

Those in Christ are forgiven of all sins. There is no more shame a guilt and another Christian should never use that as a motivating factor to get someone to “fall in line”. The gift of Easter is forgiveness, complete forgiveness void of guilt and shame. We are free from rituals and traditions. We are free from observing anything that prevents us from enjoying Christ and life. Do not let anyone, priest, Christian, bishop, father, deacon, tradition, ritual, or anything make you feel guilty or that by doing these things you are somehow adding to your salvation. All this is finished. Like Christ said on the cross “Tetelestai”! Remember how much you were forgiven of this and every Easter! This is a time of celebration not solemnity.