I Forgive Me

2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin

for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

This was the scripture for my devotions today. I started to think about do I really know what the word “righteousness” means. I looked at many different sites on it and decided to visit the tried and true Webster dictionary. The dictionary defines it as “free from guilt or sin”. That is completely true, but I’d take it a step further and say righteousness is freedom from guilt AND sin.

Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, I no longer have to carry sin in my life. I can receive forgiveness and am no longer having to live under the rules and regulations of the old testament. No more sin offerings. No having to find a sheep, bull, pigeon, or grain to bring to a priest. I have no idea where I would even get some of those things! I can go directly to the throne myself now. (Hebrews 4:16)

Moreover, and equally as great, righteousness means I can live guilt free. Once you have asked for God’s forgiveness you also no longer have to carry the guilt of your sin. Now that’s easier said than done.

There’s a song that keeps playing on a Christian station. I honestly don’t care for the song and usually change it, but a line from the song is “I forgive me.” When you really dwell on that, it’s pretty profound. Maybe the reason I am not free from guilt even though righteousness says I am, is because I haven't forgiven myself. I know I’ve made many mistakes and they’re forgiven, but there’s certain ones that still stick with me and bother me. It’s like I just can’t get my mind off replay. And let me first point out that God is not putting it on replay. Psalms 103:2 says says “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” When you ask for forgiveness, God Does Not Remember Your Sin! If He did, it would nullify the work of Jesus on the cross. There would be no reason for Christ’s death if God didn’t honor repentance.

if forgiving myself can help me release guilt, how do I do this? I have no idea! I am still searching this out myself. Maybe it’s writing a letter to yourself. Maybe it’s simply saying out loud “I forgive me.” One thing I do know, is there are a lot of us carrying around guilt baggage that Jesus already died for.

Today I’m challenging myself to put those bags down and not pick them back up. Let me preface too, just because God does not remember my sin but I’m still struggling, doesn’t mean I try and figure this out by myself. 1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” God always wants us to come to Him with our big and small. Maybe it’s just asking God what approach to take. At the end of the day, how can we truly live out God’s gift of forgiveness; righteousness, if we still live daily in guilt? There is no victory in that and God has called us to live victoriously.