The Bible uses a marvelous word when it comes to dealing with sin.  The word is “atonement”.  It carries the idea of satisfying someone or appeasing someone for something that has been done to them.  So many times we think of forgiveness as God just saying “That’s Okay” to whatever it is we have done.  I am afraid it goes much deeper than that.  It is not God simply saying it’s okay!  There was a price.  Take a look:

Romans 3:25-26
God presented him [Jesus Christ] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished– 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Notice what the sacrifice of Christ was for.  Remember, the penalty for sin, all sin, is death.  So because God is right—the price was to be paid.  Otherwise, God would go against His own word, making Him out to be a mockery.  So He paid the price.  The atoning price.  The price which would allow us to be right again with Him.

Just look at God’s motive in verse 26.  Just write that out in your own words.  He is both just… and the One who justifies—the One who makes you right.  The atonement.  Now just look at this marvelous word one more time: AT-ONE-ment.  To be made right—One with the ONE who is Just and who justifies.

Look at our passage from The Message just spend time with God speaking to Him words of thanks and honor in your own way.

Romans 3:25-26 (The Message)
God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. 26This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.