Vida en Cristo - El Verbo, lleno de gracia y de verdad.

The New Testament concept of forgiveness is more complete and powerful than the worldly concept, which may be why some confusion exists. 

 
In the world, forgiveness may be offered, but the memory of the event remains and can be 'resurrected' and used against the 'forgiven' person at a later date.  This is not true forgiveness.

 
The forgiveness that God offers us is far more profound.

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

When we accept Jesus as our sacrifice for sin and judgment, we are forgiven and God chooses to never remember our sins.  What a blessing!

 
Reconciliation is another aspect of forgiveness.  It is the result of forgiveness.  Because we are forgiven we can now have relationship with God.  He has reconciled Himself to us by destroying the power of sin, death and the devil.

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

 
Since sin is no longer a barrier, and God has reconciled Himself to the entire world, those who believe in Jesus are forgiven AND reconciled to Him.  Communion with God is possible once again, in Spirit and in Truth.

 
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

 
Thus, our message to the world is that God has defeated (through Jesus) the power and barrier of sin, and if we accept the 'gift of righteousness' (Rom. 5:17), we are forgiven and reconciled to Him.  We are made the righteousness of God in Christ!