Is Forgiveness a Process?

We often hear the statement, “forgiveness is a process.” The problem with that statement is it's not.

Oh, I guess technically, if you use the root definition of a process of a series of events that leads to a result, then it could be considered that. But most people don't think of a process that way. They think of the secondary definition: it's a natural phenomenon that gradually leads to an intended outcome. It will eventually get there. 

But forgiveness is not a process, it's a transaction. A transaction is an exchange of funds or services for something else. It's receiving payment in exchange for a deed. Forgiveness is a transaction. It's receiving the blood of Jesus as payment in full for every wound I ever have or ever will suffer. It's instantaneous in the same way that buying a house is not a process—although, there’s a process that may lead up to it—but it's actually a decision. I sit at a closing and I sign the deal and it's done right then. Not before, not after. It's done right then. So, forgiveness is a transaction. It's applying the blood of Jesus as payment in full for every wound I ever have or ever will suffer. It's a choice. It's a decision. It happens now.