We would do well to discuss Jesus words direct from scripture, the Bible.
One of my many favorite verses is Luke 7:48, "Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
To be forgiven means that I believe Christ came down to this planet of sin, and knowing the penalty of sin, death, sacrificed His life as payment for our sins.
And in knowing this, it means that salvation, the free gift of eternal life, is really real and now I am a part of that and heaven is waiting for me!