These were words spoken by John the Baptist when he was told that Jesus was baptizing in another place, and that more people were coming to Jesus than to John to be baptized. Remember, John's initial cause for baptizing people was so that they would confess their sins, and be prepared for the Messiah's arrival. His role in history will be remembered forever because he was “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight’” (Matthew 3:3, quoting Isaiah 40:3).
Jesus himself said that "among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist." John had a role that no other person born would ever be able to fulfill, as he ushered in the Kingdom of God and his Christ. So if Jesus's miracles and his own testimony wasn't enough for you to believe, consider the words of John. His role was predicted hundreds of years prior, and even Jesus said he was the greatest among men. And John said that if you believe, you will be saved.
Belief in Jesus is not just a mental assent, or an intellectual agreement that Jesus saves. A childlike faith in the truth of John's words is what makes for saving faith. If you have ever believed with all your heart the words of John, or the words of many other biblical figures, about Jesus, then you are going to Heaven and your many flaws and sins have been washed away...never to be remembered by God. Furthermore, any present and future sins are also washed away: thrown into the sea of God's forgetfulness.
Be of good cheer, especially you who have the worst sins. You have cause to love Jesus even more than those who sin little, and Jesus commended such people with a parable he told at the home of a very religious man. This man was a Pharisee, the strictest of the strict. Pharisees were known for constant prayer, giving very exact and well-planned gifts to God, and for following the bible even down to the uttermost letter. Or so they thought.
Jesus was dining with the Pharisee, and a woman of ill-repute (possibly a prostitute) came in and washed Jesus's feet with her tears. The Pharisee swore that if Jesus was really a prophet, he would know what kind of woman was touching him and he would shove her away. Jesus, being divine, knew what the Pharisee was thinking. And he said this to him: “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
A man said to me, "I am not religious." Good. This means it will be much easier for you to believe in Jesus and be saved. Religious people trust in their own works and righteousness to save them, and they are not saved because salvation is not to be earned. It's a free gift, given only to those who have childlike faith in the one who saves. So if you have many sins, remember that the Doctor comes to heal those who are sick, not those who are well.
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