They were not simply wiped away the sins were given to Jesus, and there were real consequences for them. Jesus became a curse for us, became sin for us. We are given righteousness by God. He does not ignore our sins he takes care of them through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price of our sin the personal price of pain and shame.
Righteousness involves more than legal requirements.
The Good Samaritan did not have a law telling him to help the wounded man, but he acted righteously when he did so. When it is in our power to rescue a drowning person, we should do so. And when it was in God s power to rescue a sin-enslaved world, he did so by sending Jesus Christ. He died for everyone, even while we were all sinners. In showing mercy, God is showing himself to be right.