Compare the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:12 and Luke.11:4: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” Matthew 6:12 (ESV).  This is even stronger in Luke 11:4 (ESV) “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.”  We need to forgive to be forgiven.  The forgiven must forgive.  We ask the Father for forgiveness as we have and while we are forgiving each other.  In Matthew, Jesus reinforces the whole prayer by adding, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV).  In the same way we cannot claim we love God while not loving our brother, neither can we claim a forgiveness from God to us that does not flow out to others.  That’s sobering!  If sanctification is being restored to the divine likeness, we cannot be like God without forgiving.  Being a forgiving person is one of the best ways we can represent God in the world.