Be merciful as God is merciful

If God is just, he cannot forgive without atonement; and since he himself made the atonement for sin, therefore he justly forgives sinners. This is how he is merciful; and this is how you are to be merciful as well: by considering the atonement he made. See, your neighbor’s sins were atoned;  therefore be merciful to him and forgive him, just as you were forgiven. Sermon for Trinity IV.