Jonathan Klimek

“We explain justification simply as the acceptance with which God receives us into His favour as righteous people. And we say that it consists in the forgiveness of sins and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness.”
― John Calvin, Institutes 3: 11: 2

“The fathers [the Old Testament saints] knew the promise about the Messiah, that God for the Messiah’s sake had chosen to forgive sins. Therefore, since they understood that Christ would be the price given to pay for our sins, they knew that our own works are not a sufficient price for so weighty a matter. Accordingly, they enjoyed free mercy and the forgiveness of sins by faith, just like the saints in the New Testament."
"Psalm 130:3 “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” Here David acknowledges his sins and does not speak of his merits. He then adds: “But there is forgiveness with You” (verse 4). Here David comforts himself by his trust in God’s mercy, and he quotes the promise: “My soul waits, and in His Word I hope,” (verse 5), i.e., because You have promised the forgiveness of sins, I am supported by Your promise.
Therefore the [Old Testament] fathers too were justified, not by the law, but by God’s promise and by faith.”
― Philip Melanchthon, The Apology of the Augsburg Confession

“God is faithful to all His promises, nor can He fail, or deceive; He is all wise and foreknowing of everything that comes to pass; He never changes His mind, nor forgets His word; and He is able to perform, and is the God of truth, and cannot lie; nor has He ever failed in any one of His promises, nor will He suffer [allow] His faithfulness to fail; and this is a strong argument to hold fast a profession of faith.”
― John Gill

“When two people have experienced conflict, for one to say, “I’m sorry” only communicates that person’s remorse over what he has done. It focuses solely on the offender’s own feelings. By contrast, saying, “Forgive me” confesses that a wrong has been committed against another person and there is a desire to pursue reconciliation.” (S. Andrew Jin)
Jay Adams points out that granting forgiveness is about making a threefold promise:
1. I will not bring the matter up to you.
2. I will not bring the matter up to another.
3. I will not bring the matter up to myself.”
― S. Andrew Jin