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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: everything through grace, so we, too, must ever forgive our neighbor
who does us injury, violence, and wrong, shows malice toward us, etc.
If, therefore you do not forgive, then do not think that God forgives
you; but if you forgive, you have this consolation and assurance, that
you are forgiven in heaven, not on account of your forgiving, -- for
God forgives freely and without condition, out of pure grace, because
He has so promised, as the Gospel teaches, -- but in order that He may
set this up for our confirmation and assurance for a sign alongside of
the promise which accords with this prayer, Luke 6, 37: Forgive, and ye
shall be forgiven. Therefore Christ also repeats it soon after the
Lord's Prayer, and says, Matt. 6,14: For if ye forgive men their
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