Forgiveness follows accountability
It’s a mushy sloppy life where there is forgiveness, mercy, or grace without first a clear accountability for and recognition of wrongdoing. Think about it. What is being forgiven if there is no understanding of failure? What good is the mercy of judge if there hasn’t first been a judgment and an impeding consequence. And how would we ever fully grow up (children sure don’t have a chance) if there is no authority in our life that has the courage to declare when we’re wrong, when we’ve been bad, when we’ve hurt another person?