How do we know that forgiveness is important for Christians?

Forgiveness is foundational in the Christian faith, as highlighted in passages like Ephesians 4:32, which instructs believers to be kind and forgiving, just as God forgave them in Christ. The act of forgiving one another mirrors the mercy that God has shown us and is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships among believers. Furthermore, in 1 Peter 3:8-9, Peter encourages believers to have compassion and love towards one another, which inherently involves a disposition of forgiveness, especially when wronged. Without forgiveness, strife and division can take root, undermining the unity that Christ desires for His body.