How do we know that God's mercy leads to forgiveness?

God's mercy is intricately tied to the theme of forgiveness throughout scripture. In Luke 1:77, it states that Zechariah prophesied about giving knowledge of salvation to His people 'by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God.' This implies that the act of forgiveness arises from God's merciful character—a profound love rooted in the electing grace that He has shown. Furthermore, the unconditional nature of God's love is evident in His willingness to forgive those who are undeserving, as highlighted in Romans 5:8, wherein God demonstrates His love by having Christ die for sinners. Hence, God's mercy is not just a sentiment but an action that actively seeks to forgive those He has chosen.