How does God's mercy relate to forgiveness?

God's mercy plays a critical role in how forgiveness is extended to humanity. As explained in 2 Samuel 9, King David showed mercy to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake, representing the mercy God extends to us for Christ’s sake. This concept illustrates that our relationship with God is not about what we can do but focuses on God's desire to show kindness and mercy—mirroring the acceptance we find in Christ. God's mercy enables us to forgive others, as we recognize that we, too, have been recipients of the grace and compassion we are called to share.