Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. – Micah 7:18

What is the most wonderful thing about forgiveness? You might say it is heaven and spending eternity in paradise and glory. You might say freedom from condemnation. You might say peace - the peace that comes when you know you are forgiven. Well, those are wonderful things, but those are not the most important things about forgiveness. The greatest and most important thing about God’s forgiveness is that it manifests who God is and glorifies God. The glory of God is always the main thing.

You see, God is fully capable of forgiving every human being that has ever lived. The power of Jesus’ blood is sufficient to atone for all people. But He doesn’t forgive all. Do you know why? Saving all people is not the most important thing, although it is very important. God would wish that all men would repent and believe. But the way God saves men and the way God builds His church shows more of God’s glory. It shows more of who God is than any other way. One of the primary ways God wants to manifest Himself and glorify Himself is in forgiving a people and forming His church, the bride of Christ.

Now, the secondary aspects of forgiveness – being free from condemnation, the peace in our hearts, the gaining of heaven – those are wonderful things. I am not trying to diminish those, but that’s not the main thing. The main thing is that He forgives and saves some for His own name’s sake. Now think about it. His character is on the line. If He does not bring home those whom He has marked out to be His own, then it says something about His faithfulness, His ability, His veracity. It says something about the adequacy and sufficiency of the Savior. Those whom He purposed to save He brings all the way home because it ultimately says something about Him.