Forgiveness and the Justice of God

Have you ever considered that God's justice requires your forgiveness? This may sound strange since forgiveness is mercy and not justice. How can God's justice require I am forgiven? Well, if you are united to Christ through faith, then your sins have been paid for. Jesus is the propitiation (satisfaction of God's wrath) for all your sins (1 John 2:2). This is how John can say, "If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)." God's justice has already been satisfied on Christ so it would be unjust of God to now satisfy his justice against all those in Christ! Have you considered what this means? This means your forgiveness is inextricably tied to the righteousness of God! If God fails to forgive you, God is unrighteous. Is there any more secure ground for your forgiveness than the righteousness of God?