I am thinking there may be much confusion between what we mean when we say forgiveness and reconciliation. In order for any of us to be reconciled to God and to one another there must be repentance.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Our reconciliation to God is through the cross of Christ and what we bring is our repentance. No repentance, no reconciliation.
Forgiveness is another matter. We begin with the forgiveness God has for us, again through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We are forgiven not on our own merit, but in the merits of the Son of God who gave His life that we might have life. He has paid the debt we could not pay….