Question:
What is forgiveness?

Answer:
Forgiveness is giving up my right to return a hurt to the person who hurt me.

Restoration or reconciliation of two people being brought together again is a different matter. We should forgive one who hurts us, but we can only be reconciled to them when confession of the wrong is made. Even after forgiveness, punishment for wrongdoing may have to be carried out.
God has forgiven ALL our sins, past, present, and future, but not until we confess our sins are we restored to communion with Him.The power to forgive others is not within ourselves, but in the new nature we receive upon salvation. The Lord and Stephen are examples of those who forgave their enemies (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60). Ask the Lord to help us forgive those who have hurt us. When people hurt us it gives us the opportunity to show the love of Christ by forgiving them.