Luke 7:45-48 English Standard Version (ESV)
45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
123 is an order of procession. 1 love, 2 worship, 3 forgiveness. Sounds backwards because most of us seek forgiveness first. It is not backwards if you view salvation as an ongoing process. When Christ died on the cross He removed sin as a barrier to relationship with God. We still sin, we still feel bad about it, and we need forgiveness daily.
If we look to salvation only in the aspect of the eternal then we ignore the greater aspects of a clear conscience, loving God and worshipping God. God saved us from the penalty for sin, has given us power over the temptation of sin, but has not removed us yet from the presence of sin.
Mary Magdalene worshipped the very ground Jesus walked on. Her anointing of His feet was a sign of worship. Few of us take into consideration every step Jesus took in His life that led to the cross. It was an example of how we should live and love. It is impossible for us to do so because only Christ could walk in perfection. Now, having excepted Christ into our hearts by faith, He can once again walk in righteousness in us.
Do we love and worship Him enough to allow Him to live His life through us? Even our ability to forgive others stems from that love and worship.
Mark 8:34 English Standard Version (ESV) And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Die to self and live for Christ.