BIBLE
DOCTRINE 6
RESTITUTION
God’s Word
teaches:
That Restitution
is making amends for wrongs done against our fellowmen, restoring stolen things
to their rightful owners, paying debts, giving back where one has defrauded,
making confessions to the offended and apologizing to those slandered so as to
have a conscience void of offence toward God and man - Genesis 20:1-8,14-18;
Exodus 22:1-7; Leviticus 6:1-7; Numbers 5:6-8; 2 Samuel 12:1-6; Proverbs
6:30,31; Ezekiel 33:14-16; Matthew 5:23,24; Luke 19:8,9; Acts 23:1-5; 24:16;
James 4:17.
Restitution
is an act of making amends for wrongs done against our fellowmen; restoring
stolen or misappropriated things, properties or persons to their rightful
owners; paying back just debts, giving back where one has defrauded, making
confessions to the offended and apologizing to those slandered so as to have a
conscience void of offence toward God and men.
This is done whether the person injured knew or not, for God knows
(Hebrews 4:13).
We
receive forgiveness when we confess and forsake our sins. Then, we are cleansed
by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (Proverbs 28:13; I John 1:9). When a man sins against God, we often find
that other people suffer as a result of that sin. It is also true that when a man sins against
his neighbor, he sins against God in the same act, because one of God’s
commandments has been broken. God
willingly forgives the sins committed against Him when there is repentance and
forsaking of sin. However, God requires
that a man make amends to any person he has injured or wronged as a mark among
other things, that the repentance is genuine.
We need to bear fruit that signify to all that we have become new creatures
indeed (Luke 3:8-14; Romans 8:1,2; Acts 24:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Making restitution ensures that we have
right relationship with our fellow men after we are reconciled with God. The
Bible doctrine on restitution in precept and practice spans virtually all the
dispensations of God’s dealings with men till the present day. The revelation of God’s will and word before
the Mosaic laws demands that we make restitution (Romans 1:19-20). Therefore, this teaching or doctrine of God’s
word which had been established many years before the law cannot be abolished
by the law.
Restitution
is part of the moral law. Most sins
committed by men are against God as well as their neighbors. So, repentance toward God for the children of
Israel included restoration to man of all properties gained by fraud, lying or pretense of whatever kind (Exodus 21:18,19,22,26-36; 22:1-15; Leviticus 6:2-5;
Numbers 5:6-8).
Rulers
in Israel reflected and embraced this teaching on restitution. It is vital today for rulers-temporal and
spiritual- to reflect on this commitment to God’s moral requirement for all men
(2 Samuel 16:5-8 with 19:16-23; Proverbs 6:30,31; I Kings 20:34).
The
prophets in Israel also preached, explained and emphasized the need to make
restitution by every backslid-den Israelite who is returning to God (Nehemiah
5:6-13). The prophets proclaimed and
prophesied much of the coming of Christ and the atoning sacrifice. They were quick to recognize the need for the
blood of the lamb to cleanse sins; yet, they did not lessen God’s requirement
of the necessity of restitution. The
ministry of preachers today is akin to that of the Old Testament prophets.
Restitution
is a doctrine of Christ, confirming His Word that “till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be
fulfilled”. Every believer must
earnestly and whole-hardheartedly contend for, and practice all that Christ taught
(Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4; Luke 19:8-10).
Zacchaeus’
encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ is an object lesson. Zacchaeus wanted nothing to stand between
himself and his salvation - not even his wealth, especially the ill-gotten part
of it. Though the people murmured that
Jesus was going to be a sinner’s guest, Jesus pronounced that salvation has
come to Zacchaeus’ house since he, as a son of Abraham, not only by birth but
now also by faith, is ready to make right his life and wholly follow the
Lord. The salvation experience makes a
person feel like returning all possessions that rightfully belong to another.
The
Apostles in the early church also practiced and taught restitution. In fact, the whole church of God lived by
this teaching (Matthew 28:19,20; John 14:26; Acts 2:42; 16:4,5; Philemon 7-21).
The rules of righteous living are just as high (or even higher) under the
dispensation of grace as those in the Old Testament. Restitution is as much a part of the Gospel
as conversion or water baptism. It is
not a self-righteous act to merit pardon.
When a man is saved, he will not only make right matters of money such
as theft, dishonest gains and unpaid bills; he will also confess his lies,
slanderous reports, unjust criticisms, hatred, malice - those things in which
one may have injured others in word or deed.
One may say, “My brother or sister does not know that I talked evil of
him.” But what about the person to whom you talked? Without doubt, you have harmed him, and
perhaps he repeated it to others. You
should go to the one to whom you talked and confess it. It is better that we make right all previous
wrongs here and now than face it in eternity (I Timothy 5:24).
Making
restitution can be likened to a spiritual warfare in which we need God’s help
and wisdom to undertake for us and quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
(Ephesians 6:10-12,16). Some restitution are delicate. These are restitution that may implicate or bring injuries or harm to others that may be
unsaved; or the need to settle issues with individuals or organizations that
may affect other people in an adverse way.
It also includes cases in which we don’t have clear leading from God’s
word as to what steps to take. For
delicate restitution, we need fervent playfulness, wisdom and counseling
from Spirit-filled preachers of God’s word who believe and teach the whole
counsel of God (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22; 24:6).
The
civil laws in a country may not always govern in matters of restitution. For example, the law may provide a time limit
for certain classes of debts and obligations, after which they become lapse;
but no debts are outlawed with God. Time
cannot cancel moral obligations.
Restitution
is usually considered at the time of salvation because God will only forgive
when a man is willing, so far as it lies within his power, to make right every
wrong that he has committed against others.
There would be need however throughout life as a Christian to be ready
to make restitution where need be when others are offended, for example, out of
human error of judgment (Acts 23:1-5, Matthew 5:23,24).
God
demands that restitution be made. A far
reaching benefit in God’s plan as regards restitution is that an undeniable
testimony is directed to people who otherwise might never seriously hear the
story of the gospel. A religion that
compels a man to pay his just debts, restore back the things he has stolen, and
uncover his crimes demands confidence from men of the world.
When restitution are made, and past
wrongs are settled, the peace of God floods the believer’s heart. There is confidence towards God in prayer and
the believer makes progress in the
Christian life as sense of guilt is removed (Romans 8:1, 2).
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