RESTITUTION WHERE POSSIBLE
The
Bible teaches, “Restitution Where Possible,” and is important to understand
especially today in the age of “cheap grace,” when a person accepts Christ
there will be a genuine change in nature that any individual will experience,
and will be manifest in the fruits of the converted life. One of those natural
outflows of salvation, “being born again” is Restitution Where Possible. Jacob who was renamed Israel at his
conversion after wrestling with the Angel of the Lord walked differently after
this experience. Interestingly, the sinew or muscle shrank in his leg after
this rendezvous, more people need to experience this humbling encounter where
we learn to lean on the staff (Psa. 23:4), and not on our own strength (Read-Gen
32: 24-32). Moreover, after this heavenly visitation Jacob now named Israel
(prince of God) desires to make his wrongs right with his brother Esau and
sends several gifts from his herds to show his regret for his conniving
behavior twenty years before (Gen 33:1-17). This is an example of Bible
Restitution. These are some of the fruits that John the Baptist referred too
when he refused to baptize some of the Pharisees and Sadducees:
Matt 3:7-8
7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees
and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers,
who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for
repentance:
Rom 13:8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
I.
WHAT IS RESTITUTION? (Exo. 22:1; Luke 19:8; Matt 5:23,24; 3:8) Webster defines “restitution”
as follows: (1) A giving back to the rightful owner of something that had been
lost or taken away; restoration; (2) a making good for loss or damage,
reimbursement; and (3) a return to a former condition or situation.
Restitution
is the act of restoring something wrongfully taken, or the satisfying of one
who has been wronged. God requires those who become converted to perform such
tasks if at all possible” (See Matthew 3:8; Luke 19:8, 9; and Romans 13: 8).
A.
Restoring Property: Under the law property rights were guaranteed. They were
included in the “judgments” which God commanded Moses to set before the people
(Exo. 21:1). The principle behind these “rights” does not change under grace,
but the ultimate conclusion demands that all wrongs be made right in this
present life. Exodus 22:1 is one example of the law on stolen property.
The
familiar incident concerning Zacchaeus, the publican, is an example of another
kind of theft (Read Luke 19:1-10.).The tax collection system under the Roman government
at that time posed a temptation to be dishonest, or fraudulent. Fraudulence is
intentional deception that results in losses to the defrauded, while the
deceiver makes it appear that he is acting legitimately.
A
careful reading of the incident will reveal that there has been some
presumptuous speculation about the character of Zacchaeus. Although at first it
seems probable that he was a typical dishonest publican, he could have been “an
exception to the rule.” There are some honest men in generally disreputable
professions. The point here is that, regardless of what he may have done in the
past, he would do right in the future. For instance, if he had always been a
just man who had made an occasional overcharge, he had made it right when the
error was discovered. Or, if he had knowingly been over-taxing the people and
keeping the overcharge for himself, but had now undergone a miraculous
conversion, it was so genuine that he did not need to be reminded of his duty.
He knew the law, and he would voluntarily make the expected restitution. In
fact, “under grace,” he would certainly not have done less than the law
required, but he would go beyond in whatever measure necessary to please the
Lord and to give full satisfaction to any who had been injured or
inconvenienced by any misdeed on his part. This is biblical restitution.
B.
Restoring Relationships: Tangible property is not the only area of life where
wrongdoing may make restitution necessary. Offenses, whether deliberate or unintentional,
may fracture personal relationships. Jesus spoke very positively and pointedly
concerning these offenses, as is shown in our lesson texts above. First, He
speaks plainly to those who commit these offenses. He says, “Woe unto that man ‘In other words, he stands in danger of God’s
judgment (See Mark 9:42-48 and Luke 17:1-4).
In
Matthew 5:25, 24 and 18:15-17, He specifically outlines the procedure for
restitution in the event of offense. In Matthew 5, the context of the offense
was anger at one’s brother or one’s own anger. The situation would be something
as follows: A man has offended his brother, and he knows the brother is holding
it against him. In the process of worship, apparently the Holy Ghost reminds
him of the fact. Rightfully, his worship is hindered and he knows that the Lord
is not accepting his praise, his “gift,” or whatever. Jesus says he should
leave the altar and do whatever he can do to become reconciled to his brother.
After he has done his part, then his “gift,” or worship, will be acceptable to God.
In
Matthew 18, the situation is reversed. The offended brother must go to the one
who has trespassed against him and remind him of his fault, for the purpose of
“gaining his brother”-for the offender’s spiritual welfare. Both the offender
and the offended have a responsibility in effecting restitution. However, even
though the offended one may take the lead, it is impossible for him to answer
for the offender’s sin. He may be willing to do so, but in the end, “...every
one of us shall give account of himself to God “(Rom. 14:12). It would be less
than honest for the offended one to say, “I’m the one who is guilty.” It is
enough that he say, “I forgive you. Let us love one another.”
There
may be instances where the offender cannot immediately restore that which he
has taken. The offended one may be graciously charitable and “cancel the debt,”
as it were. For example, Paul
was willing to assume any indebtedness that the converted slave Onesimus may
have owed his master, Philemon (See Philemon 17,18). If the slave had taken
money from Philemon when he fled, being a slave, he might not have had the
money to pay his debt. Paul stood ready to “stand in his debt.”
It
is clear that some genuine repentance on the part of the offender is necessary.
If he is feeling no conviction in this respect, the offended one’s visit may
touch his heart. God requires repentance for sin and wrongdoing. John the
Baptist would not baptize the Pharisees and Sadducees, whom he knew or
discerned to be a hypocritical “generation of vipers.” He told them to “bring
forth.. fruits meet for repentance”; that is, “Change your way of living to the
extent that there will be evidence that you have repented in godly sorrow.”
Merely fleeing God’s coming wrath by an outward ritual of baptism was only
another act of hypocrisy (See above Matthew 3:7).
II.
HOW RESTITUTION WORKS (Matt. 18:7, 15, 21,22)
Genuine
restitution comes from within—from the heart. It results from justification,
regeneration, and the new birth. There has first been a change of mind; a
change of heart; a change of ways. Paul tells Titus that it is “Not by works of
righteous ness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
The
reconciliation of God and man is the highest example of all. (Read 2
Corinthians 5:14-20). Verse 17 gives the result-the “new creature” wherein the
old life has passed away and the new life has been regenerated. The new
creature cannot be comfortable trying to live with an offense toward a brother
or neighbor. He will seek relief and peace through restitution.
III.
RESTITUTION NECESSARY WHERE POSSIBLE
There
may be instances where restitution is impossible, or at least only indirectly
possible: (1) The individual wronged may have died; but it would relieve the
offender’s conscience if he would contact the closest relative and do what is
possible at that point; (2) The offended one may have moved, and all possible
efforts to locate him prove futile; however, in heart, the offender should
maintain a good conscience toward God by being willing to satisfy the offense
if the offended one is located later; or (3) Sometimes the actual thing stolen,
or taken, is no longer in existence, or its value may have deteriorated; in
which case something of equal value should be given, or restored.
The
above satisfactions apply to non-material hurts or injuries also. For instance,
slander or lying may damage another’s character or good reputation. In such
case, some public confession would be in order, even if the injured one could
not be contacted.
In
the past—possibly the remote past—”the meanest man in town,” as it were, gave
witness to his conversion immediately by “making the rounds” and righting his
wrongs. Perhaps this was because restitution was preached in connection with a
saved experience. Salvation and restitution belong together. Nowadays, little
is said about making restitution. The repentant sinner is encouraged to “be
happy” for God’s forgiveness. Apparently, he may “forget his past,” along with
any wrong he has done. The ministry is remiss in this respect. It may be asked,
“Will the minister share in the judgment of the one who fails to make
restitution?” If the evangelist neglects to preach restitution, the pastor, or
even a friend who cares for the new Christian’s soul, should make him aware of
the scriptural requirement.
My first pastor told the story of him being saved for a few years and becoming a police officer. He said that he was seeking to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost in an eleven-week revival. Each night when the seekers came to the altar, he said that a red quarter-roy shirt kept coming to his mind as he was attempting to seek the Lord for his infilling. After six weeks of this occurring every night he decided to go down to the local department store where ten years before, his friend had bought a red quarter-roy shirt that did not fit his friend just right, so he returned it and got a different size. The clerk not only gave his friend a different size shirt that fit, but accidentally put the wrong sized shirt back in the bag with the exchanged item. My prior pastor said, "it just fit perfectly on him," and they decided to keep the shirt and not return it to the store. After six-weeks of this shirt coming before him as he attempted to pray, he decided to make restitution and went down to the store in his police uniform and told the manager what had happened ten years before, and took money out of his billfold to pay for the item. The manager said, "he did not have to do that, there was no need," and my pastor said, "oh no, Jesus has been dealing with me for six-weeks on making this right and I am going to make it right!" That night after the altar call he sought for two hours to receive the indwelling of the Holy Ghost and did not receive it. He quietly went back to his chair and slumped over in discouragement that he did not receive what he expected. The evangelist called for testimonies at 11:00 pm and my pastor said in his heart, "what do I have to testify about, I did not receive what I desired," then he remembered that in the two hours that he had sought the Lord Jesus for the indwelling of the Holy Ghost that red quarter-roy shirt had not one time come to mind. He stood and testified about this, and immediately the Holy Ghost fell upon him and he was baptized in the Holy Ghost!
If you have never accepted or if you have fallen away from Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:
You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And tell someone what Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)
May God through Christ bless you!
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