People downgrading Jesus specific instructions using Paul's complicated theology because it suit their purposes

My younger sister some years back tore her certificates from First School Leaving to First Degree in the guise of restitution. She claimed that received external helps when she wrote her FSL and SSC exams; and the latter having pre-qualified her for university. When the family met to look into her actions, I reminded her that she had a daughter out of wedlock and wondered why she didn't kill the girl, since she is also a product of sin and the fornication also required to be restituted.

My take: Restitution is a grand design of the devil to torment Christians by reminding them of their past lives. Christ told us that old things have passed away and that we are new creations. If your creditor forgives of your indebtedness to him, do you go struggling to raise money to pay him? Once we asked for forgiveness of our sins and God graciously forgives us, it is of no need trying to create an impression that we can erase our sins. No amount of restitution can erase sin. It's only God's grace that can do that and He offered that to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Danhumprey:
hello? Do you mind if we talk in private, like off nairaland?

Talk in private about what?

When I was in secondary school some years back, there was this lady that took something from the chapel (Boarding house). She borrowed extension from the chapel and unfortunately for her, it got spoilt. She even took some of the chapel's money. All these, she did before she gave her life to Christ. Now she's born again. She now realizes that she must restitute. Yes, she has asked for forgiveness but deep down, she must restitute.
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit is the one that tell us to make restitution. what if there is a curse placed on that thing u took? For it to be well with u, u have to go back and do restitution. u might not be able to pay back but u going back to whom u have taken it from and then pleading for forgiveness, it counts. That's my take on the issue.

Restitution has to do with returning PHYSICAL THINGS to their rightful owners that we have unlawfully possessed, which is the right thing to do to clear our conscience because it will be misnormal to have somebody stolen property in your possession after giving your life to christ. it has nothing to do with ACTs that are committed which your genuine repentance have already taken care of. If we have to restitute for all sins committed then where lies salvation and Grace

Restitution is good but any restitution that makes you hurt fellow individuals is not of God.

freecocoa:
There's no need for that when you can just pray to the air and be forgiven in your imagination.

Well, I think the right word is "mandatory" but if you have the opportunity to restitute why not do it.

The Bible says whosoever covereth his sins shall not prosper. There re three steps to genuine repentance. You must acknowledge and accept the fact that u re a sinner, you must be truly sorry for committing those sins, you must be ready to forage those sins and commit them no more. In the case of restitution, if u committed sin against someone or u make someone else suffer as a result of your actions without the person knowing it, my brother the moment you give your life to christ you must find a way of settling with such person provided he or she still alive. It's a must

thonyokun:
The Bible says whosoever covereth his sins shall not prosper. There re three steps to genuine repentance. You must acknowledge and accept the fact that u re a sinner, you must be truly sorry for committing those sins, you must be ready to forage those sins and commit them no more. In the case of restitution, if u committed sin against someone or u make someone else suffer as a result of your actions without the person knowing it, my brother the moment you give your life to christ you must find a way of settling with such person provided he or she still alive. It's a must

Then its not a must

Hmmm.... I stole N10 k from my brother in February.... yesterday I made full restitution. ..... returned his N10k. Is my sin as a thief/covetousness now wiped off my record? If yes.... should I go track down and all whose stuff I ehmmm.... took without their knowledge?... even the cookies from Emeka in Kindergarten? Do I really have to do that to stand a chance of gaining salvation?....or do I just have to have faith, ask for forgiveness of past sins and move forward with a new heart... a born again?
Restitution is not a must.

Restitution is part of our experience as children of God.It is restitution that gives cledence/meaning to your salvation before men and God, let assume you stole or told lie to someone before your salvation and mowvthat you are born again, if the person you stole from saw you preaching with that stolen cloth, what do you think he will do,believe your message or rubbish it,you might even be disgrace theror you told your parent you passed an exam but truly youfailed but now that yiu are davedyou havevto tell them the truth.Moreover, restitution is acontinous exercise, what do I mean because of people on this forum that moght the miesinterprete my submission,there are times you unconsciously give infomations that are not correct and you later find out its wrong,yiu have to correct that infomation to people you told and so on,read Acts 23:2-5,there Paul mistakenly abuse the highpriest, he had to restitute his way by appologising, that is restitution. Dont be deceived restition is a must for every child of God unless you are not born again.

freecocoa:
There's no need for that when you can just pray to the air and be forgiven in your imagination.

Obviously, U are an atheist.



I know U stopped believing in God due to attitude of end time Christians.



But I will advice U my dear to look up to Jesus alone.



He will never disappoint U.


Men of God will disappoint U, Children of God will disappoint U. But God Himself will never disappoint U.



Listen to the inner voice that keeps begging U to come back. Jesus is Real. Jesus is Lord

freecocoa:
Talk in private about what?

about you. Your religious views. Why you think the way you do when it comes to religion. I haven't met a bold strongheaded female freethinker/atheist up close before and I will love to have an understanding of them.



If you don't mind.

It's obvious there are many observers of human doctrine on this thread. If Christ substitutionary death paid it all for me and I've genuinely repented of my sins, why do I need to pay a price I couldn't pay in the first instance, again?

This is how some people drive people from Christ; exerting a burden that our fathers could not carry on would-be Christians. If salvation must necessarily and always be complete through restitution, then what's the place of grace? E tire me the way some people equate Christianity to Judaism o.

BobUg28:


This got me thinking if anyone could make heaven at all...

Many have and many will. Just ensure Acts 24:16

danowena:


I believe this was before his death. Our sins were yet to be paid for.

you mean all He said before His death are no longer applicable and yet He commanded to teach them all I have said unto you Matt 28:20!

Restitution is to be done where the sin committed requires that. The bottom line should be your motive and mindset. Restitution before Salvation is not restitution. Restitution should be a product of genuine repentance. There are complicated cases that need wisdom, one needs to pray and seek counsel from men of God that mean business with God. Another thing will be to forgive ourselves and move on. Restitution is necessary not because you want to pay for your sins but it's a way of settling with man.

Restitution is such a hot topic. Any where it is raised voices and tempers rise.

A key to putting this to rest is for us to know clearly what is Old Covenant and what is New Testament. It's called 'rightly dividing the word of truth'.

Jeel:
Restitution basically is paying for your wrongs.

So as a Christian today should we restitute?

Pls support your stand with cogent reasons and scriptures if possible. Thank you!

One will do well to observe that the preachers of the New Testament started with REPENTANCE instead of the Restitution preached under Moses. So people that turn to God in repentance need not revert to the Law of Moses to perfect their salvation.

Lordgel:
Promise10 Stop this so called "hyper-grace" teaching. Do you know that even forgiveness has conditions to be met? Remember when Jesus said "if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses." Even Paul said that he should have a conscience void of offence toward God and men. Restitution is a requirement for complete salvation and repentance.

I would consider you an anti-christ, for bringing the finished work of christ which is the basis of our eternal life to no effect.

My bible tells me that ALL MY SINS were Judged, convicted and condemned on christ on my behalf, and by his death on my behalf my imperfections and sins were appease, without even interfering with MY GOODNESS(filthy rags) and my wrongs. That's why it is called a FREE GIFT BY GRACE(rom 5:15) because I have NOTHING to offer so that I can merit it.

Romans 5:15;"15 But not as the offence, so also is
the FREE GIFT. For if through the offence of one
many be dead, much more the grace of God, and
the FREE GIFT BY GRACE, which is by one man,
Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

When Jesus said that, HAS HE DIED FOR THE SINS OF MANKIND Guy, don't judge "after the cross" with "before the cross". His death made a HUGE difference!

New convenant is NOT a continuation of the old covenant but a replacement! You can ask questions on this.

So, salvation is restitution + grace(finished work)? Hope this is a joke or what?

You must call paul a hyper grace preacher when he said that if salvation be by Grace, it is NO MORE of works(including restitution).

But, I will not take this your response serious until you quote my FIRST post and refute anything there by the scripture.


I have heard many self righteous pharisee christians say that the preaching of the cross is hyper-grace.

Friend, let me tell you, God's grace ON IT'S OWN is hyper. That's why it passes ALL understanding and human imagination, and there is nothing we can do about it other than accepting it the way he has offered it.

NOTE: I still maintain the fact that restitution is good, but should only be done for the sake of SELF-SATISFACTION which in any way doesn't add or subtract anything from your salvation. And it is wrong to do it AS A MEANS of ACHEIVING/EARNIN salvation which is impossible.

holluphemydavid:
@OP if u read ur Bible very well and always attend Sunday schools, u will knw it's important as a Christian

It is important, but not as a means of getting saved, but as a means of self satisfaction.

As in my own opinion, Jesus Christ has perfected our salvation, let look at the case of the thief on His right hand during the crucifixion. Apart from that, is it possible to restitute all the wrongs done in the past? In case of having another person property in ones possession and you have the mean of returning it, that is good but don't let us assume that our salvation is not complete without restitution. Happy Sunday.

Fairgodwin:

Sincerely, you create more confusion with your point than enlightenment. No, restitution is not a prerequisite for salvation but it is a complement of/to salvation.

Why won't you be confused? When you have allowed false teachings to fill your thoughts about salvation. You better start reading your bible carefully.

Restitution is a completion for salvation? Are you preaching cross-less gospel? Or grace+works?

So the death of christ on our behalf doesn't complete salvation even when he said that all is finished? Man, don't blaspheme God ignorantly!

Please, search the bible and prove restitution to be a completion for salvation. Please, I sincerely urge you to start reading your bible.

I explained this issue in my first post, but before you quote me again, just go to my first post and quote anything you viewed there as the source of confusion. I am open to start afresh you want to understand more.

Danhumprey:
about you. Your religious views. Why you think the way you do when it comes to religion. I haven't met a bold strongheaded female freethinker/atheist up close before and I will love to have an understanding of them.



If you don't mind.

There's nothing to understand, we are normal human beings, simples.

When people try to smuggle restitution into Christianity, they fail to teach n follow it to the letter. The Law of restitution requires that one adds some specific %s of what was made bad, Num. 5:7-8, in the case of Zaccheus, he proffered to restore 4 x what he took wrongfully.
They rather teach that if one stole a bag of rice in January, now just return a bag of rice n that's restitution.

How will someone tear his or her certificate and claim restitution. Read your Bible well. If u want to restitute on a forged or cheat certificate you will have to return back 4 certificates to the institution or go to jail 4 times. That is 25yr*4 which is 100.

Remember, even Zacchseus restituted four fold. Don't tear that piece of paper which you can get back and claim restitution.

promise10:

I would consider you an anti-christ, for bringing the finished work of christ which is the basis of our eternal life to no effect.

My bible tells me that ALL MY SINS were Judged, convicted and condemned on christ on my behalf, and by his death on my behalf my imperfections and sins were appease, without even interfering with MY GOODNESS(filthy rags) and my wrongs. That's why it is called a FREE GIFT BY GRACE(rom 5:15) because I have NOTHING to offer so that I can merit it.

Romans 5:15;"15 But not as the offence, so also is
the FREE GIFT. For if through the offence of one
many be dead, much more the grace of God, and
the FREE GIFT BY GRACE, which is by one man,
Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

When Jesus said that, HAS HE DIED FOR THE SINS OF MANKIND Guy, don't judge "after the cross" with "before the cross". His death made a HUGE difference!

New convenant is NOT a continuation of the old covenant but a replacement! You can ask questions on this.

So, salvation is restitution + grace(finished work)? Hope this is a joke or what?

You must call paul a hyper grace preacher when he said that if salvation be by Grace, it is NO MORE of works(including restitution).

But, I will not take this your response serious until you quote my FIRST post and refute anything there by the scripture.


I have heard many self righteous pharisee christians say that the preaching of the cross is hyper-grace.

Friend, let me tell you, God's grace ON IT'S OWN is hyper. That's why it passes ALL understanding and human imagination, and there is nothing we can do about it other than accepting it the way he has offered it.

NOTE: I still maintain the fact that restitution is good, but should only be done for the sake of SELF-SATISFACTION which in any way doesn't add or subtract anything from your salvation. And it is wrong to do it AS A MEANS of ACHEIVING/EARNIN salvation which is impossible.

Yea, and Paul also said you work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Same Paul preached the law (Romans 13:9-10). We all know that salvation is 100% grace and not works. But then you want to tell me that the words of Jesus are no more relevant in the new covenant. wow! let me clap for you.

izzou:



Wow

So restitution is a choice according to you?

Well done. Keep misleading people.

It is a must.

Lets look at it this way.
I steal someone's property. I then beg God for forgiveness of which he forgives me, then if i LIKE, just as you said, i could go and return it or apologise.

Does this makes sense to you? Jesus said if you dont forgive others, he would never forgive you.

Why does Christ need your forgiveness in order to forgive you?

Restitution is a must. Its such a pity our super mega churches dont preach this .

I just hating talking about biblical matters without quoting any scripture to back yourself up! I preach Jesus, that's why I would always back it up with his word. So learn it!

I am misleading people? Prove this with scripture, even if a single verse that contradicts what I have talked about so far.

Restitution, a MUST? Then the criminal at the cross was NEVER saved, the adulterer was never saved and so on. The paralysed man that Jesus forgave his sins in the synagogue, why did jesus forgive the man, even without telling him to restitute?

RESTITUTION IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR GETTING SAVED.

PROOFS:
Romans 11:6;6 And IF by grace, then is it NO
MORE OF WORKS(including restitution):
OTHERWISE GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE. But if it
be of works, then is it NO MORE GRACE: otherwise
work is no more work.

Eph 2:8-9;"8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: IT IS THE GIFT OF
GOD:
9 NOT OF WORKS(including restitution), lest any
man should boast."

Romans 3:24 "Being justified(made righteous,
saved) FREELY(not demanding your goodness/
good works including restitution) by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus:"

Titus 3:5;"He saved us, NOT BECAUSE of any works
of righteousness(like restitution) that we had done,
BUT BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PITY AND MERCY, by [the] cleansing [bath](finished work) of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit," AMPC

Roman 4:5;"But to one who, NOT WORKING[by the
Law;(e.g; restitution), trusts (believes fully) in Him
Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the STANDING ACCEPTABLE to God)."

There a
re just many proofs, but I will stop here. If you have ANY(even if 1) verse contradicting all these proof then post it here publicly.


You gave an example and in that example you sounded so hypocritical!

Let's look at it this way:

Let's say that you are 45yrs at
this moment. So when you were 10, you worked as an ice-cream seller under a ice-cream business owner. Now, back to 35yrs ago, you stole #5 ONLY just to buy a sweet. And you cover it from your master and he didn't know up till now. Now that you are now born again, sincerely answer this question. Assuming you remember that #5 you stole from your master 35yrs ago, WILL YOU RESTITUTE IT?

Hypocrisy is devilish and can be dangerous!

Jeel:

This is quite strong. Your points are solid

PRAISE GOD!
That's how SOLID and INDISPUTABLE, the word of God can be!

Florblu:
I will simply say restitution should be based on personal conviction.

And it adds ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to one's salvation!