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#6.7 MAKE RESTITUTION WHERE POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN FORGIVENESS

Greek Word Study on μετανοέω, metanoeo, 'to repent'
Greek Word Study on μετάνοια, metanoia, 'repentance'

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Introduction 6.7

If you are a Christian who has struggled with sin in your Christian walk, making the same mistakes over and over again, then this study on how to repent is of the utmost importance to you. The more you become like Jesus, the less sin will be a problem in your life. This process of repentance will take you through that transformation - but be warned: it is no quick fix. True repentance is a slow ongoing process, dealing with each sin in your life as God reveals them to you. Total and utter destruction of each sin is what is required.
This bible study gives the seventh of nine steps to repentance, and teaches us that we must make restitution where possible to obtain forgiveness. This is the last step for the removal of a sin from the heart and helps with the crucifixion of "our old man" (Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22), the death of our spiritual "self" (Galatians 2:20), and requires serious and deliberate intention on our behalf. It will prepare for the growth of "the new man" (Ephesians 4:24) in us, which is the spirit of Christ: "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14), building us up in faith and love. A true repentance will break your spiritual chain and set you free. It will set in motion "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2) which will set you free from the law of sin and death.

#6.7 Make Restitution where Possible to obtain Forgiveness

EXODUS 22:1-7
1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If a thief is found breaking up, and is smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
3 If the sun has risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; and if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the theft is certainly found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, he shall make restitution.
6 If a fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7 If a man shall deliver to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief is found, let him pay double.

NUMBERS 5:5-7
5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
6 Speak to the children of Israel, When a man or a woman commit any sin that men commit, and do a trespass against the LORD, and that person is guilty;
7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done; and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal of it, and add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him against whom he has trespassed.

PROVERBS 6:30-31 (Solomon)
30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry.
31 But if he is found, he shall repay sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

EZEKIEL 33:14-16
14 Again, when I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; if he turn away from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again what he had stolen, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he has committed shall be mentioned to him: he has done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

LUKE 19:8
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Note: Zacchaeus is an excellent example of a man who had had his heart changed by God. Nobody accused him of defrauding anybody, and nobody told him to give anything back, but his willingness to restore and put right any of his past misdeeds shows that God had done a mighty work in his heart. This is how we all should be when we see the error of our ways. It does not matter how long ago the sin was committed, the deed should still be put right. A man might argue, "I stole it 20 years ago", but stealing something does not make it yours by right. What you stole was never yours in God's sight, it still belongs to the person who you stole it from. A man who had stolen from his workplace about 15 years before sent five times the value of the thing stolen to the company. A man who was convicted of defrauding the post office, because he used stamps twice which had no postmark, sent money to the Post master General to cover his error. A man who had copied computer programs illegally was convicted to send twice the amount the program cost to the company who sold it. A man who had refused to pay a printer for some work he did, which was thought to be below standard, was convicted to send the full amount with extra to cover for the man's inconvenience. A man who had owed a small amount of money to someone, who had left UK and emigrated to Australia about 16 years before, spent some time trying to trace the person to make things right, before he finally gave up. There are times when no restitution can be made, but an attempt should be made where possible.

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