NEW LIFE IN CHRIST IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT RESTITUTION: Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide.

EVERY WORD OF GOD FOR DAILY LIVING

BY PASTOR PAUL RIKA
(Int. Director Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide)

DATE: 
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020
 
TEXT:
2 Peter 1:19-21

Key verse:
Ecclesiastes 3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Some people argue that when the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), it means that they should not bother about the damage they have caused people in the past, or about the money they borrowed ten years ago, or that they should not bother about lies they have told in the past.

One of the rules of interpretation of the Bible is to compare scripture with scripture. You cannot just take one portion of the scripture and run with it because it has its own mates (Isaiah 34:16). No scripture is alone or of private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). They are interrelated. For every scriptural passage, there is one or more scriptures elsewhere to make it clearer, to show that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter is established.

These people argue that restitution was a doctrine practiced in the Old Testament and it does not apply in the New Testament era. The truth is that as a moral law, it does apply except that the additives or percentage of the principal to be added in the time of law does not apply now. In the New Testament the demand is to restore the principal. 

Any addition to the principal if the circumstances requires so, should be done in the spirit of truth and pure conscience. If the person offended demands addition to the principal, this should be by mutual agreement to arrive at the justifiable percentage to be added. But if he is content to have the principal sum only, that should be done in love and appreciation. 

You do not come out to say that the things you did yesterday do not matter anymore, just because you have forgotten about them. You forgot, but God has not forgotten, neither has the offended person forgotten. When you got born again, did your name change? Did your face change? Did your eyes change? Did the hairs of your head change? 

In like manner, your past deeds did not change. The stolen car still remains a stolen car even after you claimed to be born again. People still identify you as the same thief of yesterday and recognize the car you are riding as the stolen car. Therefore, you need to restitute to restore their confidence and trust in you.

Thought for the day:
Restitution is as valid now as in time past. Do your restitution for the sake of conscience and to enter heaven.

Song for the day:
Just obey, just obey, is the way, God's way……

Bible reading for the day:
Deuteronomy 28; Mark 15:27-47