According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, restitution is an act of restoring or a condition of being restored. The believer should know that as long as they have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal savior, they should not restitute for past sins. A born-again believer has no past as presented by the scriptures from 2 Corinthians 5 vs 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!. Anyone who is in Christ, meaning anyone who has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal savior, has no past because the old has gone. 1 Peter 2 vs 9-10 says But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
We have received mercy, and mercy means exemption from judgment; hence, there is no need for restitution of past sins. However, in certain instances, there are cases whereby restoration can be done to another human being. For example, if a believer steals money from an employer, the believer is obliged by the law governing that country to return the stolen money. In Philemon 18-19, If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. Paul tells his dear friend Philemon that he should charge him for anything wrong that Onesimus had done. In this case, Paul volunteers to restore all that Onesimus had done to Philemon. In cases of relationships with other human beings, when people do wrong to each other, it’s important to restore the relationship, especially amongst believers. Mathew 5 vs 23-24 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
In summary, the believer should know that we can’t restitute our past sins against God; we are now a new creation, we are forgiven, and there is no longer condemnation in us.
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