Changing the Face of Christianity
We help you and fellow Christians to authentically love God and others
About a year ago, I answered a question from someone who had sinned against someone else, and wanted to know about making restitution. Read the Article Here. After that question was asked and answered though, we have been surprised to see several people commenting on that one question and answer … mostly with their own sins against someone else, where restitution may be necessary.
I stole money from my employers, paid it back and still did not learn the lesson. I stole again and am now paying back slowly what the court tells me to pay and am on probation. This has been for 10 years now (it was a huge amount of money). I am now on Social Security Disability. Also, the man I was living with gave me money to help with the restitution and I told him I would pay it back. The ex-live in has not asked for the money. So after my honest seeking of what Jesus wants me to do and praying about this issue I continue to get peace, but am puzzled about paying this money back.
If for the first time in my adult life I am peaceful, am dedicated and committed to reading scripture daily, pray for the world, churches, government, my church, homeless, abused people, sick people and my family and friends and I thank God daily for what He is doing in my life…how can this be if I am still in sin by not paying the money back to my ex-boyfriend to this date. When God tells us He remembers our sin no more then how can my not making restitution on that loan keep me either out of heaven or be judged on a sin already forgiven when I am in front of God on judgement day?
How is that sin any different from any other such as one having filthy thoughts about a person in their heart even though they don’t act on it and ask forgiveness…doesn’t God forgive all sin when we truly repent and turn away. In my heart I want to pay this money back but at this time can not. Please help clear this up for me. I read a story from someone else on your site and it perplexed me with the answer given even though I understood…does that make sense?
I’ve noticed that some Christians seem to agonize over past sins. But when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have been cleansed.
I came across the following verses during my reading this morning. I think they make the point better than I can.
2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
So what past sins are you still agonizing over?
It’s about time you left the past in the past and started living an effective and productive life for God going forward.