WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE

Don’t you remember Zacchaeus: The short man who climbed a tree to see Jesus? “Eh hehn? What about him?” 

His repentance… 

“You and this matter; what’s so special about his?

Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated." Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "Today you and your family have been saved …” Luk 19:8-9(CEV)  Jesus said nothing to him in the house about his money, but his repentance was shown in the way he sought to return stolen property; restitution we call it. If you genuinely repent you return stolen things.

“Return what you stole or seized, what you were supposed to take care of, the lost item you found, or whatever it was that you swore falsely about. Pay it back in full plus one-fifth more. Give it back to its owner on the day you bring your guilt offering. Then you will be forgiven for whatever you did that made you guilty." Lev 6:4-7(GW) 

“Are you suggesting we pay for our sins? I thought Christ died for our sins and we do not need to pay for them. We are not saved by works are we?”

If you were to pay for your sins you would be dead in hell right now (Rom 6:23). “But this Leviticus is an Old Testament teaching.” 

The New Testament demands evidence of repentance too: Act 26:20(GNB) I preached that they must repent of their sins and turn to God and do the things that would show they had repented. Returning stolen things really shows repentance. If you keep them you haven’t repented yet. Restitution is in Onesimus’ story: I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.  I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel. If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. Phm 1:12-13, 18(ISV)  Paul not only sent Onesimus back to his former master, he offered to pay back what Onesimus stole. The prodigal son offered to work for his father and Zacchaeus offered to return his stolen goods with interest! Where is your evidence?

“Are you suggesting we use Zacchaeus’ formula? Besides suppose we cannot find those we stole from? Does it mean no forgiveness for me?” Not at all! Give to the poor; God will accept it. Eph 4:28(EMTV)   Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labour, working that which is good with his hands, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. 

APPERED ON THE CHURCH BULLETIN IN WEEK 17, 2009