Good day people of God

Please I want to ask for some clarifications over restitution-related matter. It a lot of time disturbs my heart and distracts my attention. Please I pray for straight forward answers

I was saved by Christ in 2009 and I did restitutions which many a times appeared inadequate to me and give me some distracting and disturbing thoughts. At a time when I think about it, it comes to my heart that the restitution I have done is okay and I can proceed but the thought would still return back. So  it appears to me as if everything should be reversed back to when I was young  and start afresh. I even wish I knew God at age five and be walking in the Lord since then.

My confusion is this:

The certificates I used to get admissions to higher institutions before I got converted  were marked with some sins.

The noted sins are:
(1) Either I was taught in the exam halls or I taught people myself (I cannot say in this number of subjects of this number of exams)

(2) While taking  those exams, after I have read and adequate prepared, I would still go into the exam halls with subject's key-point. Sometimes I made used of it and sometimes no way to use it or hardly used it.

(3) I  took many O'level exams and over time  I have really mastered them and with this I had the mind of helping people to pass their exam. So I was in agreement to help a friend in 2006 after he got one exam form for me and one for himself. My intention was to write for both of us; I want my results in a single seating and wanted to help him pass his own too. So eventually I could not help him as planned because they later changed our exam centres. But I managed to sit for him in one subject of the exam.

(4) In taking some of this exams, I would write formula to add to those in the mathematical four figure table allowed to be taken to exam hall to make use of them.

(5) Another one is lets say a student is writing nine subjects of an exam, I may quickly call upon then to write one for him or her directly or indirectly.

The restitutions I made were in this wise:

After I was saved and prayed, I  wrote letters to the exam bodies involved to beg for forgiveness and pardon. A particular woman that saw one of the letter said that I was taking it far that it should not  be up to that.

Of all the exam bodies I wrote, only one (WAEC) responded. The one that responded, the woman called me to bring their certificates. I later sent an email letter to  explain that I did not know which one to bring and that they should please forgive and pardon me. Since then I heard nothing again.

The reasons just like one of the brethren that counseled me said which I did not give away these certificates are that sincerely I laboured for them but only that they were marked with some sins as said above which I believe writing them  to ask for forgiveness and pardon could restitute.

As regard sin number (3) above,   I  later approached  the man I tried to help then and told him my intention of writing the exam body, he was not comfortable with it saying there is no need and that I should not take it to that level. But I wrote all the exam bodies involved as said before. I later paid him the  equivalent amount of money he paid then to buy my exam  form.

So after I have done all this, one thing would still be telling me (feeling or thinking or analysing) that what I have done as restitution is not okay enough. And sometimes another thoughts would come to say all is well, I can proceed. So this disturbs and distracts me a lot. PLEASE GUIDE ME IN A RIGHT WAY with your godly counsels.


All of above pertains to O-level exams. So through out my days in higher institutions, people (class mates/course mates) used to come to me so as to teach them and explain things to them. But what I can point to  as sins are these:


(1) I remembered I joined the whole class at poly then to give money  to a lecturer of a particular subject who requested for it  as a criterion for giving us his handout of his course ( as if I might be dealt with if I did not corporate) I cannot even remember I knew this as sin then

(2) The acts of copy and paste especially in writing final year projects without/with poor  proper referencing.

Concerning these two, I thought the right thing to do is to pray to God and avoid such in the future. ANYWAY I STILL WELCOME YOUR ADVICE WITH THE GUIDES I ASKED FOR ON THE O'LEVEL'S  EXAM ISSUES RAISED BEFORE.

Thank you.

See your Pastor for counselling, forgiveness of sins is paramount, restitution is important but optional. Not everything can be restituted

Relax. Many people have done what you did. It's commendable that you're trying to make things right. The harm done by your cheating is that you are not worth what your certificates say that you are worth. The way to make restitution for it is to continue acquiring the knowledge and skills that are of value to your prospective employers so that you'll be as valuable to them as someone who truly earned those credentials.

The devil plays with your mind trying to keep you in bondage of sin already forgiven and forgotten by God but you must resist him.

Tell him next time that you no longer belong to him, that you are saved like you already said.

Simple.

that is the devil trying to distract you from reaching, operating fully in CHRIST JESUS and put in you in bondage by making you to doubt your salvation so that he can continue to carry out his evil scheme. JESUS CHRIST has paid the price for your forgiveness of sin. you are a new creature in CHRIST JESUS, no longer that old self but a new being walking according to the law of the spirit which is life. for roman 8 verses 1 says that you are free and no more in condemnation because you are in CHRIST JESUS walking according to the spirit not the flesh.

so whenever you find yourself in such position rebuke the devil by the word of GOD in roman 8 verses 1.

GOD BLESS YOU

opportunity2012:
Good day people of God

Please I want to ask for some clarifications over restitution-related matter. It a lot of time disturbs my heart and distracts my attention. Please I pray for straight forward answers

I was saved by Christ in 2009 and I did restitutions which many a times appeared inadequate to me and give me some distracting and disturbing thoughts. At a time when I think about it, it comes to my heart that the restitution I have done is okay and I can proceed but the thought would still return back. So  it appears to me as if everything should be reversed back to when I was young  and start afresh. I even wish I knew God at age five and be walking in the Lord since then.

My confusion is this:

The certificates I used to get admissions to higher institutions before I got converted  were marked with some sins.

The noted sins are:
(1) Either I was taught in the exam halls or I taught people myself (I cannot say in this number of subjects of this number of exams)

(2) While taking  those exams, after I have read and adequate prepared, I would still go into the exam halls with subject's key-point. Sometimes I made used of it and sometimes no way to use it or hardly used it.

(3) I  took many O'level exams and over time  I have really mastered them and with this I had the mind of helping people to pass their exam. So I was in agreement to help a friend in 2006 after he got one exam form for me and one for himself. My intention was to write for both of us; I want my results in a single seating and wanted to help him pass his own too. So eventually I could not help him as planned because they later changed our exam centres. But I managed to sit for him in one subject of the exam.

(4) In taking some of this exams, I would write formula to add to those in the mathematical four figure table allowed to be taken to exam hall to make use of them.

(5) Another one is lets say a student is writing nine subjects of an exam, I may quickly call upon then to write one for him or her directly or indirectly.

The restitutions I made were in this wise:

After I was saved and prayed, I  wrote letters to the exam bodies involved to beg for forgiveness and pardon. A particular woman that saw one of the letter said that I was taking it far that it should not  be up to that.

Of all the exam bodies I wrote, only one (WAEC) responded. The one that responded, the woman called me to bring their certificates. I later sent an email letter to  explain that I did not know which one to bring and that they should please forgive and pardon me. Since then I heard nothing again.

The reasons just like one of the brethren that counseled me said which I did not give away these certificates are that sincerely I laboured for them but only that they were marked with some sins as said above which I believe writing them  to ask for forgiveness and pardon could restitute.

As regard sin number (3) above,   I  later approached  the man I tried to help then and told him my intention of writing the exam body, he was not comfortable with it saying there is no need and that I should not take it to that level. But I wrote all the exam bodies involved as said before. I later paid him the  equivalent amount of money he paid then to buy my exam  form.

So after I have done all this, one thing would still be telling me (feeling or thinking or analysing) that what I have done as restitution is not okay enough. And sometimes another thoughts would come to say all is well, I can proceed. So this disturbs and distracts me a lot. PLEASE GUIDE ME IN A RIGHT WAY with your godly counsels.


All of above pertains to O-level exams. So through out my days in higher institutions, people (class mates/course mates) used to come to me so as to teach them and explain things to them. But what I can point to  as sins are these:


(1) I remembered I joined the whole class at poly then to give money  to a lecturer of a particular subject who requested for it  as a criterion for giving us his handout of his course ( as if I might be dealt with if I did not corporate) I cannot even remember I knew this as sin then

(2) The acts of copy and paste especially in writing final year projects without/with poor  proper referencing.

Concerning these two, I thought the right thing to do is to pray to God and avoid such in the future. ANYWAY I STILL WELCOME YOUR ADVICE WITH THE GUIDES I ASKED FOR ON THE O'LEVEL'S  EXAM ISSUES RAISED BEFORE.

Thank you.

My brother, this is the devil playing with your mind. Since you are saved in 2009, you are now a new creation in Christ. Old things have passed away and all things have become new.

Jesus Christ paid for all your sins on the Cross and He said it finished!! It is finished means IT IS FINISHED!! No sin was left.... What you need to do now is to start renewing your mind in Christ and resisting the devil by casting down imaginations or thoughts that are disobedient to the Word of God. The battle is on the mind, so have to be renewing your mind with the word of God.

Click on my profile name and go through my Christian articles, you will love them cos it will liberate you. It is made for people like you.... Please don't worry yourself again bro. It is well with you.

opportunity2012:
Good day people of God

Please I want to ask for some clarifications over restitution-related matter. It a lot of time disturbs my heart and distracts my attention. Please I pray for straight forward answers

I was saved by Christ in 2009 and I did restitutions which many a times appeared inadequate to me and give me some distracting and disturbing thoughts. At a time when I think about it, it comes to my heart that the restitution I have done is okay and I can proceed but the thought would still return back. So  it appears to me as if everything should be reversed back to when I was young  and start afresh. I even wish I knew God at age five and be walking in the Lord since then.

My confusion is this:

The certificates I used to get admissions to higher institutions before I got converted  were marked with some sins.

The noted sins are:
(1) Either I was taught in the exam halls or I taught people myself (I cannot say in this number of subjects of this number of exams)

(2) While taking  those exams, after I have read and adequate prepared, I would still go into the exam halls with subject's key-point. Sometimes I made used of it and sometimes no way to use it or hardly used it.

(3) I  took many O'level exams and over time  I have really mastered them and with this I had the mind of helping people to pass their exam. So I was in agreement to help a friend in 2006 after he got one exam form for me and one for himself. My intention was to write for both of us; I want my results in a single seating and wanted to help him pass his own too. So eventually I could not help him as planned because they later changed our exam centres. But I managed to sit for him in one subject of the exam.

(4) In taking some of this exams, I would write formula to add to those in the mathematical four figure table allowed to be taken to exam hall to make use of them.

(5) Another one is lets say a student is writing nine subjects of an exam, I may quickly call upon then to write one for him or her directly or indirectly.

The restitutions I made were in this wise:

After I was saved and prayed, I  wrote letters to the exam bodies involved to beg for forgiveness and pardon. A particular woman that saw one of the letter said that I was taking it far that it should not  be up to that.

Of all the exam bodies I wrote, only one (WAEC) responded. The one that responded, the woman called me to bring their certificates. I later sent an email letter to  explain that I did not know which one to bring and that they should please forgive and pardon me. Since then I heard nothing again.

The reasons just like one of the brethren that counseled me said which I did not give away these certificates are that sincerely I laboured for them but only that they were marked with some sins as said above which I believe writing them  to ask for forgiveness and pardon could restitute.

As regard sin number (3) above,   I  later approached  the man I tried to help then and told him my intention of writing the exam body, he was not comfortable with it saying there is no need and that I should not take it to that level. But I wrote all the exam bodies involved as said before. I later paid him the  equivalent amount of money he paid then to buy my exam  form.

So after I have done all this, one thing would still be telling me (feeling or thinking or analysing) that what I have done as restitution is not okay enough. And sometimes another thoughts would come to say all is well, I can proceed. So this disturbs and distracts me a lot. PLEASE GUIDE ME IN A RIGHT WAY with your godly counsels.


All of above pertains to O-level exams. So through out my days in higher institutions, people (class mates/course mates) used to come to me so as to teach them and explain things to them. But what I can point to  as sins are these:


(1) I remembered I joined the whole class at poly then to give money  to a lecturer of a particular subject who requested for it  as a criterion for giving us his handout of his course ( as if I might be dealt with if I did not corporate) I cannot even remember I knew this as sin then

(2) The acts of copy and paste especially in writing final year projects without/with poor  proper referencing.

Concerning these two, I thought the right thing to do is to pray to God and avoid such in the future. ANYWAY I STILL WELCOME YOUR ADVICE WITH THE GUIDES I ASKED FOR ON THE O'LEVEL'S  EXAM ISSUES RAISED BEFORE.

Thank you.

Sometimes as Christians, we allow the devil to accuse us
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth

Pls read the whole chapter. Sometimes, we take the issue of restitution too far.

Restitution is not a NT command, It is an instruction that the Holy Spirit gives for specific situations.

Not everything can be restituted;
If you disvirgined a girl, how do you restitute? ..will sorry restore the damage
You put a girl in the family way, how do you restitute?
You have an accident due to your carelessness, and someone dies, how do you restitute?

What would Jesus have said to you, knowing Him (since you have been born again for some time)?
Will He say, Go, Sin no more your sins are forgiven
OR
Your sins are Forgive but first go do your restitution!

If the Son of God set you Free, please do not let the LAW hold you bound.

I will be glad to do more clarification if you still have questions

Seun:
Relax. Many people have done what you did. It's commendable that you're trying to make things right. The harm done by your cheating is that you are not worth what your certificates say that you are worth. The way to make restitution for it is to continue acquiring the knowledge and skills that are of value to your prospective employers so that you'll be as valuable to them as someone who truly earned those credentials.

I agree.

I am very grateful for everyone who has responded and those who shall thereafter.

Blitzeee:
See your Pastor for counselling, forgiveness of sins is paramount, restitution is important but optional. Not everything can be restituted

Thanks for your concern. I quite believe in getting advice from leaders as you suggested. Nevertheless, the time comes in one's life that you chose to look at things yourself and hold on that. Why I am making this public like this is to seek the judgement of others of what has been narrated above and the adequacy of the same. Thank you once more.

shadeyinka:



Sometimes as Christians, we allow the devil to accuse us
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth

Pls read the whole chapter. Sometimes, we take the issue of restitution too far.

Restitution is not a NT command, It is an instruction that the Holy Spirit gives for specific situations.

Not everything can be restituted;
If you disvirgined a girl, how do you restitute? ..will sorry restore the damage
You put a girl in the family way, how do you restitute?
You have an accident due to your carelessness, and someone dies, how do you restitute?

What would Jesus have said to you, knowing Him (since you have been born again for some time)?
Will He say, Go, Sin no more your sins are forgiven
OR
Your sins are Forgive but first go do your restitution!

If the Son of God set you Free, please do not let the LAW hold you bound.

I will be glad to do more clarification if you still have questions

I am truly happy for your concern and God be with you. Restitution is biblical as it starts right from Old Testament and proceeds to New Testament. I can itemise series of scriptural verses to expantiate this. In my own case, I do not know maybe my own too careful nature is the reason behind my problem or some forces from the other side. Many a times after I might have locked the door to my apartment, I will still check like two times to make sure it is locked though I locked it myself. On the issue of restitution, I know and hear more of it. But what thing is this: it was true that before I got converted I have involved in some sinful acts as it touched my written exams as explained before and the restitution made on that. All the same, I consider it unfair and inappropriate to disregard the exam certificates as if some people entirely wrote the exams for me. If some people wrote the exams for me, no need for any talk, the next thing is to do away with those certificates. So to avoid confusion in my heart that periodically comes is the reason for this post. Why, it is because, God's word says ...in the multitude of counsels, there is safety. And by expansion, ONLY godly and true counsels bring that safety.Thank you.

jiggaz:
My brother, this is the devil playing with your mind. Since you are saved in 2009, you are now a new creation in Christ. Old things have passed away and all things have become new.

Jesus Christ paid for all your sins on the Cross and He said it finished!! It is finished means IT IS FINISHED!! No sin was left.... What you need to do now is to start renewing your mind in Christ and resisting the devil by casting down imaginations or thoughts that are disobedient to the Word of God. The battle is on the mind, so have to be renewing your mind with the word of God.

Click on my profile name and go through my Christian articles, you will love them cos it will liberate you. It is made for people like you.... Please don't worry yourself again bro. It is well with you.

Thanks also as I am grateful for your response, I am scripturally convinced that God requires the past and restitution is biblically necessary. In my own case, the correctness and adequacy of the restitution made as explained before are just the reason for this post. Thanks once again.

Seun:
Relax. Many people have done what you did. It's commendable that you're trying to make things right. The harm done by your cheating is that you are not worth what your certificates say that you are worth. The way to make restitution for it is to continue acquiring the knowledge and skills that are of value to your prospective employers so that you'll be as valuable to them as someone who truly earned those credentials.

Thanks too. I think I understand the angle through which you talked especially in your third sentence. The whole problem I have with sin at O'Level and as pertaining to the SSCE exams taken was largely because of 1. Not having genuine conversion then 2. poor primary and secondary education. May I tell, when I wrote poly Jamb ( the only Jamb I wrote in life), I knew I did better compare to how things were before, because by this time I have understood failure and cannot afford to fail. So I really prepared very well and that not without sin also because there are things I did not know as sins then. By then I have really understood a lot at O'Level. So, when I got to polytechnic, the understanding of failure and my decision to graduate helped me to study very well to the point I came first in my set and without cheating. I even taught my class mates anytime they were not clear about some topics. This continued to my university education, I did very well too even beyond my expectation, all glory be too God. I taught my classmates too in the university. Now, as God is my witness and with His help, theoretically, practically and professionally, I know I am trying though I am not that fluent in speech but I am working on that. Now, all the certificates I have, I can defend them anywhere anytime.I may not speak the English Language fluently ('just as if I am eating carrot') but if written and spoken wrongly, I have the competence to detect. Going by what I have passed through in life, sincerely I am not afraid of any exam by His grace. It is because God requires the past (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.) and so as to check adequacy of the restitution made in relation to that disturbing thought IS JUST THE ESSENCE OF THIS POST. Thanks for your understanding of all this.

opportunity2012:



I am truly happy for your concern and God be with you. Restitution is biblical as it starts right from Old Testament and proceeds to New Testament. I can itemise series of scriptural verses to expantiate this. In my own case, I do not know maybe my own too careful nature is the reason behind my problem or some forces from the other side. Many a times after I might have locked the door to my apartment, I will still check like two times to make sure it is locked though I locked it myself. On the issue of restitution, I know and hear more of it. But what thing is this: it was true that before I got converted I have involved in some sinful acts as it touched my written exams as explained before and the restitution made on that. All the same, I consider it unfair and inappropriate to disregard the exam certificates as if some people entirely wrote the exams for me. If some people wrote the exams for me, no need for any talk, the next thing is to do away with those certificates. So to avoid confusion in my heart that periodically comes is the reason for this post. Why, it is because, God's word says ...in the multitude of counsels, there is safety. And by expansion, ONLY godly and true counsels bring that safety.Thank you.

I understand you very well my brother!

Restitution is good and it is in the scriptures but I think as believers, we take it too far as if WORK on our part in addition to the SACRIFICE of Christ is what saves us. Some Christians cannot believe that the atonement is sufficient, and they have to add something's to make the work of Christ complete. That is where I have problem.

If salvation is by what we do, so why did Christ have to die. Although, I wish you gave me some new testament scriptures for commands for restitution. Sometimes as Christians, we cherry pick commands and overblow it.

Let me give you an example in the NT:


1. Issue of circumsision:

Acts 15:1
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Circumsision is well taught in the OT, if any is not circumsised, he is cut off from God....but how did the disciples handle it!

2. Issue of Purification:

Act21:1-29
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

Read the whole chapter. Can we as Christians also follow the rites of purification knowing that it is well taught in the OT and practiced by Paul?

I strongly believe that it is the Holy Spirit that guides a believer into doing restitution and not the logos. My problem is that we as Christians allow our conscience to judge us while we attribute it to the Holy spirit

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

In conclusion, is restitution good? Yes
Is it a prerequisite to Holiness, Righteousness, Holiness and Salvation? No!
Is it abrogated from the NT doctrines? No!

However, the Holy Spirit moderates a believers actions for NOT everything can be restituted!

Shalom

Some Practical Questions:
-If in the Past you were involved in Murder, how would you restitute?
-If you defrauded a person 20 years ago of N20,000 and you used it to build a businesses that is now worth N20,000,000. How would you restitute?