Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him. And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his. And every man's hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his. (Num. 5:6-10)
Sins against another were to be confessed and restitution made to the injured or harmed party. If there was no one to give the recompense to the guilty were to give it unto God at the temple and the priest would accept and keep it as unto the Lord. Whatever was offered as such would belong to the priests and considered holy as an offering unto God. The guilty would also offer the sacrifice for sin and atonement in addition to the recompense.
While the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God expanded upon some of what He had given in the Law. God directed certain actions for leprosy to keep the camp clean, to discern adultery, and restitution when sin caused a loss to another. All these directions were to remind the Israelites even after their wanderings that they were a chosen people as a nation and were to be holy and keep themselves clean and different than the nations around them. God called the Israelites to holiness and separation as His people that they might show unto others the difference that God makes in those who believe and are obedient unto Him.
Principles of restitution still apply when our occasional sin affects others. Those who are in Christ and saved by faith through grace seek reconciliation with restoration and restitution where possible because God has reconciled us unto Himself through Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Those who are not yet born again through repentance and faith in Him alone for Salvation are still in need of the loving relationship God seeks with all people. Just as the Israelites were to restore that which was lost and offer an atoning sacrifice for their sin, so Jesus offered Himself to restore whosoever will unto the Father by His atoning sacrifice in our place. The sacrifices of Israel covered their sin for a time but Jesus is the final sacrifice for all sin. All we have to do is receive it by faith in repentance and surrender to Him on His terms and we can be made a new creature in Christ and have the eternal life which God offers to all who will put their trust in Him.
God has sent those of us that know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
While the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God expanded upon some of what He had given in the Law. God directed certain actions for leprosy to keep the camp clean, to discern adultery, and restitution when sin caused a loss to another. All these directions were to remind the Israelites even after their wanderings that they were a chosen people as a nation and were to be holy and keep themselves clean and different than the nations around them. God called the Israelites to holiness and separation as His people that they might show unto others the difference that God makes in those who believe and are obedient unto Him.
Principles of restitution still apply when our occasional sin affects others. Those who are in Christ and saved by faith through grace seek reconciliation with restoration and restitution where possible because God has reconciled us unto Himself through Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Those who are not yet born again through repentance and faith in Him alone for Salvation are still in need of the loving relationship God seeks with all people. Just as the Israelites were to restore that which was lost and offer an atoning sacrifice for their sin, so Jesus offered Himself to restore whosoever will unto the Father by His atoning sacrifice in our place. The sacrifices of Israel covered their sin for a time but Jesus is the final sacrifice for all sin. All we have to do is receive it by faith in repentance and surrender to Him on His terms and we can be made a new creature in Christ and have the eternal life which God offers to all who will put their trust in Him.
God has sent those of us that know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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