The violation of God's law, however, involves God primarily, and, secondarily, men and earth. Man must yield to the earth its due, for having taken from the earth. There are two aspects to forgiveness, the religious or God-ward aspect, and then the social and criminal aspect. Sin always is an offense against God, and therefore there must always be a theological aspect to every sin, i.e., some kind of settlement or judgment of man for his violation of God's order. But sin also involves other men, or the earth, and particular sins have particular requirements of restitution.
Forgiveness requires restitution.
We are forgiven theologically because Christ made restitution and satisfied God's justice. Forgiveness is a juridical term in the Bible and means that charges are dropped because satisfaction has been rendered. Confession is worthless, and forgiveness invalid, where restitution has not been made. Salvation is inseparable from restitution, because God's redemption of man and of the world is its restoration to its original position under Him and to His glory. Man's work of restitution for the sin of Adam, for his own original sin as it has worked to mar the earth, is to recognize that, as a new creation in Christ, he must make the earth a new creation under Christ.