Codes of Forgiveness - Brossura

Nkosinathi Malevu

Brossura

ISBN 10: 1482875802 ISBN 13: 9781482875805

Casa editrice: Partridge Publishing Africa, 2016

Riassunto

Apostle N. I. Malevu wrote this book after discovering how less people knew about biblical principles governing forgiveness. This book will not only teach the reader about principles of forgiveness, but it will enable the reader to see what forgiveness is not. There are many books written about forgiveness and sermons preached about forgiveness, and it seems like there is enough information on this subject already. Now the question is, why should you read this book? With the information you know, if you do not know these biblical truths, this book is a must-read for you. 1. There are people you cannot forgive even when you want to. This is a biblical truth. 2. You cannot forgive beyond your authority. This too is a biblical truth. 3. The feeling that a person should get what he deserves is not wrong, but escaping its trap is crucial. This book will equip you with vital information that will enable you to do just that. This book will also show you what forgiveness is not. For an example, forgiveness is not releasing negative emotions toward a person who offended you. Apostle N. I. Malevu wrote this book to set you free from inaccurate knowledge that brings bondage and depression all in the name of forgiveness. It is guaranteed that you cannot read this book and remain the same. God made forgiving to be very easy, but the enemy made it look like it is a hard thing to do. Know the truth, and it will set you free. Graham Oosthuis is senior pastor of Bergville Christian Church and a founder and general overseer of Bergville Christian Academy. This is what he said about this book: “Sin initially hurt all of mankind and hurt people hurt people! This perpetuating cycle of ‘an eye for an eye’ and ‘a tooth for a tooth’ interactions with one another has fed and nourished the evil spirit of revenge, conflict, and war across the globe. Jesus came and threw a spanner into the works of this social virus by introducing, displaying, and teaching on the great art of forgiveness. I have personally known Apostle Malevu, his wife, and ministry for many years, and I find his energy and integrity in ministry both refreshing and inspiring. I believe that his revelation on the vital subject of forgiveness is unique, enlightening, and above all, liberating. I heartily recommend his book and trust that many of the readers will be released from the emotional and spiritual dungeons that imprison multitudes of believers in the trauma of misunderstanding, confusion, and guilt.

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Codes of Forgiveness

By Nkosinathi Malevu

Partridge Africa

Copyright © 2016 Nkosinathi Malevu
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4828-7580-5

Contents

Chapter One Forgive As God Has Forgiven You, 1, 
Chapter Two Trespasses, 5, 
Chapter Three Penalty, 11, 
Chapter Four Repentance, 17, 
Chapter Five Forgiveness Must Be Received, 27, 
Chapter Six Authority, 35, 
Chapter Seven The way to apply principle of forgiveness, 39, 
Chapter Eight Bitterness Causes Unforgiveness, 49, 
Chapter Nine Believe God For Vengeance, 53, 
Chapter Ten Benefits Of Forgiveness, 59, 

CHAPTER 1

Forgive As God Has Forgiven you

All over the world in every culture whether people are religious or not forgiveness is very important. People are expected to forgive others but people are not taught how to forgive. In most communities there are structures that are responsible for resolving issues between people and families. But it is very rare that you will find people being taught the most fundamental building block of life, and that is forgiveness. Jesus is the only one I know who taught about forgiveness and Jesus did not only preach forgiveness but he taught people how to forgive. We are going to look at this subject through the eyes of Jesus. And I must say that there are people who have some level of understanding when it comes to human psychology and social relationships. We respect their knowledge but we as children of the Kingdom of God we need to look at things according to the word of God not the world's point of view. There are principles that govern forgiveness that Jesus taught about. It is very strange that most of us understand that forgiveness plays a very important role in our lives. It is very clear that without applying the principles of forgiveness in our lives, life will be very dull and gloomy. But we have not searched enough to find the truth and the principles that make forgiveness work.

When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray he touched on this subject of forgiveness. This prayer is known by many as the Lord's Prayer, most people know this prayer off by heart. We are going to start our study right from this prayer (which in actual fact is a teaching).

Let us look at the gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 6: 1 12

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. I remember hearing over and over since I was young, when people are referring to this statement and they will say we need to forgive people because if we do not forgive them God will not forgive us. The way we forgive others becomes the measure by which God uses to forgive us, so it seems. Again Jesus did not only preach forgiveness but he taught about forgiveness that is why there is more than one passage that he taught about forgiveness.

Let's look at another passage

Matthew 18: 35

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

This scripture sounds like it saying exactly the thing that we just said before, that God will forgive us as we forgive others. If we maintain this understanding it is like we are forgiven according to our performance (how we forgive others). This could not be true and it is not true at all. We will know the truth about forgiveness if we read the passages of scriptures in the light of their settings or context and in the light of the whole bible.

Let us look at the teaching of forgiveness as Jesus will want us to know it. Please look at this parable that Jesus taught very carefully.

Matthew 18: 21-35

When we look at this passage I want us to note something, there are two debtors in this story. There are two debtors; there is a first and the second debtor. The first is forgiven by his lord. When the first debtor found the one that owes him (the second debtor in the story) he beat him up and sends him to prison.

He was forgiven by his lord first and he was expected to forgive his debtor as he was forgiven. So the Lord Jesus connecting the story and his teachings said "so likewise" when he said "likewise" he was saying that God will do to us as the lord in the story did to the cruel servant.

This is how God forgives according to the parables. This simply means God forgives us first then he expects us to forgive others as he has forgiven us. This changes everything. According to this parable we have to learn from God, we have to forgive others as God has forgiven us. So, we have to forgive others as God has forgiven us. God does not forgive us according to our performances but according to his love and grace.

Apostle Paul beautifully writes to the Ephesians to confirm this principle of forgiveness.

Ephesians 4: 32

Paul says we need to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us. Now it is clear that the bible teaches us that we need to forgive others as God has forgiven us, not the other way round. This is very important to understand. We need to know how God forgives so that we can forgive as he did. There are other principles of forgiveness that we are going to look at so that we learn to forgive as God forgives. Forgiveness is like prayer.

If people are not taught how to pray and the principles that govern prayer, people will pray but get no results. So forgiveness is like that too, people must be taught how to forgive and be taught the principles that govern forgiveness.

CHAPTER 2

Trespasses

This first thing we need to learn is the forgiving of trespasses. Now that we understand that God forgave us first so that we learn to forgive from him. Let us continue and look at what Jesus said immediately after the prayer.

Matthew 6: 6-15

Jesus said when we pray, we must enter into our closet, and when we have to shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and our Father who sees in secret shall reward us openly. Jesus continued teaching his disciples how they ought to pray, said these famous words in verse 12

"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors"

Jesus said amen (finishing the prayer) he then immediately joined the prayer in verse 15 he spoke about forgiveness (highlighting it from the rest of the prayer). Jesus said if we forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Jesus said we must forgive trespassers their trespasses.

What are trespasses?

To trespass is to go beyond the boundary. We normally see sign

"Do not trespass for this is private property and all trespassers will be prosecuted"

A trespass can only exist where there is a law against trespassers.

Let us look at how God forgave our trespasses

The bible says we are all guilty of trespassing and the penalty is death and hell.

Romans 6: 23

For the wages of sin is death

How did this happen?

• God had a property (a garden) Genesis 2: 8

The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden (property of God).

• He placed man (Adam) in the garden Genesis 2: 8 The bible says the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed.

• God gave man boundaries Genesis 2: 8

The bible says the LORD God planted a garden eastward In Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed.

• God gave man boundaries

Genesis 2: 16

The bible says the LORD God commanded the man, and said to Adam he can eat of every tree of the garden as he pleases but God clearly said of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam must not eat of it because in the day that Adam eats of it Adam shall surely die. The boundary that God set for Adam was very clear. This is very important to note because there can never be a transgression if there is no boundary (Romans 3: 20 ........... for by the law is the knowledge of sin).

• God made the penalty for trespassing very clear.

Adam and Eve trespassed. Let us look at how this occurred.

God made Adam first and Eve was not around because she was not yet formed. Adam told Eve about the boundaries that the Lord has set and the consequences there of. Eve knew that she was not supposed to be in the midst of the garden, she had no business being there. The Lord provided everything that they both needed for life.

God clearly told them that they should not eat of tree of knowledge of good and evil in the midst of the garden. So they were not supposed to touch it. When we listen to the conversation between the snake and

Eve we find out that Adam communicated the truth to Eve as God told him.

Genesis 3: 3

Let us observe what answer Eve gave to the serpent when she was challenged by the serpent.

Eve was very clear of law. Eve told the serpent that of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said they must not eat of it; neither shall they touch it, lest ye die. Well someone may say God did not say to Adam he must not touch it.

Adam had common sense. Why would you touch something that God said do not eat of it because you will die? Just imagine you tell your children do not eat my cheese on the fridge and you come from work and your child is holding your cheese and looking at it. What would you say the first thing you see your child holding that cheese? Will you not say with a strong voice of rebuke "Did I not tell you not to touch my cheese?" Adam was then sentenced to die and go to hell as God told him that he will surely die. If God killed Adam and Eve straight away, no man will be alive today; you would have died in Adam. In Adam we all suffered a death sentence as Apostle Paul said it to the Corinthians in the 15th chapter.

1 Corithians 15: 22

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

What is the lesson? To forgive a trespass, there must be an act of trespassing. One cannot be accused of trespassing if there has never been a boundary.

Therefore there is no forgiveness of trespasses without boundary. What do I mean? How can you forgive a person for trespassing if that person committed no offence? If you have no boundaries in your relationships or love affair or no boundaries with your kids, friends or at work you cannot claim to have ever forgiven anyone their trespasses because this means they have never trespassed any boundary.

Do not accuse people of trespassing if there are no laws or boundary. Some people will get upset and not talk to other people because they feel they have trespassed their boundaries, without boundaries such feelings are unjustified. To accuse a person of an offence or transgression or trespass without the law or boundaries it is wrong and illegal according to the bible. Anyway to live a life without boundaries, rules or laws creates disorder and confusion.

Romans 5: 13 13 (For until the law, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

This is the principle that we must not forget or overlook. If we become aware of this principle we will learn not to be quickly offended. Being consciously aware of this principle will make you to be a better communicator. We must note that this is just the first principle in this subject of code of forgiveness more are coming.

CHAPTER 3

Penalty

The second principle that we are going to look at is the penalty of breaking the law. The penalty for crossing the boundary must be very clear. We have established the first principle that is:

• boundaries are necessary for determining the offence.

The second principle we are going to at is:

• Making penalty very clear.

We should make it known to the offender the penalty for breaking the law or boundary. That is what God did. Remember we need to forgive as he forgave us. God made it known to people the penalty for sin was death.

Romans 6: 22-23

God wanted the whole world to know through the preaching of the gospel that the wages of sin is death. The first thing that God did was to make it known to men that penalty for sin is death and that he has cancelled the penalty and Jesus has paid the price. This is forgiveness; forgiveness is the cancellation of debts or penalty

Romans 5: 15

Paul taught that by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. The question is when did we all sin? The answer is, in Adam. In Adam all men were sentenced to death and soul imprisonment in hell until judgement day. The final judgement was second death. When the law is passed every person found breaking the law is sent straight to prison and after that he will go to court for judgement so that is why there is a judgement day.

Hebrews 2: 14-15

When Paul wrote to the Hebrews he said forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, Jesus also himself likewise took part of the same flesh and blood that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is, the devil.

Jesus did this in order that he should deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage of death.

The point I am making here is before Jesus came all men were going to hell.

This death is a place of imprisonment of the dead souls. And the prison warden was the devil. This is the same prison where angels are kept for judgement.

2Peter 2: 4-5

Apostle Peter taught that God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment and God he did not spare the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

Apostle Peter tells us about the place where the angels were kept. This place is called hell.

Jesus paid the price

The bible teaches that Jesus died and went to hell even though he did not sin but he was sent to hell to taste death in hell for us. Jesus died and went to hell and rose again and became the judge of the living and the dead, this is found in the book of acts 17: 31.

So according to this scripture God made him a judge. Jesus the judge cancelled the sentence for all people. The Lord Jesus saw it fit that people must be told that:

• One they all sinned

• And secondly the penalty for sin was death, eternal death

• And thirdly Jesus sent people to preach the cancelation of the sentence (which we call forgiveness of sin)

This is the order of how God did it.

1. Set boundaries (there must be a law)

2. The penalty must be clear

3. When we forgive we cancel the penalty (tell the offender the penalty has been removed)

Remember Acts 17: 31 Apostle Paul said God hath appointed a day, in the day God will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained that man is Jesus Christ. God gave us an assurance or proof that Jesus is that man who will be the judge of the living and the dead God showed this by raising him from the dead. Since Jesus became a judge. He sent apostles to tell people that He is a judge not only that but he has cancel the penalty for all men and the best news is that men will not have to go to hell.

Acts 13: 37-38

In this scripture Apostle Paul says that through Jesus or because of Jesus, forgiveness of sins is preached. Apostle Paul goes on to say by Jesus all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses.

This simply means that Jesus died and went to hell so God will no longer send us to hell because of Jesus. God the judge has cancelled the penalty.

We have looked at the cancellation of penalty for trespassing; now let us further clarify this by looking at cancelation of debt. Trespasses, debts, sins and offences mean one and the same thing, but to get a clear picture we will now look at debts.

This word debt is the word that was used by Jesus in this subject of forgiveness.

Matthew 6: 12

Note that the forgiveness of sins is like cancellation of debts that is why in the Lord prayer Jesus used these words interchangeably. Jesus said we must pray that God forgives us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 18: 23-34

Note especially serve 27;

In this parable the lord of the first servant was moved with compassion when he cried, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. This means that God was also moved with compassion and forgave us. The law is every clear that debt must be paid and if money cannot be paid what is equivalent to the price will be taken from the debtor.

So if there is nothing to be paid, there is nothing to forgive. Forgiveness is the cancelation of the debt. This is where most people miss it. If you cannot make a person pay for what he has done or there is no penalty to pay, that should tell you very clear that you are not in a position to forgive. You cannot forgive if there is nothing to cancel. I hope this is clearly understood for it is the heart of forgiveness. Most people like throwing the word forgive in the places where it is not applicable. If there are two parties and one of the parties is offended and the other has caused an offence, the party that offended must be informed of his transgression.

The fact is that forgiveness does not make sense if the forgiven party does not know that it has offended the other, secondly the penalty for the offence should be made known. Thirdly when a penalty is forgiven the offender must know.

CHAPTER 4

REPENTANCE

I feel I need to qualify the statement I have made on my book promotion that

"There are people you cannot forgive even when you want to"

God decided to forgive us by sending Jesus on earth to die for us. That is about 2000 years ago. Repentance is necessary to activate forgiveness. God cannot forgive people who do not repent. Remember God decided to forgive people before 2000 years ago.

People who do not repent will still go to hell does this mean God holds grudges??

I do not think so. Our God is a loving God, full of grace and mercy, but forgiveness has principles that cannot be violated.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Codes of Forgiveness by Nkosinathi Malevu. Copyright © 2016 Nkosinathi Malevu. Excerpted by permission of Partridge Africa.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Data di pubblicazione: 2016
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1482875802
• ISBN 13: 9781482875805
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 74
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile