Yimelele Ngokuqinile Inkululeko Evela KuNkulunkulu!
“UKristu wasikhulula ukuba sibe-nenkululeko; ngakho-ke yimani niqine, ningabe nisaboshelwa ejokeni lobugqila.”—GALATHIYA 5:1.
1, 2. Inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu yalahleka kanjani?
ABANTU bakaJehova bakhululekile. Kodwa abafuni ukukhululeka ekubusweni uNkulunkulu, ngoba lokho bekuyosho ukuba sebugqilini bukaSathane. Bayabazisa ubuhlobo babo obuseduze noJehova futhi bayajabula ngenkululeko abanika yona.
2 Abazali bethu bokuqala, uAdamu noEva, balahlekelwa inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu ngokona nangokuba izigqila zesono, ukufa, noDeveli. (Genesise 3:1-19; Roma 5:12) Phela, uSathane wafaka lonke izwe endleleni yesono eya ekubhujisweni! Kodwa labo abayimelela ngokuqinile inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu bahamba endleleni eya ekuphileni okuphakade.—Mathewu 7:13, 14; 1 Johane 5:19.
Ukukhululeka Ebugqilini
3. Iliphi ithemba elanikezwa nguNkulunkulu e-Edene?
3 UJehova wayehlose ukuba abantu abahlonipha igama lakhe bakhululeke ebugqilini bukaSathane, isono, nokufa. Lelothemba lanikezwa lapho uNkulunkulu etshela inyoka eyasetshenziswa uSathane e-Edene: “Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi [kwembewu yakho nembewu, NW] yakhe. Yona iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.” (Genesise 3:14, 15) UJesu Kristu, iMbewu eyayivela enhlanganweni kaJehova yasezulwini, walimala esithendeni lapho efa esigxotsheni, kodwa ngaleyondlela uNkulunkulu walungiselela umhlatshelo wesihlengo ukuze akhulule isintu esikholwayo esonweni nokufa. (Mathewu 20:28; Johane 3:16) Ngesikhathi esifanele, uJesu uyolimaza ikhanda likaSathane, iNyoka endala.—IsAmbulo 12:9.
4. Iyiphi inkululeko eyajatshulelwa uAbrahama, futhi uJehova wamthembisani?
4 Eminyakeni engaba ngu-2 000 ngemva kwesithembiso esenziwa e-Edene, “umhlobo kaNkulunkulu” uAbrahama walalela uNkulunkulu futhi washiya umuzi waseUri waya kwenye indawo. (Jakobe 2:23; Heberu 11:8) Ngaleyondlela wathola inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu futhi wangabe esaphila njengesigqila sezwe likaSathane lenkolo yamanga, ezombangazwe ezonakele, nezentengiselwano ezinobugovu. Esiprofethweni sase-Edene, uNkulunkulu wanezela izithembiso zokuthi yonke imikhaya nezizwe zaziyozibusisa ngoAbrahama neMbewu yakhe. (Genesise 12:3; 22:17, 18, qhathanisa neNW.) UAbrahama wayekhululekile ekulahlweni ngoba “wakholwa nguJehova; wambalela lokho kwaba-ngukulunga.” (Genesise 15:6) Namuhla, ubuhlobo obuseduze noJehova ngokufanayo buletha ukukhululeka okuvela kuNkulunkulu ekulahlweni nasebugqilini bezwe elisemandleni kaSathane.
Idrama Ethakazelisayo Engokomfanekiso
5. Ukuzalwa kukaIsaka kwakuhlangene naziphi izimo?
5 Ukuze uAbrahama abe nembewu, umkakhe oyinyumba, uSara, wamnika incekukazi yakhe, uHagari, ukuba amzalele abantwana. Ngaye, uAbrahama wazala uIshmayeli, kodwa uNkulunkulu akamkhethanga njengeMbewu ethenjisiwe. Kunalokho, lapho uAbrahama eneminyaka engu-100 ubudala futhi ekaSara ingu-90, uJehova wabenza bakwazi ukuba nendodana egama layo linguIsaka. Lapho uIshmayeli egcona uIsaka, uHagari nendodana yakhe baxoshwa, beshiya indodana ka-Abrahama ayizalelwe owesifazane okhululekile uSara njengembewu engenakubangiswa. NjengoAbrahama, noIsaka wabonisa ukholo futhi wajabulela inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu.—Genesise 16:1-16; 21:1-21; 25:5-11.
6, 7. Abafundisi bamanga babewakhohlise ngani amanye amaKristu aseGalathiya, kodwa yini uPawulu ayichaza?
6 Lezenzakalo zazifanekisela izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu kubathandi benkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwaphawulwa encwadini umphostoli uPawulu ayibhalela amabandla aseGalathiya cishe ngo-50 kuya ku-52 C.E. Ngalesosikhathi indikimba ebusayo yayisinqumile ukuthi ukusoka kwakungadingeki ngamaKristu. Kodwa abafundisi bamanga babekhohlise abanye abaseGalathiya ngokuthi kwakuyisici esibalulekile sobuKristu.
7 UPawulu watshela abaseGalathiya: Umuntu ulungisiswa ngokholo kuKristu, hhayi ngemisebenzi yoMthetho kaMose. (1:1–3:14) UMthetho awusenzanga asangasebenza isithembiso esihlangene nesivumelwano sika-Abrahama kodwa wembula iziphambeko futhi wasebenza njengomlayi oholela kuKristu. (3:15-25) Ngokufa kwakhe, uJesu wakhulula labo abangaphansi koMthetho, ebenza bakwazi ukuba amadodana kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, ukuphindela elungiselelweni lokugcina izinsuku, izinyanga, izinkathi, neminyaka kwakuyosho ukubuyela ebugqilini. (4:1-20) UPawulu wabe esebhala:
8, 9. (a) Ngamazwi akho siqu, chaza kafushane lokho uPawulu akusho kwabaseGalathiya 4:21-26. (b) Kuledrama engokomfanekiso, ubani noma yini eyafanekiselwa uAbrahama noSara, futhi ubani iMbewu ethenjisiwe?
8 “Ngitsheleni nina enithanda ukuba-phansi komthetho, aniwuzwa yini umthetho na? Ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi uAbrahama wayenamadodana amabili, enye [uIshmayeli] kuso isigqilakazi [uHagari] nenye [uIsaka] kokhululekileyo [uSara]. Kodwa eyesigqilakazi izelwe ngokwenyama, kepha eyokhululekileyo izelwe ngesithembiso. Lokhu [kunjengedrama engokomfanekiso, NW]; ngokuba [laba besifazane, NW] bayizivumelwano ezimbili, esinye [isivumelwano soMthetho] ngesasentabeni yaseSinayi [lapho uNkulunkulu enza khona lesosivumelwano namaIsrayeli], esizalela ubugqila, esinguHagari. [Esinye isivumelwano yileso esenziwa noAbrahama ngokuqondene neMbewu yakhe]. Kepha uHagari lo uyintaba yaseSinayi eArabiya, eqondene neJerusalema lakalokhu, ngokuba lisebugqileni nabantwana balo [inzalo ka-Abrahama, uIsaka, noJakobe]. Kepha iJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, lona lingumame wethu.”—Galathiya 4:21-26.
9 Kuledrama engokomfanekiso, uAbrahama wayemelele uJehova. ‘Okhululekileyo,’ uSara, wayefanekisela “owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu, noma inhlangano engcwele yendawo yonke. Yaveza uKristu, iMbewu yalowo wesifazane ongokomfanekiso noAbrahama Omkhulu. (Galathiya 3:16, qhathanisa neNW.) Ukuze abonise abantu indlela yokukhululeka ekukhulekeleni okungcolile, isono, nakuSathane, uJesu wafundisa iqiniso futhi wembula inkolo yamanga, kodwa iJerusalema nabantwana balo lahlala lisebugqilini obungokwenkolo ngoba lamenqaba. (Mathewu 23:37, 38) Abalandeli bakaJesu abangamaJuda bakhululeka eMthethweni, owawubonisa ukuba kwabo sebugqilini bokungapheleli, isono, nokufa. Bakhululeke ngempela bonke abantu abemukela uJesu njengaLowo owazalwa “owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu ukuba abe iNkosi yobuMesiya noMkhululi ‘omemezela ukukhululwa kwabathunjwa’!—Isaya 61:1, 2; Luka 4:18, 19.
Gwema Ijoka Lobugqila
10, 11. UKristu wabakhulula kuliphi ijoka lobugqila abalandeli bakhe, futhi imiphi imifuziselo engatholakala namuhla?
10 Kulabo abakha imbewu ka-Abrahama kanye noKristu, uIsaka Omkhulu, uPawulu uthi: “IJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, lona lingumame wethu. . . . Nina-bazalwane, njengoIsaka ningabantwana besithembiso. Kepha njengakulesosikhathi owazalwa ngokwenyama [uIshmayeli] wazingela owazalwa ngokoMoya [uIsaka], kunjalo-ke namanje. . . . Asisibo abantwana besigqilakazi, singabokhululekileyo. UKristu wasikhulula ukuba sibe-nenkululeko [eMthethweni]; ngakho-ke yimani niqine, ningabe nisaboshelwa ejokeni lobugqila.”—Galathiya 4:26–5:1.
11 Noma ibaphi kubalandeli bakaJesu babeyobe bebopheleke ejokeni lobugqila uma bezithoba eMthethweni. Inkolo yamanga iyijoka lanamuhla lobugqila, futhi eLobukholwa lifanekisela iJerusalema lasendulo nabantwana balo. Kodwa abagcotshiwe bangabantwana beJerusalema eliphezulu, inhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasezulwini ekhululekile. Bona nabakholwa kanye nabo abanamathemba asemhlabeni abayona ingxenye yalelizwe futhi abekho ebugqilini bukaSathane. (Johane 14:30; 15:19; 17:14, 16) Njengoba sikhululwe iqiniso nomhlatshelo kaJesu, masiyimelele ngokuqinile inkululeko yethu evela kuNkulunkulu.
Ukumelela Inkululeko Evela KuNkulunkulu
12. Iyiphi inkambo ethathwa abakholwayo, futhi yini okuzoxoxwa ngayo manje?
12 Izigidi manje zijabulela inkululeko yeqiniso njengoFakazi BakaJehova. Kuqhutshwa izifundo zeBhayibheli nezinye izigidi, iningi lazo ‘elithambekele ngokufanelekile ekuphileni okuphakade.’ Lapho sezingabakholwayo, zizomelela inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu ngokubhapathizwa. (IzEnzo 13:48, qhathanisa neNW; 18:8) Kodwa iziphi izinyathelo eziza ngaphambi kobhapathizo lobuKristu?
13. Ibuphi ubuhlobo obukhona phakathi kolwazi nobhapathizo?
13 Ngaphambi kokuba abhapathizwe, umuntu kumelwe azuze ulwazi oluqondile lwemiBhalo futhi enze ngokuvumelana nalo. (Efesu 4:13) Ngakho, uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Hambani nenze izizwe zonke abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelikaMoya oNgcwele, nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyalé ngakho.”—Mathewu 28:19, 20.
14. Ukubhapathizwa egameni likaYise, iNdodana, nomoya ongcwele kudinga luphi ulwazi?
14 Ukubhapathizwa egameni likaYise kusho ukuvuma isikhundla negunya likaJehova njengoNkulunkulu, uMdali, nanjengoMbusi Wendawo Yonke. (Genesise 17:1; 2 AmaKhosi 19:15; IsAmbulo 4:11) Ukubhapathizwa egameni leNdodana kudinga ukuqaphela isikhundla negunya likaKristu njengesidalwa somoya esiphakeme, iNkosi yobuMesiya, nanjengalowo uNkulunkulu alungiselele ngaye “inhlawulo.” (1 Thimothewu 2:5, 6; Daniyeli 7:13, 14; Filipi 2:9-11) Umuntu obhapathizwa egameni lomoya ongcwele uyaqaphela ukuthi ungamandla kaNkulunkulu ayisiphekupheku asetshenziswa uJehova ekudaleni nasekuphefumleleni ababhali beBhayibheli, nangezinye izindlela. (Genesise 1:2; 2 Petru 1:21) Yebo, kunokuningi ngokwengeziwe okumelwe kufundwe ngoNkulunkulu, uKristu, nomoya ongcwele.
15. Kungani kumelwe umuntu abonise ukholo ngaphambi kokuba abhapathizwe?
15 Ngaphambi kokubhapathizwa, umuntu kumelwe abonise ukholo olusekelwe olwazini oluqondile. “Ngaphandle kokukholwa akwenzeki ukumthokozisa [uJehova].” (Heberu 11:6) Umuntu obonisa ukholo kuNkulunkulu, uKristu, nasenjongweni yaphezulu uyofuna ukuba ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, aphile ngokuvumelana neZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi abe nengxenye enenjongo ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle. Uyokhuluma ngenkazimulo yobukhosi bukaJehova.—IHubo 145:10-13; Mathewu 24:14.
16. Kuyini ukuphenduka, futhi kuhlobene kanjani nobhapathizo lobuKristu?
16 Ukuphenduka kungenye imfuneko yokubhapathizwa. Ukuphenduka kusho “ukushintsha komuntu ingqondo yakhe mayelana nesenzo sangesikhathi esidlule (noma esihlosiwe), noma ukuziphatha, ngenxa yokuzisola noma ukungeneliseki,” noma “ukuba nomuzwa wokuzisola, ukudabuka, noma umuzwa wecala ngalokho umuntu akwenzile noma ahluleke ukukwenza.” AmaJuda ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka kwadingeka aphenduke ezonweni zawo azenza kuJesu Kristu. (IzEnzo 3:11-26) Amanye amakholwa eKorinte aphenduka ebufebeni, ukukhonza izithombe, ukuphinga, ubungqingili, ukweba, ukuhaha, ubudakwa, ukuthuka, nokuhlambalaza. Ngenxa yalokho, ‘ahlanzwa’ egazini likaJesu, ‘angcweliswa’ njengalabo abehlukaniselwe inkonzo kaJehova, futhi ‘alungisiswa’ egameni likaJesu Kristu nangomoya kaNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 6:9-11) Ngakho ukuphenduka kuyisinyathelo esiya kunembeza omuhle nasenkululekweni evela kuNkulunkulu emuzweni wecala obeleselayo ngenxa yesono.—1 Petru 3:21.
17. Yini eshiwo ukuguquka, futhi kudingani ngalowo ohlela ukubhapathizwa?
17 Ukuguquka nakho kumelwe kwenzeke ngaphambi kokuba umuntu abhapathizwe njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ukuguquka komuntu ophendukayo kwenzeka ngemva kokuba elahle inkambo yakhe engalungile futhi wazimisela ukwenza okulungile. Isenzo sesiHeberu nesesiGreki esibhekisela ekuguqukeni sisho “ukufulathela, ukuguquka, noma ukubuya.” Lapho kusetshenziswa ngomqondo omuhle ongokomoya, lokhu kubhekisela ekubuyeleni kuNkulunkulu kusukwa endleleni engalungile. (1 AmaKhosi 8:33, 34) Ukuguquka kudinga “imisebenzi efanele ukuphenduka,” ukuba senze lokho uNkulunkulu akuyalayo, sishiye inkolo yamanga, futhi siqondise inhliziyo yethu ngokungaguquki kuJehova ukuze sikhonze yena yedwa. (IzEnzo 26:20; Duteronomi 30:2, 8, 10; 1 Samuweli 7:3) Lokhu kudinga “inhliziyo entsha nomoya omusha,” ukucabanga okushintshile, ukuthambekela, nenjongo ekuphileni. (Hezekeli 18:31) Ubuntu obusha obuba umphumela buvala indawo yemikhuba yokungamesabi uNkulunkulu ngezimfanelo zokumesaba. (Kolose 3:5-14) Yebo, ukuphenduka kweqiniso ngempela kubangela umuntu ukuba ‘aguquke.’—IzEnzo 3:19.
18. Kungani kufanele wenze ukuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu ngomkhuleko, futhi sisho ukuthini lesinyathelo?
18 Ukuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo kumelwe kuze ngaphambi kobhapathizo. (Qhathanisa noLuka 3:21, 22.) Ukuzinikezela kusho ukuhlukaniselwa injongo engcwele. Lesinyathelo sibaluleke kakhulu kangangokuba kufanele sitshele uNkulunkulu ngomkhuleko ngesinqumo sethu sokuzinikela kuye ngokukhethekile nokumkhonza phakade. (Duteronomi 5:8, 9; 1 IziKronike 29:10-13) Yebo, asizinikezeli emsebenzini othile kodwa sizinikezela kuNkulunkulu ngokwakhe. Lelophuzu lenziwa lakhanya emngcwabeni kamongameli wokuqala weWatch Tower Society, uCharles Taze Russell. Kulesosenzakalo ngo-1916, unobhala ongumgcini-zimali weNhlangano, uW. E. Van Amburgh, wathi: “Lomsebenzi omkhulu womhlaba wonke awuwona umsebenzi womuntu oyedwa. Mkhulu kakhulu ukuba ungaba njalo. Ungumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu futhi awuguquki. UNkulunkulu uye wasebenzisa izinceku eziningi esikhathini esidlule futhi akungabazeki ukuthi usazosebenzisa eziningi esikhathini esizayo. Asizinikezelanga kumuntu, noma emsebenzini womuntu, kodwa ukuba senze intando kaNkulunkulu, njengoba ezosambulela yona ngeZwi laKhe nangeziqondiso zaphezulu. UNkulunkulu useyinhloko.” Kodwa yini enye okumelwe yenziwe ngokuqondene nokuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu?
19. (a) Abantu ngabanye babunikeza kanjani ubufakazi basobala bokuzinikezela kuJehova? (b) Ubhapathizo lwamanzi luwuphawu lwani?
19 Ubufakazi basobala bokuzinikezela kuJehova bunikezwa lapho umuntu ebhapathizwa. Ubhapathizo luwuphawu olubonisa ukuthi lowomuntu ocwiliswa emanzini uye wenza ukuzinikezela okungenamibandela kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu. (Qhathanisa noMathewu 16:24.) Lapho ongenela ubhapathizo engcwatshwa ngaphansi kwamanzi bese ekhushulwa kuwo, uyafa ngokomfanekiso enkambweni yakhe yokuphila yangaphambili futhi uvuselwa endleleni entsha yokuphila, ukuze manje enze intando kaNkulunkulu ngokungagodli. (Qhathanisa nabaseRoma 6:4-6.) Ngenkathi uJesu ebhapathizwa, waziletha kuYise wasezulwini ngendlela yokungazigodli. (Mathewu 3:13-17) Futhi imiBhalo ngokuphindaphindiwe ibonisa ukuthi abakholwayo abafanelekayo kufanele babhapathizwe. (IzEnzo 8:13; 16:27-34; 18:8) Ngakho-ke, ukuze abe ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova namuhla, umuntu kumelwe abe ikholwa elilubonisa ngempela ukholo futhi abhapathizwe.—Qhathanisa nezEnzo 8:26-39.
Yima Uqinile!
20. Iziphi ezinye zezibonelo zeBhayibheli ezifakazela ukuthi siyobusiswa ngokumelela inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu njengoFakazi BakaJehova ababhapathiziwe?
20 Uma usuyimelele ngokuqinile inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu ngokuba uFakazi kaJehova obhapathiziwe, uyokubusisa njengoba eye wazibusisa izinceku zakhe esikhathini esidlule. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova wabusisa uAbrahama noSara asebekhulile ngendodana eyesaba uNkulunkulu, uIsaka. Ngokholo umprofethi uMose wakhetha ukuphathwa kabi nabantu bakaNkulunkulu “kunokuba athokoze isikhashana esonweni, ethi ukuthukwa ngenxa [yokuba umfuziselo wasendulo] kaKristu [noma oGcotshiwe kaNkulunkulu] kuyimfuyo enkulu kunengcebo yaseGibithe.” (Heberu 11:24-26) UMose waba nelungelo lokusetshenziswa uJehova ukuba ahole amaIsrayeli awakhiphe ebugqilini baseGibithe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngenxa yokuthi wakhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka, uyovuswa futhi akhonze njengesinye ‘sezikhulu emhlabeni wonke’ ngaphansi kukaMose Omkhulu, uJesu Kristu.—IHubo 45:16; Duteronomi 18:17-19.
21. Iziphi izibonelo ezikhuthazayo ezinikezwayo ngokuqondene nabesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu bangezikhathi zasendulo?
21 AmaKristu azinikezele namuhla angakhuthazwa futhi ukucabangela abesifazane abakhululeka ngempela futhi bajabula. Phakathi kwabo kwakunomMowabikazi uRuthe, owezwa kokubili ubuhlungu benhliziyo yokuba umfelokazi nenjabulo yenkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu enkolweni yamanga. Eshiya abantu bakubo nonkulunkulu bakhe, wanamathela kuninazala ongumfelokazi, uNawomi. “Lapho uyakhona, ngiyakuya khona nami,” kusho uRuthe, “nalapho uhlala khona, ngiyakuhlala khona nami; abantu bakho bayakuba-ngabantu bami, uNkulunkulu wakho abe-nguNkulunkulu wami.” (Ruthe 1:16) NjengomkaBowazi, uRuthe waba ngunina kayisemkhulu kaDavide, uObede. (Ruthe 4:13-17) Phela, uJehova wanikeza lowesifazane othobekile “umvuzo opheleleyo” ngokumvumela ukuba abe ukhokhokazi kaJesu uMesiya! (Ruthe 2:12) Yeka ukuthi uRuthe uyojabula kanjani lapho evuka futhi ethola ukuthi waba nelungelo elinjalo! Injabulo efanayo ngokungangabazeki iyogcwala enhliziyweni yowayeyisifebe uRahabi, owakhululwa ekuziphatheni okubi nasekukhulekeleni kwamanga, kanye noBati-Sheba owona kodwa waphenduka, ngoba bayothola ukuthi uJehova wabavumela ukuba babe okhokhokazi bakaJesu Kristu.—Mathewu 1:1-6, 16.
22. Yini ezocatshangelwa esihlokweni esilandelayo?
22 Ukucabangela labo abathola inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu kungalokhu kuqhubeka kungapheli. Ngokwesibonelo, inani labo lihlanganisa amadoda nabesifazane bokholo okukhulunywe ngabo kumaHeberu isahluko 11. Babhekana nokuhlushwa nokuphathwa kabi, futhi ‘izwe lalingabafanele bona.’ Enanini labo kunabalandeli bakaKristu abathembekile bekhulu lokuqala leminyaka nabanye abathembekile kusukela ngalesosikhathi, kuhlanganise nezigidi ezikhonza uJehova manje njengoFakazi bakhe. Njengoba sizobona ngokulandelayo, uma uye wayimelela kanye nabo inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu, unezizathu eziningi zokujabula.
Ungaphendula Uthini?
◻ Iliphi ithemba elanikezwa nguNkulunkulu ngenkathi inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu ilahleka?
◻ UKristu wabakhulula kuliphi ‘ijoka lobugqila’ abalandeli bakhe?
◻ Iziphi izinyathelo eziza ngaphambi kokubhapathizwa njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova?
◻ Iziphi izibonelo ezingokomBhalo ezifakazela ukuthi siyobusiswa ngokumelela inkululeko evela kuNkulunkulu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
Ingabe uyazi ukuthi iziphi izinyathelo eziza ngaphambi kokubhapathizwa njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova?