Obani Abayokwamukelwa UJehova?
“Qhubekani nisebenzela ukusindiswa kwenu . . . ; ngoba uNkulunkulu nguye, osebenza kini ngenxa yentokozo yakhe, ukuze nifise futhi nenze.”—FILIPI 2:12, 13, “NW.”
1, 2. Kukusiphi isimo lapho uJesu athola khona isimemezelo sokwamukelwa kwaphezulu, futhi kungani lokhu kufanele kusithakazelise?
KWAKUYINKATHI yenguquko emlandweni. UJohane uMbhapathizi wayekade eshumayela isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu futhi ecwilisa abaphendukayo emanzini. Khona kweza indoda uJohane ayeyazi ukuthi ilungile; yayinguJesu. Wayengenasono okwakudingeka aphenduke kuso, nokho wacela ukuba abhapathizwe ukuze ‘kugcwaliswe kanjalo ukulunga konke.’—Mathewu 3:1-15.
2 Ngemva kokuba uJohane evume ngesizotha, futhi uJesu ephume emanzini, “izulu lavuleka, wabona uMoya kaNkulunkulu [wehla] njengejuba.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, “kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: Lo uyiNdodana yami ethandekayo [engiyamukelayo].” (Mathewu 3:16, 17, qhathanisa neNW; Marku 1:11) Yeka isimemezelo okwakuyiso! Sonke siyakujabulela ukuthokozisa othile esimhloniphayo. (IzEnzo 6:3-6; 16:1, 2; Filipi 2:19-22; Mathewu 25:21) Khona-ke, cabanga ukuthi ubungazizwa kanjani uma uNkulunkulu umninimandla onke ememezela, ‘Ngiyakwamukela!’
3. Yini okufanele siyikhathalele ngokuphathelene nokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu?
3 Ingabe kungenzeka ngomuntu ukuba amukelwe uNkulunkulu namuhla? Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngomuntu ‘ongenathemba, ongenaNkulunkulu emhlabeni,’ ‘ohlukanisiwe nokuphila kukaNkulunkulu.’ (Efesu 2:12; 4:18) Angasuka yini kulesosimo aye esimweni esibusisiwe sokwamukelwa uJehova? Uma kunjalo, kanjani? Ake sibone.
Ayesho Ukuthini Amazwi Akhe?
4. (a) Uyini umqondo wegama lesiGreki elisho ‘ukwamukelwa’ esimemezelweni sikaNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani ukusetshenziswa kwaleligama kulendaba kuthakazelisa ngokukhethekile?
4 ImiBhalo egciniwe yamaVangeli yamazwi kaNkulunkulu athi ‘ngimamukele [uJesu]’ isebenzisa isenzo sesiGreki esithi eu·do·keʹo. (Mathewu 3:17; Marku 1:11; Luka 3:22) Sisho “ukuthokoziswa okuthile, ukubheka ngothando, ukujatshuliswa okuthile,” futhi ibizosenzo laso linomqondo “wokuthokozela, wentokozo, umusa, isifiso, ukulangazela.” Elithi eu·do·keʹo alilinganiselwe kuphela ekwamukelweni kwaphezulu. Ngokwesibonelo, amaKristu aseMakedoniya ‘akuthokozela’ ukwabelana nabanye ngokwezimali. (Roma 10:1; 15:26; 2 Korinte 5:8; 1 Thesalonika 2:8; 3:1) Nokho, ukwamukelwa uJesu akuthola kwezwakaliswa uNkulunkulu, hhayi abantu. Leligama lisetshenziselwa kuJesu ngemva kokuba ebhapathiziwe kuphela. (Mathewu 17:5; 2 Petru 1:17) Ngokuthakazelisayo, uLuka 2:52 usebenzisa igama elihlukile—khaʹris—lapho ekhuluma ngoJesu njengomuntu osemusha ongabhapathiziwe owathola ‘umusa’ kuNkulunkulu nakubantu.
5. (a) Kubonakala kanjani ukuthi abantu abangaphelele bangemukelwa uNkulunkulu? (b) Obani ‘abantu abathakazelelayo’?
5 Kungenzeka yini nangabantu abangaphelele njengathi ukuba bazuze ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu? Ngokujabulisayo, impendulo inguyebo. Lapho uJesu ezalwa, izingelosi zamemezela: “Udumo kuNkulunkulu kweliphezulu, nokuthula emhlabeni kubantu [abathakazelelayo] [eu·do·kiʹas].” (Luka 2:14, qhathanisa neNW.) NgesiGreki esiqondile, izingelosi zazihlabelela ngesibusiso esasiza ‘kubantu abanokuma okuhle naye’ noma “abantu abemukelwa uNkulunkulu.”a UProfesa Hans Bietenhard ubhala ngalokusetshenziswa kwamazwi athi en an·throʹpois eu·do·kiʹas: “Lamazwi abhekisela kubantu abathokozelwa uNkulunkulu . . . Ngakho-ke, lapha asikhulumi ngokuthakazelelwa ngabantu . . . Sikhuluma ngobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu nentando yomusa wakhe, okuzikhethela ngokwakho abantu abazosindiswa.” Ngakho, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova beye bachaza esikhathini eside esidlule, uLuka 2:14 ubonisa ukuthi ngokuzinikezela nobhapathizo, kungenzeka ngabantu abangaphelele ukuba babe abantu abathakazelelwa futhi bamukelwe uNkulunkulu!b
6. Yini okusadingeka siyifunde ngokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu?
6 Nokho, ungase uqaphele ukuthi kunomehluko ongakanani phakathi kokuba ‘izitha zikaNkulunkulu ezicabanga ngemisebenzi emibi’ nokwamukelwa njengabangane bakaNkulunkulu wethu olungile nohlakaniphile. (Kolose 1:21; IHubo 15:1-5) Ngakho, nakuba ungase ukhululeke uma uzwa ukuthi abantu bangaba abamukelekayo, ungase ufune ukwazi ukuthi yini ehilelekile. Singafunda okuningi ngalokhu ekusebenzelaneni kukaNkulunkulu nabantu kwesikhathi esidlule.
Wemukela Abantu
7. UEksodusi 12:38 unikeza siphi isiqondiso ngokuphathelene nesimo sikaNkulunkulu?
7 Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambi kwesimemezelo esikuLuka 2:14, uJehova wamukela abantu ukuba beze futhi bamkhulekele. Yiqiniso, uNkulunkulu wayesebenzelana ngokukhethekile nesizwe sakwaIsrayeli, esasizinikezele kuye. (Eksodusi 19:5-8; 31:16, 17) Nokho, khumbula ukuthi lapho amaIsrayeli ephuma ebugqilini baseGibithe, “kwenyuka nabo ingxubevange yabantu.” (Eksodusi 12:38) Labantu ababengewona amaIsrayeli okungenzeka babesebenzelana nabantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi bebone izinhlupheko zaseGibithe manje bakhetha ukuhamba noIsrayeli. Abanye ngokunokwenzeka baba amaproselithe agcwele.
8. Yiziphi izinhlobo ezimbili zabafokazi ezazihlala kwaIsrayeli, futhi kungani kwakunomehluko endleleni amaIsrayeli ayesebenzelana ngayo nabo?
8 Isivumelwano soMthetho savumela lesimo sabantu abangewona amaIsrayeli ebuhlotsheni noNkulunkulu nabantu bakhe. Abanye abafokazi babeyizakhamuzi ezamane zahlala ezweni lakwaIsrayeli, lapho kwakudingeka balalele imithetho eyisisekelo, njengaleyo emelene nokubulala neyayidinga ukugcinwa kweSabatha. (Nehemiya 13:16-21) Kunokuba amukele lezizakhamuzi njengabafowabo,umIsrayeli wayesebenzisa ukuqapha okunengqondo lapho ekhuluma noma esebenzelana nabo, ngoba babengakabi ingxenye yesizwe sikaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba umIsrayeli ayengavunyelwe ukuba athenge futhi adle inyama yesilwane esiqumbelene esasizifele, abafokazi abanjalo ababengewona amaproselithe babengenza kanjalo. (Duteronomi 14:21; Hezekeli 4:14) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abanye balezizakhamuzi ezingabafokazi babengase balandele inkambo yabanye abafokazi ababa amaproselithe asokiwe. Kungalesosikhathi kuphela lapho babephathwa njengabafowabo ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso, benomthwalo wemfanelo wokugcina wonke uMthetho. (Levitikusi 16:29; 17:10; 19:33, 34; 24:22) URuthe, umMowabikazi, noNahamani, umSiriya onochoko, babengabantu abangewona amaIsrayeli labo uNkulunkulu abemukela.—Mathewu 1:5; Luka 4:27.
9. USolomoni wasiqinisekisa kanjani isimo sikaNkulunkulu kubantu bezizwe?
9 Ezinsukwini zeNkosi uSolomoni, sibona futhi isimo sikaNkulunkulu sokwamukela abantu abangewona amaIsrayeli. Lapho evula ithempeli ngokomthetho, uSolomoni wathandaza: “Owezizwe ongesiye owabantu bakho uIsrayeli, lapho evela ezweni elikude ngenxa yegama lakho . . . ebeseza ukukhuleka kulendlu, mawuzwe wena ezulwini, . . . ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba bazi igama lakho, bakwesabe wena njengabantu bakho uIsrayeli.” (1 AmaKhosi 8:41-43) Yebo, uJehova wayamukela imithandazo yabezizwe abaqotho ababemfuna. Mhlawumbe nalaba babengafunda imithetho yakhe, bazithobe esenzweni sokusoka, babe amalungu amukelekayo abantu bakhe ababusisiwe.
10. AmaJuda ayeyosebenzelana kanjani nomthenwa waseTiyopiya, futhi kungani ukusoka kwamzuzisa?
10 Enye indoda eyenza lokhu ezikhathini zamuva kwakungumgcini-sikhwama weNdlovukazi uKhandakhe e-Etiyopiya ekude. Cishe, lapho ezwa okokuqala ngamaJuda nokukhulekela kwawo, indlela yakhe yokuphila noma izindlela zenkolo zazingemukeleki kuJehova. Ngakho amaJuda kwakuyodingeka abonise ukubekezela okukhulu lapho lomuntu wezizwe ophakathi kwawo etadisha uMthetho ukuze afunde ngezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu. Ngokusobala wathuthuka futhi wenza izinguquko ezidingekile ukuze afanelekele ukusoka. IzEnzo 8:27 zisitshela ukuthi ‘wayeye eJerusalema ukuyokhuleka.’ (Eksodusi 12:48, 49) Lokhu kwakuyobonisa ukuthi ngalesosikhathi wayeseyiproselithe eligcwele. Kanjalo wayesesimweni sokwamukela uMesiya futhi abe umfundi wakhe obhapathiziwe, ngaleyondlela avumelane nentando kaNkulunkulu eqhubekayo.
Abangakholwa Nebandla LobuKristu
11, 12. (a) Yiluphi ushintsho olwengeziwe olwenzeka lapho umTiyopiya ebhapathizwa? (b) Lokhu kwakuvumelana kanjani neyabaseFilipi 2:12, 13?
11 UJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe: “Ngalokho hambani nenze izizwe zonke abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelikaMoya oNgcwele, nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyale ngakho.” (Mathewu 28:19, 20) UmTiyopiya oyiproselithe osanda kuphawulwa kakade wayenolwazi ngoJehova nangomoya ongcwele. Ngakho lapho nje uFiliphu esemsize ukuba aqonde futhi amukele uJesu njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu yobuMesiya, wayengabhapathizwa. Kanjalo wayeyoba yilungu elamukelekayo labantu bakaJehova ababelandela uKristu. Ngokufanelekile, wayeyolandisa kuNkulunkulu, kudingeke ‘ukuba agcine konke okuyalezwe’ amaKristu. Kodwa kanye nalokulandisa kwakunethemba elimangalisayo: Insindiso!
12 Kamuva, uPawulu wabhala ukuthi wonke amaKristu adinga ‘ukuqhubeka esebenzela insindiso yawo ngokwesaba nangokuthuthumela.’ Nokho, kwakungenzeka ukwenza lokho, “ngokuba uNkulunkulu nguye, osebenza kini ngenxa yentokozo yakhe [eu·do·kiʹas], ukuze nifise futhi nenze.”—Filipi 2:12, 13.
13. AmaKristu ayeyosebenzelana kanjani nalabo ababengasheshi ukubhapathizwa njengomthenwa waseTiyopiya?
13 Akubona bonke abahlangana namaKristu eqiniso ababekulungele futhi befaneleka njengalowomTiyopiya ukuba baqhubekele ngokushesha obhapathizweni. Abanye njengoba babengewona amaJuda noma amaproselithe, babenolwazi oluncane noma bengenalo ngoJehova nangezindlela zakhe; futhi izimiso zabo zokuziphatha zazingaqondiswa izindinganiso zakhe. Kwakuyosetshenzelwana kanjani nabo? Kwakudingeka ukuba amaKristu alandele isibonelo sikaJesu. Ngokuqinisekile akazange akhuthaze noma ngisho avumele isono. (Johane 5:14) Nokho, wayezibekezelela izoni ezazizisondeza kuye futhi ezazifisa ukuvumelanisa izindlela zazo nezindlela zikaNkulunkulu.—Luka 15:1-7.
14, 15. Ngaphandle kwamaKristu agcotshiwe, yiziphi izinhlobo zabantu ezaziba khona emihlanganweni eKorinte, futhi cishe babehlukene kanjani ngokuqondene nentuthuko engokomoya?
14 Ukuthi amaKristu asebenzelana ngokubekezela nalabo ababefunda ngoNkulunkulu kuyacaca emazwini kaPawulu mayelana nemihlangano eKorinte. Lapho ekhuluma ngokusetshenziswa kwezipho zomoya eziyisimangaliso ekuqaleni ezazibonisa ubuKristu njengobubusiswe uNkulunkulu, uPawulu waphawula ‘abakholwayo nabangakholwayo.’ (1 Korinte 14:22) ‘Abakholwayo’ kwakuyilabo abamukele uKristu futhi babhapathizwa. (IzEnzo 8:13; 16:31-34) “Nabaningi babaseKorinte balalela, bakholwa, babhapathizwa.”—IzEnzo 18:8.
15 Ngokweyoku-1 Korinte 14:24, ‘abangakholwayo noma abangafundile’ nabo futhi beza emihlanganweni eKorinte futhi bemukelwa lapho.c Ngokunokwenzeka, babehluka mayelana nentuthuko yabo ekutadisheni nasekusebenziseni iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Abanye kungenzeka babesasenza isono. Abanye kungenzeka babeye bazuza isilinganiso esithile sokholo, kakade benza izinguquko ezithile ekuphileni kwabo, futhi, ngisho nangaphambi kokubhapathizwa, baqala ukutshela abanye ngalokho ababekufundile.
16. Abantu abanjalo babengazuza kanjani ekubeni phakathi kwamaKristu emihlanganweni yebandla?
16 Yebo, abekho kulabo abangabhapathiziwe ‘ababeseNkosini.’ (1 Korinte 7:39) Uma izenzo zabo zesikhathi esidlule zazihilela amaphutha okuziphatha nangokomoya angathi sina, ngokuqondakalayo kungenzeka kwabathatha isikhathi eside ukuba bazivumelanise nezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu. Phakathi nalesosikhathi, babemukeleka kuphela uma nje babengazami ngobunyoka ukona ukholo nenhlanzeko yebandla. Lokho ababekubona futhi bekuzwa emihIanganweni ‘kwakungabasola’ njengoba ‘okufihliweyo kwezinhliziyo zabo kudalulwa.’—1 Korinte 14:23-25, qhathanisa neNW; 2 Korinte 6:14.
Ukuhlala Wamukelekile KuNkulunkulu Kube Yinsindiso
17. ULuka 2:14 waba nakuphi ukugcwaliseka ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka?
17 Ngokushumayela obala kwamaKristu abhapathiziwe ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka, izinkulungwane zezwa izindaba ezinhIe. Zaba nokholo kulokho ezazikuzwa, zaphenduka enkambweni yazo yesikhathi esidlule, futhi zabhapathizwa, zenza ‘ukuvuma kwasobala kube-yinsindiso.’ (Roma 10:10-15; IzEnzo 2:41-44; 5:14; Kolose 1:23) Kwakungekho kungabaza kokuthi ababebhapathiziwe emuva ngalesosikhathi babemukelwa uJehova, ngoba wabagcoba ngomoya ongcwele, ebamukela njengamadodana angokomoya. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Wasimisela ngaphambili ukuba [asamukele] sibe-ngabantwana kuye ngoJesu Kristu, [ngokwentokozo (eu·do·kiʹan)] yentando yakhe.” (Efesu 1:5, qhathanisa neNW.) Ngakho, phakathi nalelokhulu leminyaka lokho okwabikezelwa yizingelosi ekuzalweni kukaJesu kwaqala ukugcwaliseka: “Ukuthula emhlabeni kubantu [abathakazelelayo] noma, [abantu abamukelwa uNkulunkulu].”—Luka 2:14.
18. Kungani amaKristu agcotshiwe ayengenakukuthatha kalula ukuma kwawo kokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu?
18 Ukuze balondoloze lokho kuthula, kwakudingeka ‘ngalabobantu abathakazelelayo’ ukuba ‘baqhubeke besebenzela ukusindiswa kwabo ngokwesaba nangokuthuthumela.’ (Filipi 2:12) Lokho kwakungelula, ngoba babesengabantu abangaphelele. Babeyobhekana nezilingo nokucindezela kokwenza okubi. Uma benqotshwa ukwenza okubi, babeyolahlekelwa ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, uJehova ngothando walungiselela abelusi abangokomoya ababezosiza futhi bavikele amabandla.—1 Petru 5:2, 3.
19, 20. Yimaphi amalungiselelo uNkulunkulu awenza ukuze amaKristu abhapathiziwe akwazi ukuqhubeka eyizinceku zakhe ezamukelekayo?
19 Abadala bamabandla abanjalo babezosithatha ngokungathi sína leseluleko sikaPawulu: “Uma umuntu ehlelwa yisiphambeko, nina-bomoya mbuyiseni onjalo ngomoya wobumnene; uzibheke wena, funa uyengwe nawe.” (Galathiya 6:1) Njengoba singaqonda, umuntu owayethathe isinyathelo esibalulekile sokubhapathizwa wayeyoba nomthwalo omkhudlwana wokulandisa, njengoba kwakunjalo nangomfokazi owayeba iproselithe elisokiwe kwaIsrayeli. Noma kunjalo, uma umKristu obhapathiziwe ephambuka, wayengathola usizo lothando ebandleni.
20 lqembu labadala ebandleni lalinganikeza usizo kumuntu owele ekwenzeni ububi obungathi sína. UJuda wabhala: “Abanye, abangabazayo, nibahawukele, nibasindise ngokubahlwitha emlilweni, kepha abanye nibahawukele ngokwesaba, nizonde nengubo enindwé yinyama.” (Juda 22, 23) Ilungu elibhapathiziwe lebandla elalisizwe ngalendlela lalingaqhubeka lijabulela ukwamukelwa uJehova nokuthula izingelosi ezazikhulume ngakho ekuzalweni kukaJesu.
21, 22. Yini engaba umphumela uma othile eba isoni esingaphenduki, futhi ayosabela kanjani amalungu ebandla athembekile?
21 Nakuba kungavamile, zazikhona izimo ezithile lapho umenzi wobubi ayengaphenduki. Khona-ke abadala kwakuyodingeka bamxoshe ukuze bavikele ibandla elihlanzekile ekungcolisweni. Lokho kwenzeka ngendoda eyayibhapathiziwe eKorinte eyaphikelela ekuziphatheni okubi. UPawulu weluleka ibandla: “Ningahlangani nezifebe; angisho izifebe zalomhlaba, nokuba abahahayo nabaphangi, nokuba abakhonza izithombe, ngokuba phela ngabe nimelwe ukuphuma ezweni; kepha manje nganilobela ukuba ningahlangani nomuntu obizwa ngokuthi ungumzalwane, uma eyisifebe, noma engohahayo, noma engokhonza izithombe, noma eyisithuki, noma eyisidakwa, noma engumphangi; ningaze nadla nokudla nonjalo.”—1 Korinte 5:9-11.
22 Njengoba lendoda yaseKorinte yayisithathe isinyathelo esibalulekile sokubhapathizwa, iba eyamukelwa uNkulunkulu futhi iba yilungu lebandla, ukuxoshwa kwayo kwakuyindaba engathi sína. UPawulu wabonisa ukuthi amaKristu kwakungamelwe aqhubeke ehlangana nayo, ngoba yayenqabe ukuma kwayo kokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa no-2 Johane 10, 11.) UPetru wabhala ngabanjalo abaxoshiwe: “Ngokuba nga kwabangcono kubo ukuba babengayazanga indlela yokulunga kunokuba kuthi sebeyazile bafulathele umyalo ongcwele ababewunikeziwe. Kubehlele njengokwesaga esiqinisileyo esithi: Inja yabuyela ebuhlanzweni bayo.”—2 Petru 2:21, 22.
23. Ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka, sasiyini isimo esivamile phakathi kwamaKristu ngokuqondene nokulondoloza ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu?
23 Ngokusobala uJehova wayengasenakubabheka abantu abanjalo njengabamukelekile, ngoba babexoshiwe ngenxa yokuba izoni ezingaphenduki. (Heberu 10:38; qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 10:5.) Ngokusobala, inani elincane kuphela elasuswa ekuhlanganyeleni. Abaningi abazuza “umusa nokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu” futhi ‘bamukelwa njengabantwana ngokwentokozo yentando yakhe’ bahlala bethembekile.—Efesu 1:2, 5, 8-10.
24. Yisiphi isici salesihloko okufanele sisinakekele ngokwengeziwe?
24 Lokho ngokuyisisekelo kungokufanayo nasesikhathini sethu. Nokho, ake sicabangele indlela ‘abangakholwayo noma abangafundile’ abangasizwa ngayo ukuze babe abamukelwa uNkulunkulu namuhla nokuthi yini engenziwa ukuze basizwe uma bephambuka endleleni. Isihloko esilandelayo sizokhuluma ngalezindaba.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Qhathanisa namazwi athi “abantu abemukelayo,” kuyiNew Testament, kaGeorge Swann; “abantu abathokozelayo,” The Revised Standard Version.
b Bheka INqabayokulinda kaOctober 15, 1965, amakhasi 468-73.
c “Okuthiwa ἄπιστος (apistos, ‘abangakholwayo’) nokuthiwa ιδιώτης (idiōtēs, ‘ongenakho ukuqonda,’ ‘obuzayo’) bobabili basesigabeni sabangakholwayo ngokuphambene nalabo abasindisiwe bebandla lobuKristu.”—The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Umqulu 10, ikhasi 275.
Ingabe Uyakhumbula?
◻ NgokwemiBhalo, abantu bangemukelwa uNkulunkulu kusukela nini futhi ngayiphi indlela?
◻ Wawuyini umbono kaNkulunkulu ngabezizwe phakathi kwabantu bakhe, kodwa kungani kwakudingeka ukuba amaIsrayeli alinganisele ukuqapha nokubekezela?
◻ Singafinyelela siphi isiphetho eqinisweni lokuthi ‘abangakholwayo’ babeza emihlanganweni yobuKristu eKorinte?
◻ UNkulunkulu uye walenza kanjani ilungiselelo lokusiza amaKristu abhapathiziwe ukuba ahlale eyizinceku zakhe ezamukelekayo?