Ofakazi AbangamaKristu Abayizakhamuzi Zasezulwini
“Kepha thina, siyizakhamuzi zasezulwini.”—FILIPI 3:20.
1. UJehova unayiphi injongo emangalisayo ngokuphathelene nabantu abathile?
ABAZALWE bengabantu bayobusa njengamakhosi nabapristi ezulwini, ngisho naphezu kwezingelosi. (1 Korinte 6:2, 3; IsAmbulo 20:6) Yeka ukuthi lelo iqiniso elimangalisa kanjani! Nokho, uJehova wayejonge ukuba kube njalo, futhi ukufeza ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, uJesu Kristu. Kungani uMdali wethu enza into enjalo? Futhi ukwazi ngayo kufanele kumthinte kanjani umKristu namuhla? Ake sibone ukuthi iBhayibheli liyiphendula kanjani lemibuzo.
2. Iyiphi into entsha uJohane uMbhapathizi amemezela ukuthi uJesu wayeyoyenza, futhi lento entsha yayiphathelene nani?
2 Lapho uJohane uMbhapathizi elungiselela uJesu indlela, wamemezela ukuthi uJesu wayeyokwenza okuthile okusha. Ukulandisa kuthi: “[UJohane] wayeshumayela, ethi: ‘Ngemva kwami kuza othile onamandla kunami; angikufanelekeli ukufola ngithukulule imichilo yezimbadada zakhe. Mina nginibhapathizé ngamanzi, kodwa yena uzonibhapathiza ngomoya ongcwele.’” (Marku 1:7, 8) Ngaphambi kwaleso sikhathi, akekho owayebhapathizwe ngomoya ongcwele. Leli kwakuyilungiselelo elisha elihilela umoya ongcwele, futhi laliphathelene nenjongo kaJehova eyayisizokwembulwa yokulungiselela abantu ububusi basezulwini.
‘Ukuphind’ Ukuzalwa’
3. Iziphi izinto ezintsha eziphathelene noMbuso wasezulwini uJesu azichazela uNikodemu?
3 Lapho ehlangene ngasese nomFarisi ovelele, uJesu wembula okwengeziwe ngalenjongo yaphezulu. UmFarisi, uNikodemu, weza kuJesu ebusuku, futhi uJesu wathi kuye: “Ngaphandle kokuba umuntu aphinde azalwe, akakwazi ukuwubona umbuso kaNkulunkulu.” (Johane 3:3) NjengomFarisi, uNikodemu kumelwe ukuba wayeyitadishile imiBhalo YesiHeberu, azi okuthile ngeqiniso elimangalisayo loMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Incwadi kaDaniyeli yayiprofethe ukuthi uMbuso wawuyonikezwa othile “onjengendodana yomuntu” ‘nesizwe sabangcwele boPhezukonke.’ (Daniyeli 7:13, 14, 27) LoMbuso ‘wawuyochoboza uqede’ yonke eminye imibuso futhi ume kuze kube phakade. (Daniyeli 2:44) Ngokunokwenzeka, uNikodemu wayecabanga ukuthi lezi ziprofetho zaziyogcwaliseka ngokuphathelene nesizwe samaJuda; kodwa uJesu wathi ukuze umuntu awubone uMbuso, kwakumelwe aphinde azalwe. UNikodemu akazange aqonde, ngakho uJesu waqhubeka ethi: “Ngaphandle kokuba umuntu azalwe amanzi nomoya, akakwazi ukungena embusweni kaNkulunkulu.”—Johane 3:5.
4. Kulabo abazalwa umoya ongcwele, bushintsha kanjani ubuhlobo babo noJehova?
4 UJohane uMbhapathizi wayekhulume ngokubhapathizwa ngomoya ongcwele. Manje, uJesu unezela ukuthi umuntu kumelwe azalwe umoya ongcwele ukuze angene eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngalokhu kuzalwa okuyingqayizivele, amadoda nabesifazane abangaphelele bangena ebuhlotsheni obukhetheke kakhulu noJehova uNkulunkulu. Baba izingane zakhe zokutholwa. Siyafunda: ‘Bonke abamamukela [uJesu], wabanika igunya lokuba abantwana bakaNkulunkulu, ngoba babebonisa ukholo egameni lakhe; futhi bazalwa, hhayi igazi noma intando engokwenyama noma intando yomuntu kodwa nguNkulunkulu.’—Johane 1:12, 13; Roma 8:15.
Abantwana BakaNkulunkulu
5. Abafundi abathembekile babhapathizwa nini ngomoya ongcwele, futhi ikuphi ukusebenza komoya ongcwele okuhlobene nalokho okwenzeka ngesikhathi esifanayo?
5 Lapho uJesu ekhuluma noNikodemu, umoya ongcwele wase wehlele kuJesu kakade, umgcobela ubukhosi bakhe besikhathi esizayo eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu, futhi uNkulunkulu wayemvume obala uJesu njengeNdodana yaKhe. (Mathewu 3:16, 17) UJehova wazala abantwana abangokomoya abengeziwe ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E. Abafundi abakholekile ababehlangene ekamelweni eliphezulu eJerusalema babhapathizwa ngomoya ongcwele. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, baphinde bazalwa umoya ongcwele ukuze babe amadodana kaNkulunkulu angokomoya. (IzEnzo 2:2-4, 38; Roma 8:15) Ngaphezu kwalokho, bagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele ukuze badle ifa lasezulwini lesikhathi esizayo, futhi babekwa uphawu okokuqala ngomoya ongcwele njengesibonakaliso sesiqinisekiso salelo themba lasezulwini.—2 Korinte 1:21, 22.
6. Iyini injongo kaJehova ngokuphathelene noMbuso wasezulwini, futhi kungani kufaneleka ukuba abantu babe nengxenye kulokhu?
6 Laba kwakungabantu bokuqala abangaphelele abakhethwa uNkulunkulu ukuba bangene eMbusweni. Lokhu kusho ukuthi, ngemva kokufa nokuvuswa kwabo, babezoba ingxenye yenhlangano yoMbuso wasezulwini ezobusa phezu kwabantu nezingelosi. NgaloMbuso, uJehova ujonge ukuba igama lakhe elikhulu lingcweliswe futhi ubukhosi bakhe bulwelwe phambi kwayo yonke indalo. (Mathewu 6:9, 10; Johane 12:28) Yeka ukuthi kufaneleka kanjani ukuba abantu babe nengxenye kulowo Mbuso! Emuva ensimini yase-Edene, uSathane wasebenzisa abantu lapho ebekela ubukhosi bukaJehova inselele okokuqala, futhi manje uJehova ujonge ukuba abantu bahileleke ekuphenduleni leyo nselele. (Genesise 3:1-6; Johane 8:44) Umphostoli uPetru wabhalela abantu abakhethelwe ukubusa kulowo Mbuso: “Makatuswe uNkulunkulu noYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ngoba ngokwesihe sakhe esikhulu wasipha ukuzalwa okusha ethembeni eliphilayo ngokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu kwabafileyo, efeni elingenakonakala nelingangcolile nelingabuni. Ligcinelwe nina ezulwini.”—1 Petru 1:3, 4.
7. Ibuphi ubuhlobo obuyingqayizivele noJesu obujatshulelwa yilabo ababhapathizwa ngomoya ongcwele?
7 Njengamadodana kaNkulunkulu okutholwa, lamaKristu akhethiwe abá abafowabo bakaJesu Kristu. (Roma 8:16, 17; 9:4, 26; Heberu 2:11) Njengoba uJesu abonakala eyiMbewu eyathenjiswa u-Abrahama, lamaKristu agcotshwé ngomoya ayingxenye ekanye naleyo Mbewu noma eyisekela layo, eyayiyolethela isintu esikholwayo isibusiso. (Genesise 22:17, 18; Galathiya 3:16, 26, 29) Siphi isibusiso? Ithuba lokuba esihlengiwe esonweni nesibuyisene noNkulunkulu nelokumkhonza manje nangunaphakade. (Mathewu 4:23; 20:28; Johane 3:16, 36; 1 Johane 2:1, 2) AmaKristu agcotshiwe emhlabeni aqondisa abanhliziyo-ziqotho kulesi sibusiso ngokufakaza ngomfowabo ongokomoya uJesu Kristu nangoYise wokutholwa, uJehova uNkulunkulu.—IzEnzo 1:8; Heberu 13:15.
8. Kuyini “ukwambulwa” kwamadodana kaNkulunkulu azelwe ngomoya?
8 IBhayibheli likhuluma ‘ngokwambulwa’ kwalamadodana kaNkulunkulu azelwe ngomoya. (Roma 8:19) Njengoba engena eMbusweni njengamakhosi akanye noJesu, ayahlanganyela ekubhubhiseni isimiso sezinto sezwe likaSathane. Kamuva, iminyaka eyinkulungwane, asiza ekuqondiseni izinzuzo zomhlatshelo wesihlengo esintwini ngaleyo ndlela aphakamisele uhlanga lwesintu ekupheleleni okwalahlwa u-Adamu. (2 Thesalonika 1:8-10; IsAmbulo 2:26, 27; 20:6; 22:1, 2) Ukwambulwa kwawo kuhlanganisa konke lokhu. Kungokuthile indalo ekholwayo engabantu ekulindele ngokulangazela.
9. IBhayibheli libhekisela kanjani endikimbeni yamaKristu agcotshiwe esemhlabeni wonke?
9 Indikimba yomhlaba wonke yamaKristu agcotshiwe ‘iyibandla lamazibulo abhaliswe emazulwini.’ (Heberu 12:23) Ingeyokuqala ukuzuza emhlatshelweni kaJesu wesihlengo. Futhi “iwumzimba kaKristu,” okubonisa ubuhlobo bayo obuseduze komunye nomunye nakuJesu. (1 Korinte 12:27) UPawulu wabhala: “Njengoba nje umzimba umunye kodwa unamalungu amaningi, nawo wonke amalungu alowomzimba, nakuba emaningi, awumzimba owodwa, unjalo noKristu. Ngoba ngempela sonke sabhapathizwa umoya owodwa ukuba sibe umzimba owodwa, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi singamaJuda noma singamaGreki, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyizigqila noma sikhululekile, futhi sonke senziwa ukuba siphuze umoya owodwa.”—1 Korinte 12:12, 13; Roma 12:5; Efesu 1:22, 23; 3:6.
‘U-Israyeli KaNkulunkulu’
10, 11. Ekhulwini lokuqala, kungani u-Israyeli omusha ayedingeka, futhi sasakhiwa obani lesi sizwe esisha?
10 Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-1 500 ngaphambi kokuza kukaJesu njengoMesiya othenjisiwe, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli esingokwenyama sasingabantu bakaJehova abakhethekile. Naphezu kokukhunjuzwa njalo, lesi sizwe sisonke sazibonakalisa singakholekile. Lapho uJesu evela, lesi sizwe samenqaba. (Johane 1:11) Ngakho, uJesu watshela abaholi benkolo abangamaJuda: “Umbuso kaNkulunkulu uyothathwa kini unikwe isizwe esithela izithelo zawo.” (Mathewu 21:43) Ukuqaphela “[leso sizwe] esithela izithelo [zoMbuso]” kubalulekile ukuze sisindiswe.
11 Isizwe esisha ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe, elazalwa ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E. Amalungu aso okuqala ayengabafundi bakaJesu abangamaJuda abamamukela njengeNkosi yabo yasezulwini. (IzEnzo 2:5, 32-36) Nokho, ayengewona amalungu esizwe esisha sikaNkulunkulu ngesisekelo sozalo lwawo lobuJuda, kodwa ngesisekelo sokholo kuJesu. Ngakho, lo-Israyeli omusha kaNkulunkulu wayengokuthile okuyingqayizivele—isizwe esingokomoya. Lapho iningi lamaJuda lenqaba ukwamukela uJesu, isimemo sokuba ingxenye yesizwe esisha sadluliselwa kumaSamariya sase sidluliselwa nakwabeZizwe. Lesi sizwe esisha sabizwa ngokuthi ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.’—Galathiya 6:16.
12, 13. Kwaba sobala kanjani ukuthi u-Israyeli omusha wayengelona nje ihlelo lobuJuda?
12 Kwa-Israyeli wasendulo, lapho abangewona amaJuda beba amaproselithe, kwakumelwe bazithobe eMthethweni kaMose, futhi abesilisa kwakudingeka ukuba babonakalise lokhu ngokusokwa. (Eksodusi 12:48, 49) Amanye amaKristu angamaJuda ayenomuzwa wokuthi kwakumelwe kusebenze isimiso esifanayo kwabangewona amaJuda ku-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Nokho, uJehova wayecabanga okuthile okuhlukile. Umoya ongcwele waqondisa umphostoli uPetru emzini kaKorneliyu ongoweZizwe. Lapho uKorneliyu nomkhaya wakhe besabela ekushumayeleni kukaPetru, bamukela umoya ongcwele—ngisho nangaphambi kokuba babhapathizwe emanzini. Lokhu kwabonisa ngokusobala ukuthi uJehova wayebamukele laba beZizwe njengamalungu ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokufuna ukuba bazithobe eMthethweni kaMose.—IzEnzo 10:21-48.
13 Amanye amakholwa akuthola kunzima ukukwamukela lokhu, futhi ngokushesha abaphostoli nabadala eJerusalema kwadingeka baxoxe ngalendaba. Leyo ndikimba enegunya yalalela ubufakazi obabunikeza imininingwane ephathelene nendlela umoya ongcwele owawusebenze ngayo emakholweni ayengewona amaJuda. Ukucwaningwa kweBhayibheli kwabonisa ukuthi lokhu kwakugcwalisa isiprofetho esiphefumulelwe. (Isaya 55:5; Amose 9:11, 12) Kwafinyelelwa esinqumweni esifanele: AmaKristu angewona amaJuda kwakungadingekile ukuba azithobe eMthethweni kaMose. (IzEnzo 15:1, 6-29) Ngakho, u-Israyeli ongokomoya wayeyisizwe esisha ngempela futhi engelona nje ihlelo lobuJuda.
14. Kusho ukuthini ukubiza kukaJakobe ibandla lobuKristu ngokuthi ‘izizwana eziyishumi nambili ezihlakazekile’?
14 Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, lapho ebhalela amaKristu agcotshiwe ekhulu lokuqala, umfundi uJakobe waqondisa incwadi yakhe “ezizwaneni eziyishumi nambili ezihlakazekile.” (Jakobe 1:1; IsAmbulo 7:3-8) Yiqiniso, izakhamuzi zika-Israyeli omusha azizange zabelwe ezizwaneni ezithile. Kwakungekho ukwehlukaniswa ngezizwana ezingu-12 eziphawulekayo ku-Israyeli ongokomoya njengoba kwakunjalo ku-Israyeli ongokwenyama. Nakuba kunjalo, amazwi kaJakobe aphefumulelwe abonisa ukuthi ngokombono kaJehova u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ungene ngokuphelele esikhundleni sezizwana ezingu-12 zika-Israyeli ongokwemvelo. Uma umIsrayeli wemvelo ayeba ingxenye yesizwe esisha, uzalo lwakubo olungokwenyama—ngisho noma ayengowesizwana sakwaJuda noma sakwaLevi—lwalungabalulekile.—Galathiya 3:28; Filipi 3:5, 6.
Isivumelwano Esisha
15, 16. (a) UJehova uwabheka kanjani amalungu angewona amaJuda ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu? (b) U-Israyeli omusha wamiswa ngasiphi isisekelo esingokomthetho?
15 Ngokombono kaJehova, amalungu angewona ama-Israyeli alesi sizwe esisha angamaJuda angokomoya isibili! Umphostoli uPawulu wachaza: “Akayena umJuda lowo onguye ngaphandle, futhi ukusoka akukhona lokho okungaphandle enyameni. Kodwa ungumJuda lowo onguye ngaphakathi, futhi ukusoka kwakhe yilokho kwenhliziyo ngomoya, hhayi ngesimiso esilotshiwe. Udumo lwalowo aluveli kubantu, kodwa luvela kuNkulunkulu.” (Roma 2:28, 29) AbeZizwe abaningi basabela kulesi simemo sokuba ingxenye ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, futhi lesi senzakalo sagcwalisa isiprofetho seBhayibheli. Ngokwesibonelo, umprofethi uHoseya wabhala: “[Ngiyakuhawukela] ongahawukelwanga, ngithi kwababengesibo abantu bami: Ningabantu bami, bona bathi: UnguNkulunkulu wethu.”—Hoseya 2:23; Roma 11:25, 26.
16 Uma ama-Israyeli angokomoya ayengekho ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho kaMose, ayeyingxenye yesizwe esisha ngasiphi isisekelo? UJehova wenza isivumelwano esisha ngoJesu nalesi sizwe esingokomoya. (Heberu 9:15) Lapho uJesu emisa iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe, ngo-Nisan 14, 33 C.E., wadlulisa isinkwa newayini kubaphostoli bakhe abakholekile abangu-11 wayesethi iwayini lalifanekisela ‘igazi lesivumelwano.’ (Mathewu 26:28; Jeremiya 31:31-34) Njengoba kuboniswe ekulandiseni kukaLuka, uJesu wathi indebe yewayini yayifanekisela “isivumelwano esisha.” (Luka 22:20) Ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi kaJesu, lapho umoya ongcwele uthululwa ngePentekoste futhi kuzalwa u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu, u-Israyeli ongokwenyama waphucwa uMbuso futhi wanikezwa isizwe esisha, esingokomoya. Esikhundleni sika-Israyeli ongokwenyama, lesi sizwe esisha manje sase siyinceku kaJehova, eyakhiwe ofakazi bakhe.—Isaya 43:10, 11.
“IJerusalema Elisha”
17, 18. Iziphi izincazelo ezinikezwa encwadini yesAmbulo ngokuphathelene nenkazimulo elindele amaKristu agcotshiwe?
17 Yeka inkazimulo elindele labo abanelungelo lokuhlanganyela obizweni lwasezulwini! Futhi yeka ukuthi kuyinjabulo engakanani ukufunda ngezimangaliso ezibalindele! Incwadi yesAmbulo isinikeza imibono evusa amadlingozi ephathelene nefa labo lasezulwini. Ngokwesibonelo, kusAmbulo 4:4, siyafunda: “Ukuzungeza isihlalo sobukhosi [sikaJehova] kukhona izihlalo zobukhosi ezingamashumi amabili nane, futhi phezu kwalezizihlalo zobukhosi ngabona kuhlezi abadala abangamashumi amabili nane begqoke izingubo zangaphandle ezimhlophe, futhi phezu kwamakhanda abo kunemiqhele yegolide.” Laba badala abangu-24 bangamaKristu agcotshiwe, avusiwe manje asesikhundleni sasezulwini uJehova awathembise sona. Imiqhele nezihlalo zabo zobukhosi kusikhumbuza ngegunya labo lobukhosi. Cabanga futhi ngelungelo labo eliphakeme ngokumangalisayo lokukhonza ezungeze isihlalo sobukhosi sikaJehova!
18 KusAmbulo 14:1, siwuthi nhlá omunye umbono ophathelene nabo: “Ngabona, bheka! iWundlu limi phezu kweNtaba yaseZiyoni, futhi kumi kanye nalo abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane benegama lalo negama likaYise lilotshwe emabunzini abo.” Lapha sibona inani elilinganiselwe lalaba abagcotshiwe—144 000. Isikhundla sabo sobukhosi siqondakala ngokuthi bami neNkosi kaJehova emiswe esihlalweni sobukhosi, “iWundlu,” uJesu. Futhi baseNtabeni yaseZiyoni esezulwini. INtaba yaseZiyoni esemhlabeni yayiyindawo yaseJerusalema, umuzi wakwa-Israyeli wasebukhosini. INtaba yaseZiyoni esezulwini imelela isikhundla esiphakeme sikaJesu nezindlalifa ezikanye naye, abakha iJerusalema lasezulwini.—2 IziKronike 5:2; IHubo 2:6.
19, 20. (a) AmaKristu agcotshiwe ayoba ingxenye yayiphi inhlangano yasezulwini? (b) UJehova wabakhetha phakathi nenkathi engakanani labo ababezoba izakhamuzi zasezulwini?
19 Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, abagcotshiwe enkazimulweni yabo yasezulwini kubuye kukhulunywe ngabo ngokuthi ‘bayiJerusalema Elisha.’ (IsAmbulo 21:2) IJerusalema lasemhlabeni ‘laliwumuzi weNkosi enkulu’ nendawo ithempeli elalakhiwe kuyo. (Mathewu 5:35) IJerusalema Elisha lasezulwini liyinhlangano yoMbuso yasebukhosini uMbusi omkhulu, uJehova, neNkosi yakhe emisiwe, uJesu, manje ababusa kuyo nokufezwa kuyo inkonzo yobupristi njengoba izibusiso ezicebile zigeleza zisuka esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaJehova ukuze kuphulukiswe isintu. (IsAmbulo 21:10, 11; 22:1-5) Komunye umbono uJohane uzwa kubhekiselwa emaKristwini agcotshiwe, akholekile, navusiwe, ngokuthi ‘umkaWundlu.’ Yeka ukuthi lokhu kuveza umfanekiso ojabulisa kanjani wokusondelana ayokujabulela noJesu nowokuzithoba kwawo ngokuzithandela kuye! Cabanga ngenjabulo eyoba khona ezulwini lapho owokugcina wawo ekugcineni amukela umvuzo wakhe wasezulwini. Manje, ekugcineni, “umshado weWundlu” usungaqala! Leyo nhlangano engokwasezulwini yasebukhosini iyobe isiphelele ngaleso sikhathi.—IsAmbulo 19:6-8.
20 Yebo, izibusiso ezimangalisayo zilindele labo umphostoli uPawulu athi ngabo: “Kepha thina, siyizakhamuzi zasezulwini.” (Filipi 3:20) Eminyakeni ecishe ibe izinkulungwane ezimbili, uJehova ubekhetha abantwana bakhe abangokomoya futhi ebalungiselela ifa lasezulwini. Ngokuvumelana nabo bonke ubufakazi, lomsebenzi wokukhetha nokulungiselela usuzophela. Kodwa kunokwengeziwe okwakuzolandela, njengoba kwembulwa kuJohane embonweni wakhe olotshwe kusAmbulo isahluko 7. Ngakho manje, elinye iqembu lamaKristu lidonsa ukunakekela kwethu, futhi sizolicabangela esihlokweni esilandelayo.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Umoya usebenza ngaziphi izindlela ezihlukene kulabo abayodla ifa lasezulwini?
◻ Abagcotshiwe bajabulela buphi ubuhlobo obuseduze noJehova? noJesu?
◻ Ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe lichazwa kanjani eBhayibhelini?
◻ U-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu wamiswa ngasiphi isisekelo esingokomthetho?
◻ Imaphi amalungelo asezulwini alindele amaKristu agcotshiwe?
[Izithombe ekhasini 10]
Phakathi nenkathi ecishe ibe iminyaka eyizinkulungwane ezimbili, uJehova wakhetha labo ababezobusa eMbusweni wasezulwini