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Injongo yalesi sigaba wukubheka ukuthi singahlanganyela kanjani elungiselelweni elijabulisayo likaNkulunkulu.
Okokuqala, sizocabangela ukukholwa nokuphenduka, izinyathelo ezimbili zokuqala ohambweni lwethu oluya obhabhadisweni. Okulandelayo, sizobheka lokho okufundiswa yiBhayibheli ngobhabhadiso nokuthi kusho ukuthini kuwena.
Njengoba sibonile eSigabeni 6, lapho siphawula ngendlela yensindiso equkethwe egameni likaNkulunkulu, kunezingxenye ezimbili ensindisweni yethu. Inxenye yokuqala (u-Yod no-Hey) yilokho thina esikwenzayo. Kudingeka ukhulule ulwazi nemizamo yakho (yod) bese uyafa kuwena uqobo (hey). Kuthatha ukukholwa okukhulu ukwenza lokhu, ngoba ukuyeka ukuzama thina ngokwethu kodwa sithembele komunye kudinga ukukholwa.
Inxenye yesibili yilokho uNkulunkulu asenzela khona. U-Vav umayelana noJesu njengoba enguye osisindisayo ngomsebenzi onamandla woMoya kaNkulunkulu ezimpilweni zethu (hey). Le nxenye yesibili yegama likaNkulunkulu yilokho asenzela khona; ibizwa ngokuthi "umusa" eBhayibhelini.
Ngakho-ke singahlanganyela kanjani ohlelweni likaNkulunkulu, sibe yingxenye yomndeni Wakhe? Kudingeka sibe nokukholwa futhi sibambelele emuseni kaNkulunkulu. "Ngoba ngomusa nisindisiwe ngokukholwa; nalokhu akuveli kini, kuyisipho sikaNkulunkulu" (Efesu 2:8).
Njengoba kuxoxiwe eSigabeni 6, izinyathelo zensindiso, njengoba zishunyekiwe egameni likaNkulunkulu zingabonakala kalula nje njenge: Kholwa (Yod – ukukholwa kokuyeka uqobo lwakho uze kuNkulunkulu), Phenduka (Hey – ukukhipha umoya, ukufela impilo yakho endala), Bhabhadiswa (Vav – ukuzihlanganisa noJesu), futhi Phila (Hey – ukukuphila impilo emandleni nagemusa likaNkulunkulu).
Kuzanyana nje ngaphambi kokuba anyuke eye ezulwini, uJesu wakhuluma la mazwi aguqula impilo kubafundi bakhe: "Hambani niye emhlabeni wonke, nishumayele ivangeli kudalwa konke. Okholwayo nabhabhadiswayo uyakusindiswa" (Marku 16:15-16). Ukukholwa yigama elisho ukuthi "ukuba nokwethemba". Indlela yethu yokuhlanganyela ohlelweni likaNkulunkulu idinga ukukholwa, noma ukwethembela, ngasencenyeni yethu. Lokhu kukholwa kubaluleke kakhulu futhi yilokho uNkulunkulu akubona kulungile kithi (Roma 4:5). Lokhu kuyinto eyayiyoba yingenzeka kithi ukuba siyifeze ngamandla ethu nemizamo yethu (Galathiya 3:5-6,14). Eqinisweni, bonke abantu ababalwe esahlukweni sikaNkulunkulu sabathembekile kuthiwa babenokukholwa, ngakho uNkulunkulu usitshela ukuthi:
"Kepha-ke ngaphandle kokukholwa akungethambe muntu kuye; ngokuba ozayo kuNkulunkulu umelwe ukukholwa ukuthi ukhona nokuthi uyabanika umvuzo abamfunayo." (Hebheru 11:6)
Yize ukukholwa kuyisiqalo, kuyinto emelwe ukuholela ematshintsheni wangempela. Okuphawuleka kakhulu kulawa matshitshi kubizwa ngokuthi "ukuphenduka". Ukuphenduka yimpilo eguqukiwe, impilo ephendulwe ngenye indlela. Lapho ukhipha umoya uqobo lwakho, udedela konke okwakho, konke kwempilo yakho endala. Kufile, njengoba impilo entsha ingenakwakhiwa phezu kwesisekelo sempilo yethu endala (Johane 12:24).
Ukuphenduka kusho ukujika unikeze umhlane futhi uvale umnyango endleleni yethu endala yokuphila bese uqala impilo entsha ulandela izifundo nendlela yokuphila kaJesu Kristu. "Ngokuba ukudabuka okuya ngokukaNkulunkulu kusebenza ukuphenduka okuholela ekusindisweni, okungasoli lutho; kepha ukudabuka kwezwe kusebenza ukufa" (2 Korinte 7:10). Ukuphenduka kudinga ukuba sivume izono zethu (1 Johane 1:9), ngoba kule nqubo uNkulunkulu angaqala ukusidonsela kuye uqobo.
Sifile. Sikholiwe, futhi sakhipha umoya wempilo yethu, ngakho-ke ngenxa yalokho siphambene nempilo yethu endala. Manje kunendlela eyodwa kuphela yokuvuka siphile, futhi lokho kungenxa kaJesu. IBhayibheli lisebenzisa isenzo sobhabhadiso njengophawu lokufa kwempilo yethu endala nokuvuka kwempilo yethu entsha ngoJesu. Lokhu kungenxa yokuba uJesu ethi: "okholwayo nabhabhadiswayo uyakusindiswa" (Marku 16:16). Ukukholwa kwethu kumelwe kuholele kulesi sinyathelo okulandelayo, umbhabhadiso. Lokhu siyakubona ebandleni lokuqala – "Kepha lapho bekholwa nguFiliphu eshumayela ivangeli lombuso kaNkulunkulu negama likaJesu Kristu, babhabhadiswa abesilisa nabesifazane" (Izenzo 8:12. Bheka futhi 8:26-38, 16:31-33).
Ngakho-ke kuyini ubhabhadiso? Uma sasingafunda isiGreki, sasizothola ukuthi igama lesiNgisi elithi "baptism" lisuselwa egameni lesiGreki elithi "baptizo". Eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezimbalwa edlule, "baptizo" kwakuyigama elijwayelekile lasendlini - umuntu ocwilisa indwangu esitubheni sodayi wayeyibhabhadisa. Umkhumbi owawuzika esiphephweni kwakuthiwa ubhabhadisiwe. Ngakho-ke akuyona into emangalisayo ukuthi yonke imibhabhadiso esifunda ngayo eTestamenteni Elisha ikhomba ukucwiliswa ngokuphelele emanzini. Izahluko 8 lweZenzo sifunda ngomphostoli uFiliphu eshumayela kubesifazane omtopiya (inkosana yomtopiya) ngenkathi bobabili begitshezwe enqoleni. Lapho indoda isiqonda ukushumayela kukaFiliphu ngoJesu Kristu, yanikeza ubufakazi bokukholwa kwayo: "Ngiyakholwa ukuthi uJesu Kristu iyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu" yase ibhabhadiswa ngokucwiliswa ngokuphelele emanzini: "Behlela bobabili emanzini, uFiliphu nenkosana; wayesembhabhadisa" (Izenzo 8:38).
Ukucwiliswa ngokuphelele kubalulekile ngoba ubhabhadiso lufaniswa nokungcwaba. Njengoba sibonile, sikhipha umoya, siyafa, siyangcwatshwa. Impilo yethu endala ifile futhi ihambile. Ubhabhadiso luwuphawu olubalulekile lwalokhu. Njengoba okholwayo eya ngaphansi kwamanzi isikhashana, usuke engasaphefumuli. Lokhu kuwuphawu olunamandla lokufela kwethu impilo yethu endala. "Kanti animazi yini ukuthi thina sonke ababhabhadiselwe kuKristu Jesu sabhabhadiselwa ekufeni kwakhe na? Ngakho-ke sangcwatshwa naye ngokubhabhadiselwa ekufeni, ukuze ukuthi, njengalokho uKristu wavuswa kwabafileyo ngenkazimulo kaYise, kanjalo nathi sihambe empilweni entsha" (Roma 6:3-4). UJesu wafa ukufa kwenyama futhi wangcwatshwa ngokoqobo; obhabhadisweni, sifa ukufa kophawu, sizingcwaba emanzini.
"Ngakho-ke sangcwatshwa naye ngokubhabhadiselwa ekufeni, ukuze ukuthi, njengalokho uKristu wavuswa kwabafileyo ngenkazimulo kaYise, kanjalo nathi sihambe empilweni entsha" (Roma 6:3-4)
Okokuqala, kuyisenzo sokulalela. UJesu wasitshela ukuthi: "Okholwayo nabhabhadiswayo uyakusindiswa; kepha ongakholwayo uyakulahlwa" (Marku 16:16). Ngokulandela lo mthetho olula sikhombisa ukulalela kwethu uJesu njengeNkosi yempilo yethu. UJesu wasishiya nesibonelo sakhe siqu sasolwandle okufanele sasilandele. UJesu uqobo lwakho wabhabhadiswa, noma kwakungenaso isono kuye esidinga ukuhlanza (Mathewu 3:13-17).
Okwesibili, kuwuphawu. Kuwuphawu lokufela impilo yethu endala nokuvuka sihambe empilweni entsha ebudlelwaneni bensindiso noNkulunkulu noKristu. Lapho sibhabhadiswa, kuthiwa "sikuKristu" noma "simembethe" uKristu. "Ngoba nina nonke enabhabhadiselwa kuKristu nimembethe uKristu" (Galathiya 3:27). Ukwembeswa ngokulunga kukaKristu kusho ukuthi manje, ngokukholwa, singahlanganyela ezithembisweni zikaNkulunkulu. Khumbula ukuthi ensimini yase-Edeni, uNkulunkulu wembesa u-Adamu no-Eva ngezikhumba ukumboza ubunqunu babo emva kokuba bonile. "UJehova uNkulunkulu wabenzela u-Adamu nomkakhe izambatho zezikhumba,巴mbezi" (Genesis 3:21). Isilwane safa ukuze sibanikeze isisitho kodwa uNkulunkulu usinikeze iNdodana yakhe, eyasifela futhi yachitha igazi layo, ukusipha ukuthelelwa kwezono. Ngaphansi komthetho weTestamente Elidala, umuntu owenza umhlatshelo ngesilwane kwakumele azihlanganise nomnikelo ngokubeka isandla sakhe phezu kwekhanda laso aze avume isono sakhe. Ubhabhadiso luyindlela esizihlanganisa ngayo noJesu osinika ukuthelelwa okuqhubekayo kwezono zethu (Hebheru 9:14-15). Ubhabhadiso lungabonakala futhi njengophawu lokugeza; phela singena emanzini. "Manje ulindeleni na? Suka, ubhabhadiswe, ugezwe izono zakho, ubize igama lakhe" (Izenzo 22:16. Bheka futhi Izenzo 2:37-38, 1 Petru 3:21).
Okwesithathu, ubhabhadiso lungubufakazi obusemshazanaleni. Njengoba nje umshado kuwumgubho nobufakazi phambi kwabo bonke abantu bokuzibophezela kwethu koshade naye, kanjalo nobhbhadiso lungubufakazi bethu obusemshazanaleni bokuzibophezela nobudlelwano bethu noJesu. Ngalesi senzo esilula simemezela umshado wethu noKristu, futhi kungenxa yalesi sizathu abakholwayo bebizwa ngokuthi umakoti kaKristu (Efesu 5:25-31, IsAmbulo 21:2). Futhi manje, njengomakoti kaKristu, sihlanganyela nabo bonke abakholwayo sibe ngabalanda bamafa ezithembiso ezazenzeka ku-Abrahama. "Ngoba nina nonke enabhabhadiselwa kuKristu nimembethe uKristu. Kukhona umJuda namGereki, kukhona isigqila nokhululekileyo, kukhona owesilisa nowesifazane, ngokuba nina nonke nimunye kuKristu Jesu. Uma niba bakaKristu, niyiNzalo ka-Abrahama, nabafezi bamafa ngokwasithembiso" (Galathiya 3:27-29).
Kuyathakazelisa ukubona ukuthi umqondo 'wokusindiswa ngamanzi' empeleni wasungulwa eTestamenteni Elidala. Kukhona izindaba ezimbili ezibaluleke kakhulu eTestamenteni Elidala lapho abakholwayo basindiswa khona ngamanzi. Zombili lezi zibonelo zithathwe ngababhali beTestamente Elisha zafaniswa nobhabhadiso. Eyokuqala imayelana nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli nokwela kwabo uLwandle Olubomvu. Uzokhumbula ukuthi amanzi olwandle empeleni abasindisa ekubhujisweni okwakubalindele. UPawulu uyithatha le ndaba kwi-1 Korinte 10:1-2. Indaba yesibili ngekaNowa nozamcolo. Wona lawo manzi awabhubhisa abanye abantu basindisa uNowa nomndeni wakhe. Amanzi aphakamisa umkhumbi owawuthwele uNowa nomndeni wakhe. UPetru usebenzisa le ndaba, kw1 Petru 3:20-21, ukukhombisa ukuthi ngendlela efanayo nathi sisindiswa ngamanzi ngobhabhadiso.
"Okusindisa nani namuhla ngokomfuziselo lowo, okungukuthi ubhabhadiso, akusikho ukususwa kokungcola kwenyama kodwa kungukunika uNkulunkulu isithembiso ngonembeza omuhle ngokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu..." 1 Petru 3:21
Ukungena kule mpilo entsha kungenzeka kuphela ngoJesu, ayikho enye indlela, kuphela ngoJesu. UJesu uthi: "Mina ngiyindlela, neqiniso, nokuphila; kakuveli muntu kuBaba ngaphandle kwami" (Johane 14:6). UNkulunkulu wanikeza uJesu njengendlela yokuza kuye. Lesi kwakuyisipho sothando esikhulu sikaNkulunkulu. "Ngokuba uNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangaka, baze wanika iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo angabhubhi, kodwa abe nokuphila okuphakade. Ngokuba uNkulunkulu kayithumanga iNdodana yakhe emhlabeni ukuba ilahle izwe, kodwa ukuba izwe lisindiswe ngayo." (Johane 3:16-17)
Ukuzibophezela kwethu kuJesu manje kusenza sizibophezele kuNkulunkulu uqobo, ngakho siba munye, kungekona nje phakathi kwethu sodwa, kodwa futhi noJesu noNkulunkulu. "Angikhulekeli laba bodwa, kodwa ngikhulekela nabo abazakukholwa kimi ngezwi labo; ukuba bonke babe munye, njengalokho wena Baba ukimi, nami ngikuwe, ukuba nabo babe kithi, ukuze izwe likholwe ukuthi wena ungithumile." (Johane 17:20-21)
Sasekholwa, saphenduka futhi sazihlanganisa noJesu ngalesi senzo sobhabhadiso, manje sivukela empilweni entsha. Lapho siya ngaphansi kwamanzi isikhashana sisuke singaphefumuli, kanti ukuze impilo yethu iqale kabusha kudingeka siphefumule umoya omusha? Lokhu kufana nalapho umntwana ezalwa, uzalwa ngamanzi, kodwa uba philayo kuphela lapho edonsa umoya wakhe wokuqala. Kithina, kumele manje sidonse umoya wempilo yethu entsha, uMoya kaNkulunkulu. "UJesu waphendula wathi: Ngiyasho impela kuwe ngithi: Uma umuntu engazalwa ngamanzi nangomOya, angeze ungena embusweni kaNkulunkulu" (Johane 3:5).
Manje ungena empilweni entsha, impilo engaphoswa yizifiso zethu, amandla ethu nemizamo yethu, kodwa kunalokho enikezwa amandla nguMoya kaNkulunkulu. Ayikho enye indlela yokuphilela uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokuphila ngoNkulunkulu. Njengoba uPawulu esho ngamandla amakhulu, ekhuluma ngenqubo esixoxile ngayo kulesi sigaba – "Ngesulwa esiphambanweni kanye noKristu; kukuphila sekuphila amangami, kodwa uKristu ophila kimi; nalokhu okuphila engikuphilayo manje enyameni, ngikuphila ngokukholwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu eyangithandayo, yazinikela ngenxa yami" (Galathiya 2:20).
Ngakho-ke siphikelela empilweni entsha. Kuyimpilo ehluke ngokuphelele empilweni yethu endala njengoba ukufa kuhluke ekuphileni, nanjengoba ubumnyama buhluke ekukhanyeni. Kuyimpilo lapho singasaphili khona ngaphansi kobugqila bezifiso zethu zenyama, kodwa ngaphansi kwamandla amangalisayo nesiqondiso soMoya kaNkulunkulu.
"Uma-ke uMoya walowo owavusa uJesu kwabafileyo ehlala kini, lowo owavusa uKristu Jesu kwabafileyo uyakuphilisa nemizimba yenu efayo ngaye uMoya wakhe ohlala kini. Ngakho-ke, bazalwane, singabanecala, kungesiyo kuyo inyama ukuba siphile ngokwenyama. Ngokuba uma niphila ngokwenyama, uzakufa; kepha uma ngomOya nibulala izenzo zomzimba, uzaphila." (Roma 8:11-13)
Sifundile ukuthi:
Le mibhalo elandelayo inikeza ukwesekwa okwengeziwe ezindabeni eziphakanyiswe ngenhla: Izenzo 2:37-42, Izenzo 8:26-40, Izenzo 9:18, Roma 6, Kolose 2:12-13.
SINGAHLELEKA KANJANI KULESI SIKHOMBISA ESIKHULU?
Kumelwe sibe nokukholwa oHlelweni oluKhulu lukaNkulunkulu, siphenduke empilweni yethu endala, sivume ukukholwa kwethu kuJesu nangesidingo somusa Wakhe osindisayo, futhi sizalwe ngokusha ngamanzi nangomoya.
The need for a guide
The words which John quoted from the bible troubled him. He remembered the words 'for the living know that they will die' but he couldn't remember the rest of the verse. He had a little data time on his phone, so he Googled the words and found that they came from Ecclesiastes 9:5. The words came up on his phone:
'for the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten' 3.
The words were easy to understand, but what was he to do with them? He would have to change his whole way of thinking. What would Zethu think? What would her family think? What would his people think? Sipho suddenly awoke to the sound of the family getting ready for the new day, he looked at his watch, it was nearly 5.30am! He would be late for work ... kissing Zethu and the kids goodbye, he rushed out of the house and ran all the way to the bus stop. He managed to scramble onto the bus just as it was pulling away.
THE LONGEST DAY
He saw John at the back of the bus. But as there were no seats he had to stand in the isle - all the way to town! It was the longest trip ever. He was tired, he was irritated ... and what was worse is that he wanted so desperately to speak to John, but couldn't. That afternoon after work, he waited at the bus rank in town for John. As a friend he wanted to tell him face-to-face that he no longer wanted him to talk to him about the Bible. He could not betray who he was. He was born an African, and he would remain an African. Never mind what the bible said, he would continue to worship and pray to his ancestors. Even if John did not understand his feelings, God would! It was dark and the bus station was teaming with people trying to get home from the busy day at work. In the distance, through the hazy crowd he saw John coming towards him. Just then he heard the sounds of gun shots. Bullets were flying all over the place. People were screaming and rushing for cover. Sipho froze. He couldn't seem to move. Everything in his world seemed to be happening in slow motion. The sounds of the screaming started to fade. The street lights and head lights began to swirl. Slowly he lost consciousness as a single bullet ripped through his lungs. The last thing he felt was his body crumpling and his head hitting the cold pavement.
Suddenly Sipho's world went completely dark. By the time the air had cleared, and a sense of street normality began to take shape. John ran over to Sipho. He tried desperately to revive his friend. He held his body tight against his as he cried to God for help. But it was too late. Sipho was dead. For Sipho, it was too late to learn about the great God of the universe, the God of all creation. The God and Father of Jesus Christ. The God that gives life and breath to every living creature. The God that gives life. The God that takes life.
“Jehovah kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up” 10.
There is hope beyond the grave for all those who follow the teachings of Jesus - “in spirit and in truth”11..
We are thankful that you have the chosen to learn more about God's plan for you.
Welcome to God's Master Plan!
Bible References:
1. Psalm 49:20
2. Psalm 46:3-4
3. Ecclesiastes 9:5
4. John 3:13
5. Acts 2:34
6. Psal 2:6
7. Revelation 9:20
8. Hebrews 10:12
9. Acts 8:12
10. 1 Samuel 2:6
11. John 4:24