Abantu Abakhululekileyo Kodwa Abaya Kuphendula
“Naniya kuyazi inyaniso, yaye inyaniso iya kunikhulula.”—YOHANE 8:32.
1, 2. (a) Inkululeko iye yabalasela njani kwimbali yabantu? (b) Ngubani okuphela komntu okhululeke ngokwenene? Cacisa.
INKULULEKO. Hayi indlela elinamandla ngayo elo gama! Uluntu luye lwanyamezela iimfazwe nezenzo zovukelo-mbuso ezingachazekiyo kwanengxushungxushu engathethekiyo kwezentlalo ngenxa yokunqwenela kwalo ukukhululeka. Eneneni, iThe Encyclopedia Americana ithi: ‘Kwinkqubo yokuguquka kwempucuko, ayikho into ebe nendima ebaluleke ngakumbi kunenkululeko.’
2 Sekunjalo, bangaphi abantu abakhululeke ngokwenene? Bangaphi abayaziyo kwaukuyazi le nto iyinkululeko? IThe World Book Encyclopedia ithi: “Ukuze abantu babe nenkululeko epheleleyo, indlela abacinga ngayo, abathetha ngayo, okanye abenza ngayo izinto imele ingabekelwa miqathango. Bamele bazazi izinto abamele bakhethe kuzo, yaye bamele babe namandla okuzenzela izigqibo zokukhetha phakathi kwezo zinto.” Ngenxa yoku, ngaba ukho umntu othile omaziyo okhululeke ngokwenene? Ngoobani abanokuthi ‘ababekelwanga miqathango kwindlela abacinga, abathetha okanye abenza ngayo izinto’? Enyanisweni, mnye kuphela umntu kwindalo yonke ofanelwayo yingcaciso enjalo—uYehova uThixo. Nguye kuphela onenkululeko epheleleyo. Nguye kuphela onokwenza naluphi na ukhetho alufunayo aze alufezekise phezu kwako nje ukuphikiswa kwakhe. ‘UnguSomandla.’—ISityhilelo 1:8; Isaya 55:11.
3. Ngokuqhelekileyo ukunandipha kwabantu inkululeko kuxhomekeke enini?
3 Abantu abathobekileyo banokufumana inkululeko elinganiselweyo kuphela. Ngokuqhelekileyo bayinikwa okanye igunyaziswa ligunya elithile yaye ihlobene nokuzithoba kwethu kwelo gunya. Eneneni, phantse kuzo zonke iimeko, umntu unokukhululeka kuphela ukuba uyalamkela igunya laloo mntu umnike inkululeko anayo. Ngokomzekelo, abantu abahlala ‘kumazwe akhululekileyo’ banandipha iingenelo ezininzi, njengenkululeko yokuhamba, inkululeko yokuthetha nenkululeko yonqulo. Yintoni egunyazisa ukuba babe nale nkululeko? Ngumthetho welizwe. Umntu unokuyinandipha kuphela logama esathobela umthetho. Ukuba uyisebenzisa kakubi inkululeko yakhe aze aphule umthetho, umele aphendule kwabasemagunyeni, yaye inkululeko yakhe inokuphela ngequbuliso ngokugwetyelwa ukuvalelwa entolongweni.—Roma 13:1-4.
Inkululeko KaThixo—Ihamba Nokuphenduliswa
4, 5. Yiyiphi inkululeko enanditshwa ngabanquli bakaYehova, kwaye uya kubaphendulisa ngenxa yantoni?
4 Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, uYesu wathetha ngenkululeko. Wathi kumaYuda: “Ukuba nina nithe nahlala elizwini lam, noba ningabafundi bam, inyaniso. Naniya kuyazi inyaniso, yaye inyaniso iya kunikhulula.” (Yohane 8:31, 32) Wayengathethi ngenkululeko yokuthetha okanye ngenkululeko yonqulo. Ngokuqinisekileyo wayengathethi ngokukhululwa kwingcinezelo yamaRoma, nto leyo yayilangazelelwa ngamaYuda amaninzi. Wayethetha ngento exabiseke ngakumbi, inkululeko engafumaneki ngemithetho yabantu okanye ingcamango yomlawuli othile ongumntu, kodwa enikelwa nguMongami ophakamileyo wendalo iphela, uYehova. Yayikukukhululeka kwiinkolo, ukukhululeka ekusweleni ulwazi ngonqulo, nezinye izinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi. Inkululeko enikelwa nguYehova yinkululeko yokwenene, yaye iya kuhlala ikho ngonaphakade.
5 Umpostile uPawulos wathi: “UYehova ke unguye uMoya; yaye apho kukho umoya kaYehova, kukho inkululeko.” (2 Korinte 3:17, NW) Ukutyhubela iinkulungwane uYehova ebeqhubana noluntu ukuze ekugqibeleni abathembekileyo banandiphe eyona nkululeko izukileyo neyona ibalaseleyo kwinkululeko yabantu, ‘inkululeko yozuko lwabantwana bakaThixo.’ (Roma 8:21) Okwangoku, ngokomlinganiselo othile uYehova usinika inkululeko ngenyaniso yeBhayibhile, yaye uya kusiphendulisa ukuba siyisebenzisa kakubi loo nkululeko. Umpostile uPawulos wabhala: “Akukho sidalwa singabonakaliyo emehlweni akhe; izinto zonke ke zize, zityhilekile, emehlweni alowo esiya kuphendula kuye.”—Hebhere 4:13, NW.
6-8. (a) Ziziphi iintlobo zenkululeko ezazinanditshwa nguAdam noEva, yaye ukuqhubeka kwabo benaloo nkululeko kwakuxhomekeke enini? (b) Yintoni uAdam noEva abaphulukana nayo bona nenzala yabo?
6 Ukuziphendulela kuYehova kwabalaseliswa xa abazali bethu bokuqala abangabantu, uAdam noEva, babesaphila. UYehova wabadala banesipho esixabisekileyo senkululeko yokuzikhethela. Logama nje babeyisebenzisa ngendlela ebonisa inkathalo loo nkululeko yokuzikhethela, babenandipha ezinye iintsikelelo, njengokukhululeka kuloyiko, ukukhululeka ekuguleni, ukukhululeka ekufeni nokuba nenkululeko yokusondela kuYise wasezulwini ngesazela esicocekileyo. Kodwa bathi bakuyisebenzisa kakubi inkululeko yokuzikhethela, zonke ezo zinto zaguquka.
7 UYehova wabeka uAdam noEva kumyezo wase-Eden, yaye wabanika iziqhamo zayo yonke imithi yomyezo ukuba zibe kukutya kwabo—ngaphandle komthi omnye. Lowo wayezigcinele wona; ‘yayingumthi wokwazi okulungileyo nokubi.’ (Genesis 2:16, 17) Ngokungadli kwiziqhamo zaloo mthi, uAdam noEva babeya kusamkela isibakala sokuba nguYehova kuphela owayenenkululeko yokumisela umlinganiselo woko kulungileyo noko kubi. Ukuba babeya kwenza ngendlela ebonisa inkathalo baze bangadli kwisiqhamo somthi owalelweyo, uYehova wayeya kuqhubeka eqinisekisa ukuba babekhululekile nangezinye iindlela.
8 Okubuhlungu kukuba uEva waphulaphula icebiso lobuqhophololo leNyoka lokuba ufanele ‘azazele ngokwakhe okulungileyo nokubi.’ (Genesis 3:1-5) Waba ngowokuqala ukudla kwisiqhamo esalelweyo, waza kamva noAdam wadla. Ngenxa yoko, xa uYehova uThixo weza kuthetha nabo kumyezo wase-Eden, baba neentloni baza bazimela. (Genesis 3:8, 9) Ngoku babengaboni ababephulukene nenkululeko yokusondela kuThixo eyayibakho ngokuba nesazela esicocekileyo. Ngenxa yoku, kwakhona baphulukana nenkululeko yokungaguli nokungafi, bona nenzala yabo. UPawulos wathi: “Isono sangena ngamntu mnye [uAdam] ehlabathini, kwangena ke ukufa ngaso isono; kwaza ngokunjalo ukufa kwabatyhutyha abantu bonke, ekubeni bonke bonayo.”—Roma 5:12; Genesis 3:16, 19.
9. Ngoobani abaziwa ngokuwusebenzisa kakuhle umlinganiselo wenkululeko ababenawo?
9 Sekunjalo, uluntu lwalusenayo inkululeko yokuzikhethela, yaye njengoko ixesha lalihamba, bambi abantu abangafezekanga bayisebenzisa ngendlela ebonisa inkathalo ukuze bakhonze uYehova. Kususela kumaxesha amandulo amagama abanye babo aye alondolozwa ukuze siwazi. Amadoda anjengoAbheli, uEnoki, uNowa, uAbraham, uIsake noYakobi (owayekwabizwa ngokuba nguSirayeli) ayimizekelo yabantu abasebenzisa umlinganiselo wenkululeko ababenawo ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaThixo. Yaye ngenxa yoko izinto zabahambela kakuhle.—Hebhere 11:4-21.
Inkululeko Yabantu BakaThixo Abanyuliweyo
10. Ziziphi izinto ezazibandakanyekile kumnqophiso uYehova awawenza nabantu bakhe abakhethekileyo?
10 Ngemihla kaMoses, uYehova wakhulula oonyana bakaSirayeli—ngelo xesha ababezizigidi ngenani—kubukhoboka baseYiputa waza wenza umnqophiso nabo ngaloo ndlela baba ngabantu bakhe abakhethekileyo. Phantsi kwalo mnqophiso, amaSirayeli ayenoluhlu lwababingeleli nenkqubo yokwenza amadini ngezilwanyana awayengawokuhlawulela izono zawo ngendlela efuziselayo. Ngaloo ndlela, ayenenkululeko yokusondela kuThixo ngokumnqula. Kwakhona ayenoludwe lwemithetho nemimiselo yokuwagcina ekhululekile kwiinkolo nakunqulo lobuxoki. Kamva, ayengazuza iLizwe Ledinga njengelifa, nesiqinisekiso sokuba uThixo uya kuwanceda ekulweni neentshaba zawo. Indima yawo kulo mnqophiso yawenza amaSirayeli anembopheleleko yokugcina uMthetho kaYehova. Ngokuzithandela amaSirayeli ayamkela le mbopheleleko, esithi: “Konke akuthethileyo uYehova sokwenza.”—Eksodus 19:3-8; Duteronomi 11:22-25.
11. Waba yintoni umphumo xa amaSirayeli engazange ayigcine indima yawo kumnqophiso owawenziwe noYehova?
11 Ngaphezu kweminyaka eli-1 500, amaSirayeli ayekolo lwalamano lukhethekileyo noYehova. Kodwa izihlandlo ezininzi ayesilela ukuwugcina umnqophiso. Ngokuphindaphindiweyo ayelukuhlelwa kunqulo lobuxoki yaye esiba ngamakhoboka onqulo-zithixo neenkolo, ngoko uThixo wawayekela ukuba akhotyokiswe ngokoqobo ziintshaba zawo. (ABagwebi 2:11-19) Kunokunandipha iintsikelelo ezikhululayo nezazifumaneka ngokugcina umnqophiso, ohlwaywa ngenxa yokungawugcini. (Duteronomi 28:1, 2, 15) Ekugqibeleni, ngowama-607 B.C.E., uYehova waluyeka olo hlanga lwakhotyokiswa yiBhabhiloni.—2 Kronike 36:15-21.
12. Ekugqibeleni yintoni eyathi yabonakala ngokuphathelele umnqophiso woMthetho kaMoses?
12 Esi yayisisifundo esinzima. Sasifanele sibafundise ukubaluleka kokugcina uMthetho. Sekunjalo, emva kweminyaka engama-70, xa amaSirayeli abuyela kwilizwe lawo, kwakhona akazange awugcine kakuhle umnqophiso woMthetho. Phantse kwiminyaka elikhulu emva kokubuya kwawo, uYehova wathi kubabingeleli bakwaSirayeli: “Ke nina nimkile endleleni, nabakhubekisa abaninzi kuwo umyalelo, nawonakalisa umnqophiso kaLevi.” (Malaki 2:8) Eneneni, kwanabona bantu babenyanisekile phakathi kwamaSirayeli babengenakuwufikelela umlinganiselo woMthetho ogqibeleleyo. Kunokuba ube yintsikelelo, waba ‘sisiqalekiso,’ ngokwamazwi ompostile uPawulos. (Galati 3:13) Ngokucacileyo, kwakufuneka into engaphezu komnqophiso woMthetho kaMoses ukuze abantu abangafezekanga nabathembekileyo bangeniswe kwinkululeko yozuko lwabantwana bakaThixo.
Uhlobo Lwenkululeko YamaKristu
13. Yiyiphi indlela esisiseko nelunge ngakumbi yokukhululwa eyanikelwayo ekugqibeleni?
13 Loo nto yayifuneka yayilidini lentlawulelo likaYesu Kristu. Malunga nonyaka wama-50 C.E., uPawulos wabhalela ibandla lamaKristu athanjisiweyo awayekwelaseGalati. Wawachazela indlela uYehova awayewakhulule ngayo kubukhoboka bomnqophiso woMthetho waza emva koko wathi: “Yimani ngoko enkululekweni, athe uKristu wasikhululela kuyo; nize ningabuyi nibanjwe yidyokhwe yobukhoboka.” (Galati 5:1) UYesu wabakhulula ngaziphi iindlela abantu?
14, 15. UYesu wawakhulula ngaziphi iindlela ezimangalisayo amaYuda nabangemaYuda ababekholwa?
14 Emva kokufa kukaYesu, amaYuda awamamkelayo njengoMesiya aza aba ngabafundi bakhe angeniswa kumnqophiso omtsha, owawuthabathel’ indawo umnqophiso omdala woMthetho. (Yeremiya 31:31-34; Hebhere 8:7-13) Phantsi kwalo mnqophiso omtsha, loo maYuda—kunye namakholwa angengomaYuda awawathelelayo kamva—aba yinxalenye yohlanga olutsha nolokomoya olwathabathel’ indawo uSirayeli wemvelo njengabantu bakaThixo abakhethekileyo. (Roma 9:25, 26; Galati 6:16) Ekubeni enjalo, anandipha inkululeko eyathenjiswa nguYesu xa wathi: “Inyaniso iya kunikhulula.” Ngaphandle kokuwakhulula kwisiqalekiso soMthetho kaMoses, inyaniso yawakhulula amaKristu angamaYuda kuxanduva lwazo zonke izithethe awayezimiselwe ziinkokeli zonqulo. Kwaye yakhulula amaKristu angemaYuda kunqulo-zithixo nakwiinkolo zonqulo lwawo lwangaphambili. (Mateyu 15:3, 6; 23:4; IZenzo 14:11-13; 17:16) Yaye kwakukho okungakumbi.
15 Xa wayethetha ngenyaniso ekhululayo, uYesu wathi: “Inene, inene ndithi kuni, Bonke abenza isono bangamakhoboka esono.” (Yohane 8:34) Ekubeni uAdam noEva babonile, bonke abantu abakhe baphila bangaboni yaye ke ngolo hlobo bangamakhoboka esono. Ekuphela komntu owayahlukile yayinguYesu, yaye idini likaYesu lawakhulula amakholwa kobo bukhoboka. Liyinyaniso elokuba, loo makholwa ayesengabantu abangafezekanga nabanesono ngemvelo. Noko ke, ngoku ayenokuguquka ezonweni zawo aze acele ukuxolelwa ngesizinzi sedini likaYesu, enentembelo yokuba izicelo zawo zaziya kuviwa. (1 Yohane 2:1, 2) Ngesizinzi sedini lentlawulelo likaYesu, uThixo wawavakalisa engamalungisa, yaye ayenokusondela kuye enesazela esicocekileyo. (Roma 8:33) Ngaphezu koko, ekubeni intlawulelo yazisa ithemba lokuvuselwa kubomi obungenasiphelo, inyaniso yawakhulula nasekoyikeni ukufa.—Mateyu 10:28; Hebhere 2:15.
16. Inkululeko yobuKristu ibalasele njani kunayo nayiphi na inkululeko enikelwa lihlabathi?
16 Ngendlela emangalisayo, inkululeko yobuKristu yenziwa yafumaneka kumadoda namabhinqa kungakhathaliseki imeko akuyo, ngokwembono yabantu. Amahlwempu, amabanjwa, nkqu namakhoboka, ayenokukhululeka. Kwelinye icala, iingangamsha zeentlanga ezasibhebhethayo isigidimi esingoKristu zazisakhotyokiswe ziinkolo, sisono nokoyika ukufa. Singaze siyeke ukumbulela uYehova ngale nkululeko sinayo. Ayikho into esinokuyinikwa lihlabathi enokuze iphantse ifane nokufana nayo.
Ukukhululeka Kodwa Umele Uphendule
17. (a) Bambi kwinkulungwane yokuqala balahlekelwa njani yinkululeko yobuKristu? (b) Kutheni singafanele silahlekiswe koko kubonakala ngathi yinkululeko kwihlabathi likaSathana?
17 Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, ngokunokwenzeka inkoliso yamaKristu athanjisiweyo yayiyivuyela inkululeko yayo yaye yayilondoloza ingqibelelo yayo nokuba kwakumnyam’ entla. Noko ke, isibakala esibuhlungu sesokuba bambi bayingcamla inkululeko yobuKristu nazo zonke iintsikelelo zayo baza ke bayitshica, bebuyela kubukhoboka behlabathi. Yintoni eyabangela oko? Ngokungathandabuzekiyo ukholo lwabaninzi lwaba buthathaka, basuka ke ‘bakhukuliswa bemka.’ (Hebhere 2:1) Abanye ‘balugiba ukholo nesazela esilungileyo baza baphukelwa ngumkhombe mayelana nokholo.’ (1 Timoti 1:19) Mhlawumbi bawela ekuthandeni izinto eziphathekayo okanye kubomi bokuziphatha okubi. Hayi indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukuba silulinde ukholo lwethu yaye sakhele kulo, sizigcine sixakekile ngofundisiso lobuqu, ngonxulumano, ngomthandazo nangomsebenzi wamaKristu! (2 Petros 1:5-8) Ngamana singangaze siphelelwe luxabiso ngenkululeko yobuKristu! Liyinyaniso elokuba bambi basenokuhendwa kukuyekelela abakubonayo ngaphandle kwebandla, becinga ukuba abo basehlabathini bakhululeke ngaphezu kwethu. Noko ke, enyanisweni, ngokuqhelekileyo oko kubonakala ngathi yinkululeko ehlabathini kukuswela nje inkathalo. Ukuba asingomakhoboka kaThixo, singamakhoboka esono, yaye umvuzo wobo bukhoboka ukrakra.—Roma 6:23; Galati 6:7, 8.
18-20. (a) Kwenzeka njani ukuba abanye babe ‘ziintshaba zomthi wentuthumbo’? (b) Abanye ‘bayenza njani inkululeko yabo ibe sisigqubuthelo sobubi’?
18 Ngapha koko, kwincwadi awayibhalela abaseFilipi, uPawulos wabhala: “Baninzi abahambayo, endathetha futhi kuni ngabo, ngoku ke ndithetha ndilila nokulila, ndisithi, bazizo iintshaba [zomthi wentuthumbo, NW] kaKristu.” (Filipi 3:18) Ewe, kwakukho abo babengamaKristu ngaphambili abathi baba ziintshaba zokholo, mhlawumbi besiba ngabawexuki. Hayi indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukuba singalandeli ikhondo labo! Ukongezelela koko, uPetros wabhala: “Nithi ningabakhululekileyo nje, ningabi ngabayenza inkululeko ibe sisigqubuthelo sobubi; nibe ngabakhonzi bakaThixo.” (1 Petros 2:16) Umntu angayenza njani inkululeko yakhe ibe sisigqubuthelo sobubi? Ngokwenza izono eziphosakele ngokunzulu—mhlawumbi emfihlekweni—ngoxa kwangaxeshanye enxulumana nebandla.
19 Khumbula uDiyotrefe. UYohane wathi ngaye: “Usuke lowo uthanda ukuzenza mkhulu [ebandleni], uDiyotrefe, angasamkeli. . . . Usuka angabamkeli abazalwana . . . , abalele abanga bangenjenjalo, abakhuphe ebandleni.” (3 Yohane 9, 10) UDiyotrefe wasebenzisa inkululeko yakhe njengesigqubuthelo samabhongo akhe okuzingca.
20 Umfundi uYuda wabhala: “Kuthwethwe bantu bathile; abo babebalulelwe [ziZibhalo, NW] ngenxa engaphambili kolo lugwebo, abangahloneli Thixo, belujikela eburheletyweni ubabalo lukaThixo wethu, bemkhanyela [okuphela koMnini neNkosi yethu, NW] uYesu Kristu.” (Yuda 4) Ngoxa benxulumana nebandla, aba bantu babenempembelelo eyonakalisayo. (Yuda 8-10, 16) KwiSityhilelo sifunda ukuba kwibandla lasePergamo nelaseTiyatira, kwakukho amahlelo, unqulo-zithixo nokuziphatha okubi. (ISityhilelo 2:14, 15, 20-23) Okunjani kona ukusetyenziswa kakubi kwenkululeko yobuKristu!
21. Yintoni elindele abo bayisebenzisa kakubi inkululeko yabo yobuKristu?
21 Yintoni elindele abo bayisebenzisa kakubi ngolu hlobo inkululeko yobuKristu? Khumbula oko kwenzeka kuSirayeli. USirayeli wayeluhlanga lukaThixo olunyuliweyo, kodwa ekugqibeleni uYehova wamlahla. Kwakutheni? Kwakungenxa yokuba amaSirayeli alwenza ulwalamano lwawo noThixo lwaba sisigqubuthelo sobubi. Azingomb’ izifuba ngelokuba ayengoonyana baka-Abraham kodwa akazange amamkele uYesu, iMbewu ka-Abraham noMesiya onyulwe nguYehova. (Mateyu 23:37-39; Yohane 8:39-47; IZenzo 2:36; Galati 3:16) Njengeqela ‘amaSirayeli kaThixo’ akayi kungqineka engathembekanga ngokufanayo nawemvelo. (Galati 6:16) Kodwa namphi na umKristu obangela ungcoliso lokomoya okanye lokuziphatha ekugqibeleni uya kujamelana noqeqesho, nkqu nomgwebo obuhlungu. Sonke simele siphendule ngendlela esiyisebenzisa ngayo inkululeko yethu yobuKristu.
22. Luluphi uvuyo ababa nalo abo basebenzisa inkululeko yabo yobuKristu ekukhonzeni uThixo?
22 Hayi indlela ekulunge ngakumbi ngayo ukuba ngamakhoboka kaThixo size ke sikhululeke ngokwenyaniso. NguYehova kuphela onikela inkululeko exabiseke ngokwenene. Umzekeliso uthi: “Yiba nobulumko, nyana wam, uyivuyise intliziyo yam; ukuze ndimphendule ngezwi ondingcikivayo.” (IMizekeliso 27:11) Inkululeko yethu yobuKristu masiyisebenzisele ukuthethelelwa kukaYehova. Ukuba senjenjalo, ubomi bethu buya kuba nentsingiselo, siya kumvuyisa uBawo wethu wasezulwini, yaye ekugqibeleni siya kuba phakathi kwabo banandipha inkululeko yozuko lwabantwana bakaThixo.
Ngaba Unokucacisa?
◻ Ngubani kuphela okhululeke ngokwenene?
◻ Ziziphi iintlobo zenkululeko ezazinanditshwa nguAdam noEva, yaye kwakutheni ukuze baphulukane nazo?
◻ Ziziphi iintlobo zenkululeko ezazinanditshwa ngamaSirayeli xa ayewugcina umnqophiso wawo noYehova?
◻ Ziziphi iintlobo zenkululeko ezafunyanwa ngabo bamamkelayo uYesu?
◻ Kwenzeka njani ukuba abanye ngenkulungwane yokuqala baphulukane okanye bayisebenzise kakubi inkululeko yabo yobuKristu?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 13]
Inkululeko eyanikelwa nguYesu yayilunge gqitha kunayo nayiphi na inkululeko enokunikelwa ngumntu