Izikhombo Ze-Ncwajana YoMhlangano Wokuphila Nenkonzo
FEBHUWARI 4-10
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ROMA 1-3
“Qhubeka Uqeqesha Unembeza Wakho”
(Roma 2:14, 15) Ngoba noma nini lapho abantu bezizwe abangenawo umthetho benza ngokwemvelo izinto zomthetho, laba bantu, nakuba bengenawo umthetho, bangumthetho kubo ngokwabo. 15 Yibo kanye ababonisa ukuthi ingqikithi yomthetho ilotshiwe ezinhliziyweni zabo, lapho unembeza wabo ufakazelana nabo, futhi phakathi kwemicabango yabo, babekwa icala noma baze ngisho bavunwe.
Ungawulondoloza Kanjani Unembeza Omuhle?
6 Ingabe lesi sipho esiwunembeza esezinceku zikaJehova zodwa? Cabanga ngala mazwi aphefumulelwe omphostoli uPawulu: “Noma nini lapho abantu bezizwe abangenawo umthetho benza ngokwemvelo izinto zomthetho, laba bantu, nakuba bengenawo umthetho, bangumthetho kubo ngokwabo. Yibo kanye ababonisa ukuthi ingqikithi yomthetho ilotshiwe ezinhliziyweni zabo, lapho unembeza wabo ufakazelana nabo, futhi phakathi kwemicabango yabo, babekwa icala noma baze ngisho bavunwe.” (Roma 2:14, 15) Ngisho nabantu abangayazi nhlobo imithetho kaJehova ngezinye izikhathi bangase bashukunyiswe yilo fakazi wangaphakathi ukuba benze okuvumelana nezimiso zaphezulu.
(Roma 2:15) Yibo kanye ababonisa ukuthi ingqikithi yomthetho ilotshiwe ezinhliziyweni zabo, lapho unembeza wabo ufakazelana nabo, futhi phakathi kwemicabango yabo, babekwa icala noma baze ngisho bavunwe.
Ungawulondoloza Kanjani Unembeza Omuhle?
8 Usenza kanjani isinqumo esisekelwe kunembeza? Kubonakala sengathi abanye abantu bavele bazibheke ngaphakathi, bahlole imizwa yabo, bese benquma okumelwe bakwenze. Ngemva kwalokho bangase bathi, “Akuwuhluphi unembeza wami.” Izifiso zenhliziyo zingaba namandla kakhulu, zize zithonye ngisho nonembeza. IBhayibheli lithi: “Inhliziyo ikhohlisa ngaphezu kwanoma yini enye futhi yenza ngokuphelelwa yithemba. Ubani ongase ayazi?” (Jeremiya 17:9) Ngakho-ke, akufanele kube yizifiso zenhliziyo yethu esizikhathalela kakhulu. Kunalokho, sifuna ukukhathalela kuqala izinto ezithokozisa uJehova uNkulunkulu.
9 Uma isinqumo sisekelwe ngempela kunembeza wethu oqeqeshiwe, siyobonakalisa ukwesaba kwethu uNkulunkulu, hhayi izifiso zethu. Cabanga ngesibonelo salokhu. Umbusi othembekile uNehemiya wayenegunya lokukhokhisa abantu baseJerusalema izimali ezithile nezintela. Kepha akabakhokhisanga. Kungani? Wayewuzonda nje kwawona umqondo wokuzifaka engozini yokulahlekelwa umusa kaJehova ngokucindezela abantu baKhe. Wathi: “Angenzanga ngaleyo ndlela ngenxa yokwesaba uNkulunkulu.” (Nehemiya 5:15) Kubaluleke kakhulu ukwesaba uNkulunkulu okuqotho, okuwukwesaba okusuka enhliziyweni ukudumaza uBaba wethu wasezulwini. Ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu okunjalo kuyosishukumisela ekufuneni isiqondiso eZwini likaNkulunkulu lapho kunezinqumo okumelwe sizenze.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Roma 3:4) Kwangathi kungelokothe kube njalo! Kodwa uNkulunkulu makatholakale eqinisile, nakuba wonke umuntu engatholakala engumqambimanga, njengoba nje kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ukuze ubonakaliswe ulungile emazwini akho futhi unqobe lapho wahlulelwa.”
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi YabaseRoma
3:4. Lapho okushiwo umuntu kungqubuzana nalokho okushiwo uNkulunkulu eZwini lakhe, sikhetha ukuba ‘uNkulunkulu atholakale eqinisile’ ngokwethemba okuseBhayibhelini nangokwenza ngokuvumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu. Ngokuhlanganyela ngentshiseko emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi, singasiza abanye ukuba bazibonele ukuthi uNkulunkulu uneqiniso.
(Roma 3:24, 25) futhi kunjengesipho sesihle ukuthi ngomusa wakhe ongafanelwe kuthiwa balungile ngokukhululwa ngesihlengo esakhokhwa uKristu Jesu. 25 UNkulunkulu wammisa njengomnikelo wokuhlawulela ngokholo egazini lakhe. Lokhu kwakungenjongo yokuba abonise ukulunga kwakhe siqu, ngoba wayethethelela izono ezenzeka esikhathini esidlule ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ebonisa unembe;
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi YabaseRoma
3:24, 25—‘Isihlengo esakhokhwa uKristu Jesu’ sasingazemboza kanjani “izono ezenzeka esikhathini esidlule” singakakhokhwa? Isiprofetho sokuqala esikhuluma ngoMesiya esikuGenesise 3:15 saqala ukugcwaliseka ngo-33 C.E. ngesikhathi uJesu ebulawa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. (Gal. 3:13, 16) Nokho, lapho uJehova esho lesi siprofetho, kuye kwase kufana nokuthi lelo nani lesihlengo selikhokhiwe ngoba akukho okungavimba uNkulunkulu ekufezeni izinjongo zakhe. Ngakho, ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu Kristu wesikhathi esizayo, uJehova wayengathethelela izono zenzalo ka-Adamu eyayibonisa ukholo kuleso sithembiso. Isihlengo senza kwenzeke nokuba kuvuswe abantu abafa ngaphambi kwezikhathi zobuKristu.—IzE. 24:15.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Roma 1:1-17) UPawulu, inceku kaJesu Kristu futhi owabizelwa ukuba ngumphostoli, ohlukaniselwe izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu, 2 azithembisa esikhathini esingaphambili ngabaprofethi bakhe emiBhalweni engcwele, 3 eziphathelene neNdodana yakhe, eyavela enzalweni kaDavide ngokwenyama, 4 kodwa ngamandla okwathiwa iyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu ngokomoya wobungcwele ngokuvuka kwelabafileyo—yebo, uJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu, 5 esamukela ngaye umusa ongafanelwe nobuphostoli ukuze kube khona ukulalela ngokholo phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe ngokuqondene negama lakhe, 6 izizwe nani eningababizwe phakathi kwazo ukuba nibe ngabakaJesu Kristu— 7 kubo bonke abaseRoma njengabathandekayo bakaNkulunkulu, ababizelwe ukuba babe ngabangcwele: Kwangathi ningaba nomusa ongafanelwe nokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu naseNkosini uJesu Kristu. 8 Okokuqala, ngibonga uNkulunkulu wami ngoJesu Kristu ngokuphathelene nani nonke, ngoba ukholo lwenu kukhulunywa ngalo kulo lonke izwe. 9 Ngoba uNkulunkulu, enginikela kuye inkonzo engcwele ngomoya wami mayelana nezindaba ezinhle eziphathelene neNdodana yakhe, ungufakazi wami wokuthi ngikhuluma kanjani ngani ngokungaphezi ngaso sonke isikhathi emithandazweni yami, 10 ngincenga ukuba ekugcineni uma kungenzeka manje ngiphumelele ngentando kaNkulunkulu ukuba ngize kini. 11 Ngoba ngilangazelela ukunibona, ukuze ngidlulisele kini isipho esithile esingokomoya ukuze niqiniswe; 12 noma, kunalokho, ukuze kube khona ukukhuthazana phakathi kwenu, omunye nomunye ngokholo lomunye, kokubili olwenu nolwami. 13 Kodwa angifuni ukuba ningazi, bafowethu, ukuthi ngajonga kaningi ukuza kini, kodwa ngiye ngathiyeka kuze kube manje, ukuze ngithole izithelo ezithile naphakathi kwenu njengoba nje ngizithola phakathi kwazo zonke ezinye izizwe. 14 Ngikweleta kokubili amaGreki namaQaba, kokubili abahlakaniphile nabangenangqondo: 15 ngakho kimi kukhona ukulangazelela ukuba ngimemezele izindaba ezinhle nakini lapho eRoma. 16 Ngoba anginamahloni ngezindaba ezinhle; eqinisweni, zingamandla kaNkulunkulu ensindiso kuwo wonke umuntu onokholo, kumJuda kuqala nakumGreki futhi; 17 ngoba kuzo ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu kuyambulwa ngenxa yokholo futhi kuyisa okholweni, njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Kodwa olungileyo uyophila ngokholo.”
FEBHUWARI 11-17
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ROMA 4-6
“UNkulunkulu Uyasibonisa Ukuthi Uyasithanda”
(Roma 5:8) Kodwa uNkulunkulu utusa uthando lwakhe siqu kithi ngoba, ngesikhathi siseyizoni, uKristu wasifela.
(Roma 5:12) Kungakho, njengoba nje ngomuntu oyedwa isono sangena ezweni nokufa kwangena ngesono, futhi kanjalo ukufa kwasakazekela kubantu bonke ngenxa yokuthi bonke bonile—.
UNkulunkulu Utusa Uthando Lwakhe Kithi
5 Lapho uPawulu echaza le ndaba, waqala ngaleli phuzu: “Ngomuntu oyedwa isono sangena ezweni nokufa kwangena ngesono, futhi kanjalo ukufa kwasakazekela kubantu bonke ngenxa yokuthi bonke bonile.” (Roma 5:12) Sisethubeni lokukuqonda lokhu ngoba uNkulunkulu wenza ukuba kube nombhalo ogciniwe wendlela ukuphila kwabantu okwaqala ngayo. UJehova wadala abantu ababili, u-Adamu no-Eva. UMdali uphelele, ngakho nalabo bantu bokuqala, abangokhokho bethu, babephelele. UNkulunkulu wabanika umthetho owodwa vo owenqabelayo futhi wabatshela ukuthi ukungawulaleli lowo mthetho kwakuyoletha isijeziso sokufa. (Gen. 2:17) Nokho, bakhetha ukwenza ngendlela eyaholela enhlekeleleni, bawephula lowo mthetho kaNkulunkulu owawunengqondo, kanjalo bemenqaba njengoMniki-mthetho noMbusi wabo.—Dut. 32:4, 5.
(Roma 5:13, 14) Ngoba kuzé kwaba sekufikeni koMthetho isono sikhona ezweni, kodwa isono asibalelwa kumuntu uma kungekho mthetho. 14 Noma kunjalo, ukufa kwabusa njengenkosi kusukela ku-Adamu kwehle kuze kufike kuMose, ngisho naphezu kwalabo ababengonanga ngokufana nesiphambeko sika-Adamu, ofana nalowo owayezokuza.
UNkulunkulu Utusa Uthando Lwakhe Kithi
6 U-Adamu waba nabantwana ngemva kokuba esebe isoni futhi lokhu kwamenza wadlulisela isono nemiphumela yaso kubo bonke. Yebo, babengazange bephule umthetho kaNkulunkulu njengaye, ngakho abazange babekwe icala lesono esifanayo; futhi kwakungakanikezwa nasimiso somthetho. (Gen. 2:17) Noma kunjalo, inzalo ka-Adamu yazuza isono ngefa. Ngakho, isono nokufa kwabusa kwaze kwaba sesikhathini lapho uNkulunkulu anikeza khona ama-Israyeli isimiso somthetho, esabonisa ngokucacile ukuthi ayeyizoni. (Funda amaRoma 5:13, 14.) Umphumela wesono esizuzwe ngefa ungafaniswa nezifo noma izici ezithile esizithola ngofuzo, njengesifo sokuba nesilinganiso esiphansi segazi esivame eMedithera noma njengesifo sokopha kalula (hemophilia). Kungenzeka ukuthi wake wafunda ukuthi u-Alexis, indodana yoMbusi waseRussia uNicholas II no-Alexandra, wathola ngofuzo isifo sokopha kalula. Kuyavunywa ukuthi ngisho nasemkhayeni onalesi sifo, akuzona zonke izingane eziphathwa yiso, kodwa kungenzeka zibe naso egazini. Akunjalo ngesono. Isici sesono esidluliselwa u-Adamu sona sasingagwemeki. Akekho ophunyukayo. Siyabulala njalo. Sidluliselwa kubo bonke abantwana. Ingabe leso simo esibucayi sasingalungiseka?
(Roma 5:18) Ngakho-ke, njengoba ngesiphambeko esisodwa umphumela kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo waba ukulahlwa, ngokufanayo futhi ngesenzo esisodwa sokuzibonakalisa elungile umphumela kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo uwukuba kuthiwe balungile kube ukuphila.
(Roma 5:21) Ngayiphi injongo? Ngenjongo yokuthi, njengoba nje isono sabusa kanye nokufa njengenkosi, ngokufanayo nomusa ongafanelwe ubuse njengenkosi ngokulunga ngombono wokuphila okuphakade ngoJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu.
UNkulunkulu Utusa Uthando Lwakhe Kithi
9 Imuphi umqondo ogcizelelwa amagama esiGreki asenkulumweni ethi ‘ukuthiwa silungile’ nethi “kuthiwe balungile”? Omunye umhumushi weBhayibheli wabhala lokhu ngomqondo oqukethwe yila magama: “Kuyisingathekiso esingokomthetho esiveza iphuzu elinezici eziningi zezomthetho. Sikhuluma ngoshintsho esimweni somuntu esiphathelene nobuhlobo bakhe noNkulunkulu, hhayi ngoshintsho olwenzeka ngaphakathi kumuntu . . . Lesi singathekiso siveza uNkulunkulu engumahluleli ofinyelele isinqumo esivuna ummangalelwa, ngokomfanekiso oye walethwa phambi kwenkantolo kaNkulunkulu ngecala lokuba ongalungile. Kodwa uNkulunkulu umkhipha phambili ecaleni ummangalelwa.”
10 “UMahluleli womhlaba wonke’’ olungile angamkhipha phambili ecaleni ngasiphi isisekelo umuntu ongalungile? (Gen. 18:25) UNkulunkulu ngothando wabeka isisekelo ngokuthumela iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa emhlabeni. UJesu wayenza ngokuphelele intando kaYise, naphezu kokulingwa, ukuklolodelwa ngokwedlulele nokuhlukunyezwa. Wagcina ubuqotho bakhe kwaze kwaba sekufeni esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. (Heb. 2:10) Ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe njengomuntu ophelele, uJesu wanikeza isihlengo esingase sikhulule inzalo ka-Adamu esonweni nasekufeni.—Math. 20:28; Roma 5:6-8.
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Roma 6:3-5) Noma anazi yini ukuthi sonke esabhapathizelwa kuKristu Jesu sabhapathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe? 4 Ngakho-ke sangcwatshwa kanye naye ngokubhapathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe, ukuze kuthi, njengoba nje uKristu avuswa kwabafileyo ngenkazimulo kaYise, nathi ngokufanayo sihambe ekuphileni okusha. 5 Ngoba uma siye saba munye naye esimweni sokufa kwakhe, ngokuqinisekile siyoba munye naye futhi esimweni sovuko lwakhe;
Amaphuzu Avelele Encwadi YabaseRoma
6:3-5—Kusho ukuthini ukubhapathizelwa kuKristu Jesu nokubhapathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe? Lapho uJehova egcoba abalandeli bakaKristu ngomoya ongcwele, bahlanganiswa noJesu futhi babe amalungu ebandla eliwumzimba kaKristu, yena ayiNhloko yawo. (1 Kor. 12:12, 13, 27; Kol. 1:18) Lokhu kuwukubhapathizelwa kwabo kuKristu Jesu. AmaKristu agcotshiwe futhi ‘abhapathizelwa ekufeni kukaKristu’ ngomqondo wokuthi aphila ukuphila kokuzidela nokuthi adela noma iliphi ithemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Ngakho-ke, ukufa kwawo kuwumhlatshelo njengokufa kukaJesu, nakuba okwawo kungahlengi muntu. Lokhu kubhapathizelwa ekufeni kukaKristu kuyaphela lapho efa futhi evuselwa ekuphileni kwasezulwini.
(Roma 6:7) Ngoba lowo ofile ukhululiwe esonweni sakhe.
Liyini Ithemba Ngokhokho Bami?
Lapho abangalungile bevuswa, ingabe bayokwahlulelwa ngezenzo zabo zesikhathi esedlule? Cha. AmaRoma 6:7 athi: “Lowo ofile ukhululiwe esonweni sakhe.” Abangalungile bayobe sebezikhokhele izono zabo ngokufa. Ngemva kwalokho bayokwahlulelwa ngokwalokho abayokwenza ngemva kokuvuswa, hhayi ngalokho ababekwenza ngaphambi kokuba bafe. Bayozuza kanjani?
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Roma 4:1-15) Njengoba kunjalo, sizothini ngo-Abrahama ukhokho wethu ngokwenyama? 2 Ngokwesibonelo, ukube u-Abrahama kwathiwa ulungile ngenxa yemisebenzi, wayeyoba nesizathu sokuziqhayisa; kodwa hhayi ngoNkulunkulu. 3 Ngoba uthini umbhalo? “U-Abrahama wabonisa ukholo kuJehova, kwabalelwa kuye njengokulunga.” 4 Umuntu osebenzayo ubalelwa iholo, hhayi njengomusa ongafanelwe, kodwa njengesikweletu. 5 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, umuntu ongasebenzi kodwa oba nokholo kulowo owenza kuthiwe ulungile umuntu ongamhloniphi uNkulunkulu, ukholo lwakhe lubalwa njengokulunga. 6 Njengoba nje noDavide ekhuluma ngenjabulo yomuntu uNkulunkulu ambalela ukulunga ngaphandle kwemisebenzi ethi: 7 “Bayajabula abazenzo zabo zokungabi namthetho zixolelwe nabazono zabo zimboziwe; 8 uyajabula umuntu osono sakhe uJehova angasoze asibala.” 9 Khona-ke, ingabe le njabulo ifikela abantu abasokile noma nabantu abangasokile? Ngoba sithi: “Ukholo luka-Abrahama lwabalelwa kuye njengokulunga.” 10 Khona-ke, lwabalwa ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo? Lapho esokile noma engasokile? Hhayi esokile kodwa lapho engasokile. 11 Futhi wamukela isibonakaliso, okuwukuthi, ukusoka, njengophawu lokulunga ngokholo aba nalo lapho engasokile, ukuze abe nguyise wabo bonke abanokholo kodwa bengasokile, ukuze babalelwe ukulunga; 12 futhi abe nguyise wenzalo esokile, hhayi kuphela walabo abanamathela ekusokeni, kodwa nowalabo ngesikhathi bengasokile abahamba ngokuhlelekile ezinyathelweni zalolo lukholo ubaba wethu u-Abrahama aba nalo. 13 Ngoba u-Abrahama noma inzalo yakhe abasitholanga ngomthetho isithembiso sokuthi uyoba yindlalifa yezwe, kodwa kwakungokulunga ngokholo. 14 Ngoba uma labo abanamathela emthethweni beyizindlalifa, ukholo lwenziwe into engenamsebenzi nesithembiso siqediwe. 15 Eqinisweni uMthetho ubangela intukuthelo, kodwa lapho kungekho mthetho khona, akukho nokweqa umthetho.
FEBHUWARI 18-24
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ROMA 7-8
“Ingabe ‘Ulinde Ngokulangazela’?”
(Roma 8:19) Ngoba indalo ilindele ngokulangazela okukhulu ukwambulwa kwabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.
Vumela UJehova Akuholele Enkululekweni Yangempela
17 Lapho ekhuluma ngenkululeko uJehova ayibekele izinceku zakhe zasemhlabeni, uPawulu wabhala: “Indalo ilindele ngokulangazela okukhulu ukwambulwa kwabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.” Wabe esenezela: “Indalo ngokwayo nayo iyokhululwa ekugqilazweni ukonakala ibe nenkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.” (Roma 8:19-21) “Indalo” ibhekisela kubantu abanethemba lasemhlabeni, abayozuza ‘ekwambulweni’ kwabantwana bakaNkulunkulu abagcotshwe ngomoya. Lokho kwambulwa kuyoqala lapho laba “bantwana,” abavuselwe endaweni yomoya, behlanganyela noKristu ekususeni ububi emhlabeni nasekusindiseni “isixuku esikhulu” singene esimisweni esisha sezinto.—IsAm. 7:9, 14.
(Roma 8:20) Ngoba indalo yabekwa ngaphansi kobuze, hhayi ngentando yayo siqu kodwa ngalowo owayibeka ngaphansi kwabo, ngesisekelo sethemba
Ukujabula Ethembeni Lethu
11 UJehova wanikeza isintu ‘isisekelo sethemba’ lapho ethembisa ukusikhulula ‘enyokeni yokuqala,’ uSathane uDeveli, ngokusebenzisa ‘inzalo’ ethenjisiwe. (IsAm. 12:9; Gen. 3:15) Ngokuyinhloko, le “nzalo” inguJesu Kristu. (Gal. 3:16) Ngokufa nokuvuka kwakhe, uJesu wanikeza isisekelo esiqinile sethemba lokuthi isintu siyokhululwa ebugqilini besono nokufa. Ukugcwaliseka kwalelo themba kuhlobene ‘nokwambulwa kwabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.’ Abagcotshiwe abakhazinyulisiwe bayingxenye yesibili yale “nzalo.” ‘Bayokwambulwa’ lapho behlanganyela noKristu ekubhubhiseni isimiso sezinto esibi sikaSathane. (IsAm. 2:26, 27) Lokhu kuyoletha insindiso kwezinye izimvu eziphuma osizini olukhulu.—IsAm. 7:9, 10, 14.
(Roma 8:21) lokuthi indalo ngokwayo nayo iyokhululwa ekugqilazweni ukonakala ibe nenkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.
Ukujabula Ethembeni Lethu
12 Yeka impumuzo ezotholwa “indalo” engabantu phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane! Ngaleso sikhathi, “abantwana bakaNkulunkulu” abakhazinyulisiwe ‘bayokwambulwa’ ngokwengeziwe lapho bekhonza njengabapristi kanye noKristu, bedlulisela izinzuzo zomhlatshelo wesihlengo kaJesu esintwini. Njengezikhonzi zoMbuso wasezulwini, “indalo” engabantu iyoqala ukukhululeka emiphumeleni yesono nokufa. Kancane kancane abantu abalalelayo ‘bayokhululwa ekugqilazweni ukonakala.’ Uma behlala bethembekile kuJehova phakathi nayo yonke iMinyaka Eyinkulungwane naphakathi novivinyo lokugcina oluyoba khona ngemva kwayo, amagama abo ayobhalwa phakade ‘emqulwini wokuphila.’ Bayongena ‘enkululekweni ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.’ (IsAm. 20:7, 8, 11, 12) Yeka ithemba elikhazimulayo!
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Roma 8:6) Ngoba ukunaka inyama kusho ukufa, kodwa ukunaka umoya kusho ukuphila nokuthula;
Uyakhumbula?
Uyini umehluko phakathi ‘kokunaka inyama nokunaka umoya’? (Roma 8:6)
Lowo onaka inyama ugxila ezifisweni zayo futhi ubeka ithemba lakhe kuzo, ahlale ekhuluma ngazo futhi uyazithanda. Umuntu onaka umoya ugxila kakhulu ezintweni zikaNkulunkulu nemicabango yaKhe, umKristu onjalo uqondiswa umoya ongcwele. Ukunaka inyama kuholela ekufeni kodwa ukunaka umoya kuholela ekuphileni okunokuthula.—w16.12, kk. 14-17.
(Roma 8:26, 27) Ngendlela efanayo umoya nawo uyahlanganyela ngosizo ngenxa yobuthakathaka bethu; ngoba inkinga yokuthi yini okufanele siyithandazele njengoba kudingeka, asiyazi, kodwa umoya ngokwawo uyasincengela ngokububula okungaphinyiselwe. 27 Nokho lowo ohlola izinhliziyo uyakwazi okushiwo umoya, ngoba uncengela abangcwele ngokuvumelana noNkulunkulu.
Imithandazo Yakho Yembulani Ngawe?
20 Ngezinye izikhathi, singase singazi ukuthi sithini emithandazweni yethu yangasese. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Inkinga yokuthi yini okufanele siyithandazele njengoba kudingeka, asiyazi, kodwa umoya [ongcwele] ngokwawo uyasincengela ngokububula okungaphinyiselwe. Nokho [uNkulunkulu] ohlola izinhliziyo uyakwazi okushiwo umoya.” (Roma 8:26, 27) UJehova wenza ukuba kulotshwe imithandazo eminingi emiBhalweni. Wamukela lezi zicelo eziphefumulelwe njengezivela kithi abese eziphendula. UNkulunkulu uyasazi futhi wazi nencazelo yezinto aye wenza ukuba umoya wakhe uzisho usebenzisa abalobi beBhayibheli. UJehova uphendula ukunxusa kwethu lapho umoya ‘usincengela,’ noma usikhulumela. Kodwa njengoba siya silazi kangcono iZwi likaNkulunkulu, lokho okufanele sikuthandazele kungase kuzifikele engqondweni.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Roma 7:13-25) Khona-ke, ingabe okuhle kwaba ukufa kimi? Kwangathi kungelokothe kube njalo! Kodwa isono saba yikho, ukuze siboniswe siyisono esingivezela ukufa ngalokho okuhle; ukuze isono sibe yisono nakakhulu ngomyalo. 14 Ngoba siyazi ukuthi uMthetho ungokomoya; kodwa mina ngingowenyama, ngithengiswe ngaphansi kwesono. 15 Ngoba lokho engikwenzayo angikwazi. Ngoba lokho engikufisayo angikwenzi; kodwa lokho engikuzondayo yikho engikwenzayo. 16 Nokho, uma engingakufisi kuyikho engikwenzayo, ngiyavuma ukuthi uMthetho muhle. 17 Kodwa manje akusemina okwenzayo, kodwa yisono esihlala kimi. 18 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi kimi, okungukuthi, enyameni yami, akuhlali lutho oluhle; ngoba amandla okufisa akhona kimi, kodwa amandla okwenza okuhle awekho. 19 Ngoba okuhle engikufisayo angikwenzi, kodwa okubi engingakufisi yikho engikwenza umkhuba. 20 Manje, uma engingakufisi kuyikho engikwenzayo, akusemina okwenzayo, kodwa yisono esihlezi kimi. 21 Khona-ke, ngithola lo mthetho ngokuqondene nami: ukuthi lapho ngifisa ukwenza okuhle, kukhona okubi kimi. 22 Ngiyajabula ngempela ngomthetho kaNkulunkulu ngokomuntu enginguye ngaphakathi, 23 kodwa ngibona emalungwini ami omunye umthetho olwa nomthetho wengqondo yami futhi ongithumbela emthethweni wesono osemalungwini ami. 24 Yeka mina muntu wosizi! Ubani oyongophula kulo mzimba othola lokhu kufa? 25 Makabongwe uNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu! Ngakho-ke, ngengqondo yami mina ngokwami ngiyisigqila somthetho kaNkulunkulu, kodwa ngenyama yami ngiyisigqila somthetho wesono.
FEBHUWARI 25–MASHI 3
AMAGUGU ASEZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU | ROMA 9-11
“Umfanekiso Wesihlahla Somnqumo”
(Roma 11:16) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma ingxenye ethathwa njengolibo ingcwele, kunjalo konke; futhi uma impande ingcwele anjalo namagatsha.
‘O Ukujula Kokuhlakanipha KukaNkulunkulu!’
13 Umphostoli uPawulu uqhubeka afanise labo ababa ingxenye yenzalo ka-Abrahama namagatsha asemthini womnqumo ongokomfanekiso. (Roma 11:21) Lo muthi womnqumo otshaliwe umelela ukugcwaliseka kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu ngokuphathelene nesivumelwano sika-Abrahama. Impande yalo muthi ingcwele futhi imelela uJehova njengoba kunguye onika u-Israyeli ongokomoya ukuphila. (Isaya 10:20; Roma 11:16) Isiqu sawo simelela uJesu njengengxenye eyinhloko yenzalo ka-Abrahama. Amagatsha ewonke amelela “isibalo esigcwele” salabo abahlanganiswe engxenyeni yesibili yenzalo ka-Abrahama.
(Roma 11:17) Nokho, uma amanye amagatsha aphulwa, kodwa wena, nakuba ungumnqumo wasendle, waxhunyelelwa phakathi kwawo futhi wahlanganyela empandeni ekhuluphele yomnqumo,
(Roma 11:20, 21) Kulungile! Ngenxa yokuntula kwawo ukholo aphulwa, kodwa wena umi ngokholo. Yeka ukuba nemibono ephakeme, kunalokho yesaba. 21 Ngoba uma uNkulunkulu engawayekanga amagatsha emvelo, nawe ngeke akuyeke.
‘O Ukujula Kokuhlakanipha KukaNkulunkulu!’
15 Yini-ke uJehova ayenza ukuze agcwalise injongo yakhe? UPawulu uchaza ukuthi amagatsha omuthi womnqumo wasendle axhunyelelwa emthini womnqumo otshaliwe ukuze athathe indawo yalawo aphuliwe. (Funda amaRoma 11:17, 18.) Ngakho, amaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya ezizwe, njengamanye ayesebandleni laseRoma, axhunyelelwa ngokomfanekiso kulo muthi womnqumo ongokomfanekiso. Ngale ndlela, aba ingxenye yenzalo ka-Abrahama. Ekuqaleni ayenjengamagatsha omuthi womnqumo wasendle, engenalo nelincane ithuba lokuba ingxenye yalesi sivumelwano esikhethekile. Kodwa uJehova wawavulela indlela yokuba abe amaJuda angokomoya.—Roma 2:28, 29.
(Roma 11:25, 26) Ngoba angifuni, bafowethu, ukuba ningabi nalwazi ngale mfihlo engcwele, ukuze ningabi ngabaqondayo emehlweni enu: ukuthi ngokwengxenye kubé nokuthuntubezeka kwemizwa ku-Israyeli kwaze kwaba yilapho sekungene isibalo esigcwele sabantu bezizwe, 26 futhi ngale ndlela wonke u-Israyeli uyosindiswa. Njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Umkhululi uyovela eZiyoni, asuse kuJakobe imikhuba yokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu.
‘O Ukujula Kokuhlakanipha KukaNkulunkulu!’
19 Yebo, injongo kaJehova ngokuqondene ‘no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ igcwaliseka ngendlela emangalisayo. (Gal. 6:16) Njengoba uPawulu asho, “wonke u-Israyeli uyosindiswa.” (Roma 11:26) Ngesikhathi sikaJehova esifanele, “wonke u-Israyeli”—okungukuthi, isibalo esiphelele sama-Israyeli angokomoya—siyokhonza njengamakhosi nabapristi ezulwini. Akukho lutho olungabhuntshisa injongo kaJehova!
Ukumba Sifuna Ingcebo Engokomoya
(Roma 9:21-23) Ini? Umbumbi akanalo yini igunya phezu kobumba ukuba enze esigaxeni esifanayo isitsha sokusetshenziswa okunodumo, nesinye sokusetshenziswa okungenalo udumo? 22 Manje, uma uNkulunkulu, nakuba ethanda ukubonisa ulaka lwakhe nokwenza amandla akhe aziwe, aziyeka ngokubekezela okukhulu izitsha zolaka ezenziwe zafanelwa ukubhujiswa, 23 ukuze enze yaziwe ingcebo yenkazimulo yakhe ezitsheni zesihe, azilungiselela inkazimulo kusengaphambili,
Vumela Isiyalo SikaJehova Sikubumbe
5 Kwenzekani uma abantu beba nenkani benqabe ukubunjwa uMbumbi Omkhulu? Ube eselisebenzisa kanjani igunya lakhe njengoNkulunkulu? Cabanga ngalokho okwenzekayo obumbeni uma lungakufanelekeli ukusetshenziselwa injongo ethile. Umbumbi angenza ngalo olunye uhlobo lwesitsha noma amane alulahle! Nokho, ngokuvamile iphutha lisuke likumbumbi uma ubumba lungasebenziseki. Akunjalo neze ngoMbumbi wethu. (Dut. 32:4) Lapho umuntu engavumeli uJehova ambumbe, iphutha lisuke likulowo muntu. UJehova usebenzisa igunya lakhe njengombumbi kubantu ngokushintsha indlela asebenzelana ngayo nabo kuxhomeke endleleni abasabela ngayo. Labo abasabela ngokufanele balolongwa ngendlela ebazuzisayo. Ngokwesibonelo, amaKristu agcotshiwe ‘ayizitsha zesihe’ eziye zabunjwa zaba ‘izitsha zokusetshenziswa okunodumo.’ Ngakolunye uhlangothi, labo ababa nenkani bamelane noNkulunkulu bagcina ‘beyizitsha zolaka ezenziwe zafanelekela ukubhujiswa.’—Roma 9:19-23.
(Roma 10:2) Ngoba ngiyabafakazela ukuthi banentshiseko ngoNkulunkulu; kodwa hhayi ngokolwazi olunembile;
it-1-E 1260 ¶2
Umona, Ukuba Nesikhwele
Ukushisekela Into Engalungile. Umuntu angase ashisekele into ethile ngobuqotho noma abe nesikhwele ngayo kodwa ibe ingalungile futhi ingamjabulisi uNkulunkulu. Yilokhu okwakwenzeka kumaJuda amaningi angekhulu lokuqala. Ayecabanga ukuthi azoba alungile ngokugcina uMthetho KaMose. Kodwa uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ayeshisekela into engalungile ngenxa yokuthi ayengenalo ulwazi olunembile. Ngenxa yalokho, akuzange kube ukuthi aselungile ngempela emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Kwakuyodingeka abone amaphutha awo bese ephendukela kuNkulunkulu ngoKristu ukuze abe alungile futhi angalahlwa uMthetho. (Ro 10:1-10) USawulu waseTarsu wayengomunye walawo maJuda ayeshisekela ngokweqile inkolo yobuJuda, waze ‘washushisa ibandla likaNkulunkulu futhi walichitha.’ Wayewugcina ngokucophelela uMthetho, ‘engongasoleki.’ (Gal 1:13, 14; Fil 3:6) Nokho, isikhwele ayenaso ngenkolo yobuJuda sasingalungile. UJehova wambonisa umusa ongafanele ngoKristu ngokumdonsela endleleni efanele yokumkhonza ngoba wayenenhliziyo eqotho.—1Thim 1:12, 13.
Ukufundwa KweBhayibheli
(Roma 10:1-15) Bafowethu, ukuthakazela kwenhliziyo yami nokubanxusela kwami kuNkulunkulu, ngempela, kuwukuba basindiswe. 2 Ngoba ngiyabafakazela ukuthi banentshiseko ngoNkulunkulu; kodwa hhayi ngokolwazi olunembile; 3 ngoba ngenxa yokungakwazi ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu, kodwa befuna ukumisa okwabo siqu, abazithobanga ekulungeni kukaNkulunkulu. 4 Ngoba uKristu uyisiphetho soMthetho, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo abe nokulunga. 5 Ngoba uMose uloba ukuthi umuntu owenzé ukulunga koMthetho uyophila ngakho. 6 Kodwa ukulunga okuvela okholweni kukhuluma ngale ndlela: “Ungasho enhliziyweni yakho ukuthi, ‘Ngubani oyonyukela ezulwini?’ okungukuthi, ukuze ehlise uKristu; 7 noma, ukuthi ‘Ngubani oyokwehlela kwalasha?’ okungukuthi, ukuze anyuse uKristu kwabafileyo.” 8 Kodwa lithini? “Izwi liseduze kwakho, lisemlonyeni wakho nasenhliziyweni yakho”; okungukuthi, “izwi” lokholo, esilishumayelayo. 9 Ngoba uma ulivuma obala lelo zwi ‘elisemlonyeni wakho siqu,’ ukuthi uJesu uyiNkosi, futhi ubonisa ukholo enhliziyweni yakho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafileyo, uyosindiswa. 10 Ngoba ngenhliziyo umuntu ubonisa ukholo kube ngukulunga, kodwa ngomlomo umuntu uvuma obala kube yinsindiso. 11 Ngoba umBhalo uthi: “Akekho oba nokholo kulo oyodumazeka.” 12 Ngoba awukho umahluko phakathi komJuda nomGreki, ngoba kukhona iNkosi efanayo phezu kwabo bonke, ecebile kubo bonke abayibizayo. 13 Ngoba “wonke umuntu obiza igama likaJehova uyosindiswa.” 14 Nokho, bayombiza kanjani lowo abangabanga nokholo kuye? Bayoba kanjani nokholo kulowo abangezwanga ngaye? Bayozwa kanjani kungekho oshumayelayo? 15 Bayoshumayela kanjani ngaphandle kokuba bethunyiwe? Njengoba nje kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Yeka ukuthi zibukeka kahle kanjani izinyawo zalabo abamemezela izindaba ezinhle zezinto ezinhle!”