1. Nxa ucabanga ngokholo luka-Abrahama, yiwuphi umbuzo ongazibuza wona?

 ABANTU abanengi bayakwazi ukuthi eBhayibhilini kulomuntu okuthiwa ngu-Abrahama, kodwa kulutshwana abakwaziyo ngaye. Lanxa kunjalo, wena kunengi okwaziyo ngaye. Ngokwesibonelo, uyakwazi ukuthi iBhayibhili lithi u-Abrahama “nguyise wabo bonke abalokholo.” (Rom. 4:11) Mhlawumbe uyake uzibuze umbuzo lo, ‘Ngingenelisa yini ukuba lokholo oluqinileyo njengo-Abrahama?’ Ye ungenelisa.

2. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sifunde ngalokho okwenziwa ngu-Abrahama? (UJakhobe 2:​22, 23)

² Okunye okuzasinceda ukuthi sibe lokholo olunjengoluka-Abrahama yikufunda ngaye. U-Abrahama wayekwenza lokho uNkulunkulu ayemtshela khona. Wasuka elizweni lakibo wayahlala endaweni ekhatshana. Wahlala ematendeni okweminyaka eminengi njalo kazange ayale ukwenza umnikelo ngendodana yakhe ayeyithanda, u-Isaka. U-Abrahama wavuma ukwenza izinto zonke lezi ngoba wayelokholo oluqinileyo kuJehova. Ukholo luka-Abrahama lalokho akwenzayo kwamthokozisa uNkulunkulu, wasemenza waba ngumngane wakhe. (Bala uJakhobe 2:​22, 23.) UJehova ufuna ukuthi sonke, kugoqele lawe senze izinto ezimthokozisayo futhi sibe ngabangane bakhe. Yikho waphefumulela abalobi beBhayibhili, uPhawuli loJakhobe ukuthi babhale ngalokho okwenziwa ngu-Abrahama. Kasihloleni lokho abakubhalayo ngo-Abrahama okutholakala kuRoma isahluko 4 loJakhobe isahluko 2. Ezahlukweni lezo kulamazwi aqakathekileyo amayelana lo-Abrahama.

3. Yiwuphi umbhalo oqakathekileyo owasetshenziswa nguPhawuli loJakhobe?

 ³ Bobabili uPhawuli loJakhobe basebenzisa amazwi akuGenesisi 15:6 athi: “[U-Abrahama] wakholwa kuJehova njalo uNkulunkulu wathi ulungile.” Umuntu olungileyo emehlweni kaJehova ngowenza izinto ezimthokozisayo. Kuyabe kungathi kasoleki kuye. Kuyathokozisa ukuthi lanxa silesono njalo siphambanisa uJehova uyenelisa ukuthi athi kasisoleki. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lawe uyafisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu athi wena ulungile futhi kungenzakala lokho. Khathesi kasihloleni ukuthi kungani uJehova wathi u-Abrahama ulungile kanye lokuthi kuyini okumele sikwenze ukuze lathi kuthiwe silungile.

4. Kuyini okwenza kube nzima ukuthi abantu babe ngabalungileyo?

⁴ Encwadini ayibhalela amaKhristu ayehlala eRoma, uPhawuli wathi bonke abantu bayizoni. (Rom. 3:23) Nxa kunjalo, pho kuyini okungenza uNkulunkulu athokoze ngathi aze athi silungile kumbe kasilacala? UPhawuli wakhuluma ngalokho okwenziwa ngu-Abrahama ukuze ancede amaKhristu abone lokho okumele akwenze ukuze kuthiwe alungile.

5. Kuyini okwenza uJehova wathi u-Abrahama ulungile? (URoma 4:​2-4)

⁵ Ngesikhathi u-Abrahama ehlala elizweni leKhenani, uJehova wathi ulungile. Kungani uJehova watsho njalo? Kambe yikuthi u-Abrahama wayesenza konke okutshiwo nguMthetho kaMosi? Hatshi akunjalo. (Rom. 4:13) UMthetho kaMosi wanikwa isizwe sako-Israyeli ngemva kweminyaka edlula 400 uNkulunkulu ethe u-Abrahama ulungile. Manje kuyini okwenza uNkulunkulu wathi u-Abrahama ulungile? UJehova waba lomusa omkhulu ku-Abrahama wasesithi ulungile ngenxa yokuthi wayelokholo.—Bala uRoma 4:​2-4.

6. Kuyini okwenza uJehova athi umuntu oyisoni ulungile?

⁶ UPhawuli waqhubeka wathi nxa umuntu ekholwa kuNkulunkulu “kuthiwa ulungile ngenxa yokholo lwakhe.” (Rom. 4:5) Waphinda wathi: “UDavida laye wakhuluma ngentokozo yomuntu uNkulunkulu ambiza ngokuthi ulungile kodwa kungenziwa yimisebenzi yakhe. Wathi: ‘Bayathokoza abaxolelwe izenzo zabo zokwephula umthetho kanye lalabo abazono zabo zithethelelwe. Uyathokoza umuntu uJehova angasoze ambalele isono sakhe loba sekutheni.’” (Rom. 4:​6-8; Hubo. 32:​1, 2) UNkulunkulu uyathethelela kumbe asibekele izono zalabo abalokholo kuye. Uyabathethelela ngokupheleleyo njalo kaphindi ababalele izono zabo. Abantu abanjalo uNkulunkulu uthi kabalacala njalo balungile ngenxa yokholo lwabo.

7. Kungani kungathiwa abantu ababekhonza uJehova kudala babelungile?

⁷ U-Abrahama loDavida labanye ababekhonza uNkulunkulu bethembekile kwathiwa balungile lanxa babelesono futhi bewenza amaphutha. UNkulunkulu wathi kabasoleki, ikakhulu nxa beqathaniswa labantu ababengakhonzi ngoba bona babelokholo kuye. (Efe. 2:12) Encwadini ayibhalela amaKhristu angamaRoma, uPhawuli wachasisa ukuthi kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi sibe lokholo ukuze sibe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu. U-Abrahama loDavida baba ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi babelokholo. Yikho lathi singaba ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu nxa silokholo.

8-9. Abanye abantu bathini ngalokho okwabhalwa nguPhawuli loJakhobe njalo kungani besitsho njalo?

⁸ Sekuleminyaka eminengi abakhokheli bamasonto bephikisana ngokuthi yikuphi okuqakathekileyo phakathi kokholo lemisebenzi. Abanye abafundisi bathi nxa ufuna ukusindiswa kumele ukholwe eNkosini uJesu Khristu. Mhlawumbe lawe sewake wabezwa besithi:  “Yamukela uJesu usindiswe.” Abanye abafundisi baze basebenzise lamazwi kaPhawuli athi: ‘UNkulunkulu ubiza umuntu ngokuthi ulungile kodwa kungenziwa yimisebenzi yakhe.’ (Rom. 4:6) Kodwa abanye bathi ungasindiswa nxa ungahamba endaweni okuthiwa zingcwele njalo wenzele abanye izinto ezinhle. Bangabe besekela lokho abakutshoyo embhalweni kaJakhobe 2:24 othi: “Umuntu kuzathiwa ulungile ngemisebenzi hatshi ngokholo kuphela.”

⁹ Ukwehlukana kwemibono yamasonto endabeni le kwenze abanye baphetha ngokuthi vele uPhawuli loJakhobe babengavumelani endabeni yokuthi kuyini okuqakathekileyo ukuze umuntu amukelwe nguNkulunkulu. Abafundisi benkolo bathi uPhawuli wayesithi umuntu kumele abe lokholo kuphela ukuze amukelwe nguNkulunkulu. Kodwa uJakhobe yena wayesithi imisebenzi yiyo eqakathekileyo. Esinye isikhwicamfundo seBhayibhili sathi uJakhobe wayengakuzwisisi ukuthi kungani uPhawuli wayegcizelela ukuthi umuntu kumele abe lokholo ukuze kuthiwe ulungile. Saphinda sathi uJakhobe wayengavumelani lamazwi kaPhawuli. Kodwa akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi bobabili uPhawuli loJakhobe babephefumulelwe nguJehova ukuthi babhale lokho abakubhalayo. (2 Thim. 3:16) Nxa singahlola ukuthi encwadini zabo babekhuluma ngani sizazwisisa ukuthi kungani abakubhalayo kwakungakuphikisani.

10. Yiphi ‘imisebenzi’ uPhawuli ayekhuluma ngayo? (URoma 3:​21, 28) (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹⁰ Yiphi ‘imisebenzi’ uPhawuli ayekhuluma ngayo kuRoma 3 lo-4? Wayekhuluma “ngemisebenzi yokugcina umthetho,” uMthetho kaMosi owanikwa ama-Israyeli entabeni iSinayi. (Bala uRoma 3:​21, 28.) Kukhanya angathi ngesikhathi sikaPhawuli, amanye amaKhristu angamaJuda ayekholwa ukuthi kwakulokhu kuqakathekile ukuthi aqhubeke elandela  uMthetho kaMosi futhi esenza lemisebenzi eyayitshiwo eMthethweni lanxa wona wawusuphelelwe yisikhathi. Ngenxa yalokho uPhawuli wasebenzisa indaba ka-Abrahama ukuze atshengise ukuthi umuntu angamukelwa nguNkulunkulu lanxa engenzanga ‘imisebenzi yokugcina umthetho.’ Yikho uPhawuli wachasisa ukuthi okuqakathekileyo yikuba lokholo. Lokhu kuyasikhuthaza sibili ngoba kwenza singathandabuzi ukuthi lathi singamukelwa nguNkulunkulu. Phela okufunekayo yikuthi sibe lokholo kuNkulunkulu lakuKhristu.

11. Yiphi ‘imisebenzi’ uJakhobe ayekhuluma ngayo?

¹¹ ‘Imisebenzi’ okukhulunywa ngayo kuJakhobe isahluko 2 kayisiyo ‘imisebenzi yokugcina umthetho’ uPhawuli ayekhuluma ngayo. UJakhobe wayekhuluma ngemisebenzi etshiyeneyo okumele yenziwe ngamaKhristu. Imisebenzi leyo yiyo etshengisa ukuthi umKhristu ulokholo yini kuNkulunkulu kumbe hatshi. Kasixoxeni ngezibonelo ezimbili uJakhobe azisebenzisayo.

12. UJakhobe wathi ukholo lemisebenzi kungenelana njani? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹² Esibonelweni sokuqala uJakhobe wakhuluma ngokuqakatheka kokuthi amaKhristu aphathe kuhle wonke umuntu, angakhethi. Wachasisa umcijo lo esebenzisa isibonelo somuntu ophatha kuhle indoda enothileyo kodwa abesekhangelela phansi engumyanga. UJakhobe wathi lanxa umuntu owenza njalo engathi ulokholo, imisebenzi ayenzayo iyabe itshengisa ukuthi kalalo. (Jak. 2:​1-5, 9) Esibonelweni sesibili uJakhobe wakhuluma ngomuntu obona ‘umfowethu loba udadewethu oswela okokugqoka lokudla’ kodwa abe eseyekela ukumnceda. Lanxa umuntu lo engathi ulokholo, imisebenzi yakhe iyabe itshengisa ukuthi kalalo. UJakhobe wabhala wathi: ‘Ukholo olungelamisebenzi lufile.’—Jak. 2:​14-17.

13. Yisiphi isibonelo uJakhobe asisebenzisayo ukuze atshengise ukuthi kumele sibe lokholo lemisebenzi emihle? (UJakhobe 2:​25, 26)

 ¹³ UJakhobe wathi uRahabi watshengisa ngemisebenzi yakhe ukuthi wayelokholo. (Bala uJakhobe 2:​25, 26.) URahabi wayezwile ngoJehova futhi wayekubona ukuthi uJehova wayewasekela ama-Israyeli. (Josh. 2:​9-11) Lokho akwenzayo kwatshengisa ukuthi wayelokholo. Wafihla inhloli ezimbili zako-Israyeli ngesikhathi impilo yazo isengozini. Owesifazana lo wayengayisuye wako-Israyeli futhi wayewenza amaphutha. Lanxa kunjalo, kwathiwa ulungile njengoba nje kwakutshiwo lango-Abrahama. Okwenziwa nguRahabi kusifundisa ukuthi kuqakatheke kakhulu ukutshengisa ngezenzo ukuthi silokholo.

14. Kuyini okwenza sithi okwabhalwa nguPhawuli loJakhobe kuyavumelana?

¹⁴ Esesixoxe ngakho kutshengisa ukuthi okwenza uPhawuli loJakhobe bachasise indaba yokholo lemisebenzi ngendlela ezehlukeneyo yikuthi babekhuluma ngezinto ezitshiyeneyo. UPhawuli wayetshela amaKhristu angamaJuda ukuthi ukwenza imisebenzi yokugcina uMthetho kaMosi kayisikho okuzawenza amukelwe nguNkulunkulu. UJakhobe yena wayegcizelela ukuthi wonke amaKhristu kumele atshengise ukuthi alokholo ngokwenzela abanye okuhle.

15. Yiphi eminye imisebenzi esingayenza etshengisa ukuthi silokholo? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹⁵ UJehova kakhangelelanga ukuthi senze khona kanye okwenziwa ngu-Abrahama ukuze kuthiwe silungile. Minengi imisebenzi esingayenza engatshengisa ukuthi silokholo. Okunye esingakwenza yikwamukela abantu abatsha ebandleni, lokuncedisa abafowethu labodadewethu abadinga uncedo lwethu kanye lokwenzela izimuli zethu izinto ezinhle. Nxa singenza konke lokhu, uNkulunkulu uzasamukela  njalo asibusise. (Rom. 15:7; 1 Thim. 5:​4, 8; 1 Joh. 3:18) Enye indlela eqakathekileyo esitshengisa ngayo ukuthi silokholo yikukhuthala emsebenzini wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle. (1 Thim. 4:16) Sonke singenelisa ukutshengisa ngezenzo ukuthi siyakholwa ukuthi lokho uJehova asithembisa khona kuzagcwaliseka lokuthi izindlela zakhe zingcono kakhulu. Nxa singenza njalo, kasithandabuzi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzakuthi silungile futhi asenze sibe ngabangane bakhe.

16. Ithemba lamnceda njani u-Abrahama ukuthi ahlale elokholo?

¹⁶ Kulokunye futhi okuqakathekileyo esikufunda ku-Abrahama okubhalwe kuRoma isahluko 4. Sifunda ukuthi ukuba lethemba kuqakathekile. UJehova wathembisa u-Abrahama ukuthi ‘izizwe ezinengi’ zazizabusiswa ngenxa yakhe. Cabanga ukuthi zinengi njani izithembiso u-Abrahama ayezilindele. (Gen. 12:3; 15:5; 17:4; Rom. 4:17) Lanxa kunjalo wafikisa iminyaka engu-100, loSara engu-90 bengakayitholi indodana ababeyithenjisiwe. Kwakukhanya kungasayenzi ukuthi u-Abrahama loSara bangaba lomntwana. Kwasekudinga ukuthi u-Abrahama abe lokholo oluqinileyo sibili. IBhayibhili lithi: “Ithemba lamenza wakholwa ukuthi wayezakuba nguyise wezizwe ezinengi.” (Rom. 4:​18, 19) Lakanye u-Abrahama wacina eyitholile indodana ayeselesikhathi eside eyilindele. Lokho ayekuthenjisiwe kwagcwaliseka.—Rom. 4:​20-22.

17. Kuyini okwenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi lathi kungathiwa silungile futhi sibe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu?

¹⁷ Lathi singenelisa ukumthokozisa uNkulunkulu ukuze athi silungile futhi asenze sibe ngabangane bakhe njengo-Abrahama. UPhawuli wakhuluma ngalokho, wabhala wathi: “Amazwi athi ‘kwathiwa ulungile’ awabhalelwanga yena kuphela [u-Abrahama], kodwa abhalelwa lathi okuzathiwa silungile ngenxa yokuthi siyakholwa kuNkulunkulu owavusa iNkosi yethu uJesu.” (Rom. 4:​23, 24) Njengo-Abrahama, lathi kumele sibe lokholo, senze imisebenzi emihle futhi sihlale silethemba. KwabaseRoma isahluko 5, uPhawuli wakhuluma ngethemba futhi yilo esizaxoxa ngalo esihlokweni esilandelayo.