1. Kufanele silubheke kanjani ukholo lobuKristu?

UKHOLO lobuKristu luyimfanelo eyigugu. Bambalwa abantu abanalo. (2 Thes. 3:2) Nokho, uJehova uye wanika umkhulekeli wakhe ngamunye “isilinganiso esithile sokholo.” (Roma 12:3; Gal. 5:22) Bonke abanalo kumelwe babe nokwazisa okujulile.

2, 3. (a) Iziphi izibusiso ezingatholwa umuntu onokholo? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo manje?

² UJesu Kristu wathi uYise osezulwini udonsela abantu kuye ngeNdodana yakhe. (Joh. 6:44, 65) Ukuba nokholo kuJesu kwenza umuntu akwazi ukuthethelelwa izono. Lokho kube sekuvula ithuba lokuba nobuhlobo obuhlala njalo noJehova. (Roma 6:23) Yini esiye sayenza ukuze sifanelwe ukuthola isibusiso esihle kangaka? Njengezoni, ukuphela kwento esifanele ukufa. (IHu. 103:10) Kodwa uJehova wabona ukuthi singakwazi ukuba abantu abalungile. Ngomusa wakhe ongafanelwe uye wabangela ukuba izinhliziyo zethu zamukele izindaba ezinhle. Ngakho siye saqala ukubonisa ukholo kuJesu sinethemba lokuphila okuphade.​—Funda eyoku-1 Johane 4:9, 10.

 ³ Kodwa luyini ngempela ukholo? Ingabe lusho nje ukuqonda izibusiso uNkulunkulu azosinika zona? Okubaluleke nakakhulu, ukholo lwethu kumelwe silubonise ngaziphi izindlela?

4. Chaza ukuthi kungani ukholo lungagcini nje endleleni esiqonda ngayo izinto.

⁴ Ukholo luhilela okungaphezu kokuqonda injongo kaNkulunkulu. Lungamandla ashukumisayo abangela ukuba umuntu enze ngokuvumelana nenjongo kaNkulunkulu. Ukholo endleleni kaNkulunkulu yokusindisa, lushukumisela ikholwa ukuba lihlanganyele izindaba ezinhle nabanye. Umphostoli uPawulu wachaza: “Uma ulivuma obala lelo zwi ‘elisemlonyeni wakho siqu,’ ukuthi uJesu uyiNkosi, futhi ubonisa ukholo enhliziyweni yakho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafileyo, uyosindiswa. Ngoba ngenhliziyo umuntu ubonisa ukholo kube ngukulunga, kodwa ngomlomo umuntu uvuma obala kube yinsindiso.”​—Roma 10:9, 10; 2 Kor. 4:13.

5. Kungani ukholo lubaluleke kangaka futhi singalugcina kanjani luqinile? Fanekisa.

⁵ Kuyacaca ukuthi, ukuthola kwethu ukuphila okuphakade ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu kuxhomeke ekubeni nokholo nokulugcina luqinile. Isidingo sokugcina ukholo lwethu luqinile kungafaniswa nokudinga kwesitshalo amanzi. Ngokungafani nesitshalo sikapulasitiki, isitshalo sangempela sishintsha njalo. Isitshalo esiphilayo siyabuna uma singatholi amanzi anele kodwa siyaqhubeka sikhula lapho siniselwa njalo. Uma singawatholi amanzi anele, isitshalo ebesiphila kahle sigcina sifile. Kunjalo nangokholo lwethu. Luyobuna lufe uma lunganakwa. (Luka 22:32; Heb. 3:12) Kodwa uma silunaka ngendlela efanele, ukholo lwethu luyohlale luphila futhi luqhubeke “lukhula” futhi ‘siyophila okholweni.”​—2 Thes. 1:3; Thithu 2:2.

6. AmaHebheru 11:1 achaza ukholo ngaziphi izindlela ezimbili?

⁶ Incazelo yeBhayibheli yokholo itholakala kumaHebheru 11:1. (Funda.) Ukholo lugxila ezintweni ezimbili ezingabonakali kithi: (1) ‘Izinto ezithenjwayo’​—lokhu kungahlanganisa izinto ezithenjisiwe ezizokwenzeka esikhathini esizayo kodwa ezingakenzeki, njengokuqedwa kwabo bonke ububi nokuza kwezwe elisha. (2) “Izinto ezingokoqobo nakuba zingabonakali.” Kulo mongo, inkulumo yesiGreki ehunyushwe ngokuthi “ukuboniswa okusobala” isho ukuthi “ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda” bokuba khona kwento engabonakali kithi, njengokuba khona kukaJehova uNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, izingelosi kanye nomsebenzi woMbuso wasezulwini. (Heb. 11:3) Sibunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuthi ithemba lethu liyaphila futhi siyakholelwa ezintweni ezingabonakali okukhulunywa ngazo eZwini likaNkulunkulu? Ngamazwi ethu nangezenzo​—izinto ezidingekayo ukuze siphelelise ukholo lwethu.

7. Isibonelo sikaNowa sisisiza kanjani siqonde okushiwo ukuba nokholo? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁷ AmaHebheru 11:7 aqokomisa ukholo lukaNowa okwathi “ngemva kokunikwa isixwayiso saphezulu sezinto ezingakabonwa, wabonisa ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu wakha umkhumbi wokusindisa indlu yakhe.” UNowa wabonisa ukholo lwakhe ngokwakha umkhumbi omkhulu. Ngokuqinisekile kumelwe ukuba omakhelwane bakhe bambuza ukuthi kungani akha umkhumbi ongaka. Ingabe uNowa wazithulela nje noma wabatshela ukuthi bahlukane naye? Lutho neze! Ukholo lwakhe lwamshukumisela ukuba  ashumayele ngesibindi futhi axwayise abantu ngesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu esasisondela. Cishe uNowa watshela abantu amazwi uJehova ayewasho kuye: “Ukuphela kwayo yonke inyama sekufikile phambi kwami, ngoba umhlaba ugcwele ubudlova ngenxa yayo . . . ngiletha uzamcolo wamanzi phezu komhlaba ukuba ngichithe phansi kwamazulu yonke inyama okukhona kuyo amandla okuphila. Konke okusemhlabeni kuzophangalala.” Akungabazeki ukuthi uNowa wabachazela abantu ukuphela kwendlela yokusinda, wabatshela umyalo owawushiwo uNkulunkulu: “Kumelwe ungene emkhunjini.” Ngakho, uNowa wabonisa ukholo lwakhe ngokuba “umshumayeli wokulunga.”​—Gen. 6:13, 17, 18; 2 Pet. 2:5.

8. Yini umfundi uJakobe aphefumulelwa ukuba ayichaze mayelana nalokho okushiwo ukholo lobuKristu beqiniso?

⁸ Cishe incwadi kaJakobe yabhalwa ngemva nje kokuba umphostoli uPawulu ebhale incazelo yakhe ephefumulelwe yokholo. NjengoPawulu, uJakobe wachaza ukuthi ukholo lwamaKristu eqiniso alusho nje ukukholelwa; luhilela izenzo. UJakobe wabhala, “Ngibonise ukholo lwakho ngaphandle kwemisebenzi, mina ngizokubonisa ukholo lwami ngemisebenzi  yami.” (Jak. 2:18) UJakobe ube eseveza umehluko ocacile phakathi kokukholelwa nje kokuthile nokubonisa ukholo. Amademoni ayakholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona kodwa awanalo ukholo lweqiniso. Kunalokho, ngokungabi nalukholo asebenza ngokumelene nokugcwaliseka kwezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. (Jak. 2:19, 20) Ngokuphambene nalokho, ebhekisela kwenye indoda yasendulo yokholo, uJakobe wathi: “U-Abrahama ubaba akuzange yini kuthiwe ulungile ngenxa yemisebenzi ngemva kokuba enikele ngo-Isaka indodana yakhe e-altare? Uyabona ukuthi ukholo lwakhe lwasebenza kanye nemisebenzi yakhe futhi ukholo lwakhe lwapheleliswa ngemisebenzi yakhe.” Ukuze agcizelele iphuzu lokuthi ukholo kumelwe lubonakale ngemisebenzi, uJakobe wanezela: “Njengoba umzimba ngaphandle komoya ufile, kanjalo nokholo ngaphandle kwemisebenzi lufile.”​—Jak. 2:21-23, 26.

9, 10. Umphostoli uJohane usisiza kanjani siqonde ukubaluleka kokubonisa ukholo lwethu?

⁹ Ngemva kweminyaka engaphezu kwengu-30, umphostoli uJohane wabhala iVangeli lakhe kanye nezincwadi ezintathu. Njengabanye ababhali beBhayibheli, uJohane waqonda ukuthi luyini ukholo lobuKristu beqiniso. UJohane wasebenzisa isenzo sesiGreki ngezinye izikhathi esihunyushwa ngokuthi “bonisa ukholo” ngaphezu kwanoma imuphi omunye umlobi weBhayibheli.

¹⁰ Ngokwesibonelo, uJohane wachaza: “Obonisa ukholo eNdodaneni unokuphila okuphakade; ongayilaleli iNdodana ngeke akubone ukuphila, kodwa ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luhlezi phezu kwakhe.” (Joh. 3:36) Ukholo lobuKristu luhlanganisa ukulalela imiyalo kaJesu. UJohane wayevame ukucaphuna amazwi kaJesu abonisa ukuthi ukubonisa ukholo kuyinto eqhubekayo.​—Johane 3:16; 6:29, 40; 11:25, 26; 14:1, 12.

11. Singakubonisa kanjani ukwazisa ngokwazi iqiniso?

¹¹ Yeka indlela okufanele sikwazise ngayo ukuthi uJehova usebenzise umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze asambulele iqiniso futhi asivumele ukuba sibonise ukholo ezindabeni ezinhle! (Funda uLuka 10:21.) Akufanele nanini siyeke ukubonga uJehova ngokusidonsela kuye ngeNdodana yakhe “uMmeli Oyinhloko noMphelelisi wokholo lwethu.” (Heb. 12:2) Ukuze sibonise ukwazisa kwethu ngalo musa ongafanele, kufanele siqhubeke siqinisa ukholo lwethu ngomthandazo nangokutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu.​—Efe. 6:18; 1 Pet. 2:2.

12. Kufanele silubonise ngaziphi izindlela ukholo lwethu?

¹² Kufanele siqhubeke sibonisa ukholo ezithembisweni zikaJehova. Lokhu kufanele sikwenze ngezindlela abanye abazibona ngokucacile. Ngokwesibonelo, siqhubeka sishumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu futhi sihlanganyela emsebenzini wokwenza abafundi. Siyaqhubeka senza “okuhle kubo bonke, kodwa ikakhulukazi kulabo abahlobene nathi okholweni.” (Gal. 6:10) Sisebenza kanzima ukuze ‘sihlubule ubuntu obudala nemikhuba yabo,’ futhi siqapha noma yini engenza ingokomoya lethu libe buthaka.​—Kol. 3:5, 8-10.

13. Lubaluleke kangakanani ‘ukholo kuNkulunkulu,’ lufaniswa nani futhi kungani?

¹³ IBhayibheli lithi, “Ngaphandle kokholo akwenzeki ukumjabulisa ngoba lowo oza kuNkulunkulu kumelwe akholelwe ukuthi ukhona nokuthi uba umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.” (Heb. 11:6) IZwi likaNkulunkulu lichaza ukuba “nokholo kuNkulunkulu” njengengxenye ‘yesisekelo’ esidingekayo ukuze umuntu abe futhi ahlale engumKristu weqiniso. (Heb. 6:1) Kuleso sisekelo, amaKristu  kumelwe ‘anezele okholweni lwawo’ ezinye izimfanelo ezibalulekile ukuze ‘azigcine othandweni lukaNkulunkulu.’​—Funda eyesi-2 Petru 1:5-7; Jude 20, 21.

14, 15. Lubaluleke kangakanani ukholo uma luqhathaniswa nothando?

¹⁴ Abalobi beBhayibheli abangamaKristu bagcizelela ukubaluleka kokholo ngokubhekisela kulo izikhathi eziningi. Ayikho enye imfanelo yobuKristu okukhulunywa ngayo kangaka. Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi ukholo luyimfanelo yobuKristu ebaluleke kakhulu?

¹⁵ Eqhathanisa ukholo nothando, uPawulu wabhala: “Uma nginalo lonke ukholo ukuze ngigudluze izintaba, kodwa ngingenalo uthando, angilutho.” (1 Kor. 13:2) UJesu wagcizelela ukubaluleka kwemfanelo yothando ngoNkulunkulu lapho ephendula lo mbuzo: “Yimuphi umyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke eMthethweni?” (Math. 22:35-40) Uthando luhlanganisa izimfanelo zobuKristu eziningi ezibalulekile, kuhlanganise nokholo. IBhayibheli lithi, “Uthando lukholelwa yizo zonke izinto.” Luyazikholelwa izinto uNkulunkulu azishilo eZwini lakhe leqiniso.​—1 Kor. 13:4, 7.

16, 17. Ukholo nothando kuqokonyiswe kanjani kokubili emiBhalweni, kodwa iyiphi imfanelo ebaluleke kakhulu kulezi futhi kungani?

¹⁶ Ngenxa yokubaluleka kokholo nothando, abalobi beBhayibheli abangamaKristu baqokomisa lezi zimfanelo zombili izikhathi eziningi, ngokuvamile emshweni owodwa noma ebinzaneni. UPawulu wanxusa abafowabo ukuba ‘bagqoke isivikelo sesifuba sokholo nothando.’ (1 Thes. 5:8) UPetru wabhala: “Nakuba ningakaze nimbone [uJesu], niyamthanda. Nakuba ningambhekile manje, kodwa nibonisa ukholo kuye.” (1 Pet. 1:8) UJakobe wabuza abafowabo abagcotshiwe: “UNkulunkulu wakhetha abampofu ngokwezwe ukuba babe abacebile okholweni nezindlalifa zombuso, awuthembisa labo abamthandayo, akunjalo?” (Jak. 2:5) UJohane wabhala: “Yilo umyalo [kaNkulunkulu], ukuba sibe nokholo egameni leNdodana yakhe uJesu Kristu futhi sithandane.”​—1 Joh. 3:23.

¹⁷ Nakuba ukholo lubalulekile, izici zale mfanelo ngeke zisasebenza lapho sibona ukugcwaliseka kwezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu. Kodwa isidingo sokuqhubeka sithanda uNkulunkulu nomakhelwane bethu asisoze saphela. Yingakho-ke, uPawulu ayengabhala: “Nokho, manje kusele ukholo, ithemba, uthando, lokhu kokuthathu; kodwa okukhulu kunakho konke lokhu uthando.”​—1 Kor. 13:13.

18, 19. Yikuphi ukubonakaliswa kokholo okunamandla esikubona namuhla, futhi ubani okufanele adunyiswe ngakho?

¹⁸ Osukwini lwethu, abantu bakaJehova bebelokhu bebonisa ukholo eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu omisiwe. Lokhu kuye kwaholela ekukhuleni kwepharadesi elingokomoya lomhlaba wonke elinezakhamuzi ezingaphezu kuka-8 000 000. Liyindawo enezithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu eziningi. (Gal. 5:22, 23) Yeka ukubonakaliswa okunamandla kokholo nothando kobuKristu beqiniso!

¹⁹ Akekho umuntu ongazidumisa ngalokhu. Kuye kwafezwa uNkulunkulu wethu. Lo msebenzi omuhle uletha ‘udumo kuJehova, isibonakaliso kuze kube nini nanini esingeke sinqunywe.’ (Isaya 55:13) Ngempela, “kuyisipho sikaNkulunkulu” ukuba ‘sisindiswe ngokholo.’ (Efe. 2:8) Ipharadesi lethu elingokomoya liyoqhubeka likhula futhi liqhakaza kuze kube yilapho wonke umhlaba usugcwele abantu abaphelele, abalungile nabajabule kube udumo lwaphakade egameni likaJehova. Kwangathi singaqhubeka sibonisa ukholo ezithembisweni zikaJehova!