1. Nasicabanga ngekukholwa kwa-Abrahama, ngumuphi umbuto lesingatibuta wona?

 NANOBE bantfu labanyenti bake beva nga-Abrahama, linyenti labo lati lokuncane ngaye. Kodvwa wena wati lokunyenti ngaye. Sibonelo nje, uyati kutsi ubitwa ngekutsi “ngubabe wabo bonkhe lababa nekukholwa.” (Rom. 4:11) Kodvwa kungenteka uyatibuta: ‘Ngingakhona yini kuhamba etinyatselweni ta-Abrahama futsi ngibe nekukholwa lebekanako?’ Yebo, ungakhona.

2. Kubaluleke ngani kutsi sidadishe sibonelo sa-Abrahama? (Jakobe 2:22, 23)

² Lokunye lokungasisita sibe nekukholwa lokunjengekwa-Abrahama kutsi sidadishe sibonelo sakhe. Walalela umyalo waNkulunkulu wekutsi atfutsele eveni lelikhashane, kwaphela iminyaka leminyenti ahlala emathendeni futsi waze wetama kunikela ngendvodzana yakhe lebekayitsandza, lokungu-Isaka. Loku bekukhombisa kutsi unekukholwa lokucinile. Kukholwa kwa-Abrahama kanye netintfo latenta kwenta kutsi Jehova amemukele futsi abe ngumngani wakhe. (Fundza Jakobe 2:22, 23.) Jehova ufuna kutsi nawe utfole tibusiso letifanako. Kungako aphefumulela babhali beliBhayibheli lokunguPawula kanye naJakobe kutsi babhale ngesibonelo sa-Abrahama. Ase sicoce ngesibonelo sakhe njengobe kukhulunywa ngaso KubaseRoma sehluko 4 nakuJakobe sehluko 2. Totimbili letehluko tisho emavi labalulekile lamayelana na-Abrahama.

3. BoPawula naJakobe bacaphuna muphi umbhalo?

³ Bobabili boPawula naJakobe bacaphuna Genesisi 15:6 lotsi: “[Abrahama] wakholwa kuJehova, futsi Nkulunkulu watsi  ulungile.” Jehova angabita umuntfu ngekutsi ulungile nobe akasoleki nangabe amjabulisa. Kuyamangalisa kutsi Nkulunkulu angabita umuntfu lonesono ngekutsi akasoleki! Siyaciniseka kutsi nawe uyafuna kutsi Nkulunkulu akubuke njengemuntfu lolungile, futsi loko kungenteka. Kuze ubone kutsi loko kungenteka njani, ase sicoce ngekutsi yini leyenta kwatsiwa Abrahama ulungile.

4. Yini levimba kutsi bantfu babe ngulabalungile?

⁴ Encwadzini layibhalela baseRoma, Pawula watsi bonkhe bantfu banesono. (Rom. 3:23) Kodvwa kungenteka njani kutsiwe umuntfu ulungile nobe akasoleki futsi ngaleyondlela emukelwe nguNkulunkulu? Kuze Pawula asite onkhe emaKhristu lacotfo aphendvule lombuto, wakhuluma nga-Abrahama.

5. Ngusiphi sizatfu lesenta Jehova watsi Abrahama ulungile? (KubaseRoma 4:2-4)

⁵ Jehova watsi Abrahama ulungile ngesikhatsi ahlala eveni laseKhenani. Yini lebeyingenta Jehova atsi Abrahama ulungile? Bekungenca yekutsi bekawugcina ngekucophelela yini uMtsetfo waMosi? Cha. (Rom. 4:13) LoMtsetfo waniketwa ema-Israyeli ngemuva kweminyaka lengetulu kwalengu-400 Nkulunkulu atsite Abrahama ulungile. Ngako ngusiphi sizatfu lesenta Nkulunkulu watsi Abrahama ulungile? Ngemusa wakhe lomkhulu, Jehova watsi Abrahama ulungile ngenca yekukholwa kwakhe.​—Fundza KubaseRoma 4:2-4.

6. Kwenteka njani kutsi Jehova atsi umuntfu lonesono ulungile?

⁶ Pawula wachubeka watsi nangabe umuntfu anekukholwa kuNkulunkulu, “kutawutsiwa ulungile ngenca yekukholwa kwakhe.” (Rom. 4:5) Wengeta watsi: “NaDavide wakhuluma ngenjabulo letfolwa ngumuntfu Nkulunkulu latsi ulungile nanobe angakwenti konkhe lokushiwo ngumtsetfo, watsi: ‘Bayajabula labo labatsetselelwe tento tabo letimbi, nalabo labatsetselelwe tono tabo; uyajabula umuntfu Jehova langeke aze ambalele sono sakhe.’” (Rom. 4:6-8; Hla. 32:1, 2) Nkulunkulu ucolela nobe ambonye tono talabo labanekukholwa kuye. Ubacolela ngalokuphelele futsi angababaleli letono. Bantfu labanjalo ubatsatsa njengalabangasoleki nalabalungile ngenca yekukholwa kwabo.

7. Kungashiwo ngamuphi umcondvo kutsi tikhonti taJehova tasesikhatsini lesendlulile betilungile?

⁷ Nanobe Abrahama, Davide kanye naletinye tikhonti taNkulunkulu letetsembekile kwatsiwa tilungile, betisolo tinaso sono. Kodvwa ngenca yekutsi betinekukholwa, Nkulunkulu watitsatsa njengaletingasoleki ikakhulukati naticatsaniswa nalabo lebebangamkhonti. (Ef. 2:12) Njengobe Pawula akucacisa encwadzini yakhe, kukholwa kubalulekile kuze umuntfu abe nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu. Nguloko lokwasita Abrahama kanye naDavide, futsi nguloko lokungasisita natsi.

8-9. Ngumuphi umbono longasiwo labanye lababe nawo ngaloko lokwabhalwa nguPawula naJakobe, futsi ngasiphi sizatfu?

⁸ Sekuphele iminyaka leminyenti baholi benkholo baphikisana ngekutsi kukholwa kuhlobana njani nemisebenti. Labanye bafundzisa kutsi lokufanele ukwente kuze usindziswe kutsi nje ukholwe eNkhosini Jesu Khristu. Mhlawumbe uke wabeva batsi: “Yemukela Jesu futsi usindziswe.” Labanye kungenteka bacaphune emavi aPawula latsi: ‘Nkulunkulu utsi umuntfu ulungile nanobe angakwenti konkhe lokushiwo ngumtsetfo.’ (Rom. 4:6) Nobe kunjalo, labanye bangahle batsi  “ungatisindzisa” ngekutsi uye etindzaweni lokutsiwa tingcwele nekutsi wente imisebenti lemihle lefunwa lisontfo. Bangahle bacaphune Jakobe 2:24 lotsi: “Umuntfu kutawutsiwa ulungile ngemisebenti, hhayi ngekukholwa kuphela.”

⁹ Ngenca yaloko, labanye babhali betincwadzi tenkholo baphetse ngekutsi Pawula naJakobe bebangavumelani kulendzaba yekukholwa nemisebenti. Baholi benkholo bangahle batsi Pawula bekakholelwa kutsi umuntfu kutsiwa ulungile ngekukholwa nje kuphela ngaphandle kwemisebenti, kantsi Jakobe bekafundzisa kutsi imisebenti ibalulekile kuze umuntfu emukelwe nguNkulunkulu. Lesinye sati senkholo sitsi: “Jakobe bekangacondzi kutsi yini lebeyenta Pawula atsi [umuntfu kutsiwa ulungile] ngekukholwa nje kuphela hhayi ngemisebenti.” Kodvwa Jehova waphefumulela Pawula naJakobe kutsi babhale loko labakubhala. (2 Thim. 3:16) Ngako kufanele kube kunendlela lemelula yekucondza loko labakusho. Singakucondza ngekutsi sibuke kutsi bebakhuluma ngani.

10. Ngumiphi lemisebenti Pawula lebekakhuluma ngayo? (KubaseRoma 3:21, 28) (Buka nesitfombe.)

¹⁰ Ngumiphi lemisebenti Pawula lakhuluma ngayo KubaseRoma sehluko 3 nakusehluko 4? Bekakhuluma “ngekwenta loko lokufunwa ngumtsetfo,” lokungumtsetfo waMosi lowanikwa ema-Israyeli eNtsabeni iSinayi. (Fundza KubaseRoma 3:21, 28.) Kubonakala shengatsi emaKhristu langemaJuda angesikhatsi saPawula bekakutfola kumatima kwemukela kutsi uMtsetfo waMosi kanye nemisebenti lebeyidzingwa nguloMtsetfo besekungasasebenti. Ngako Pawula wasebentisa sibonelo sa-Abrahama kuze akhombise kutsi umuntfu akudzingeki ente loko “lokufunwa ngumtsetfo” kuze Nkulunkulu atsi  ulungile. Kudzingeka abe nekukholwa. Kwati loku kuyasikhutsata ngobe kusenta siciniseke kutsi singaba nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu. Kusho kutsi singakwakha kukholwa kuNkulunkulu nakuKhristu, lokungasenta semukelwe nguNkulunkulu.

11. Ngumiphi ‘imisebenti’ Jakobe lebekakhuluma ngayo?

¹¹ Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, ‘lemisebenti’ lokukhulunywa ngayo kuJakobe sehluko 2 akusiko kwenta loko “lokufunwa ngumtsetfo” Pawula lakhuluma ngako. Jakobe ukhuluma ngemisebenti nobe loko lokwentiwa ngemaKhristu malanga onkhe. Lemisebenti ngiyo lekhombisa kutsi umKhristu unekukholwa mbamba yini kuNkulunkulu nobe cha. Cabanga nganati tibonelo letimbili Jakobe latisebentisa.

12. Jakobe wakuchaza njani kuhlobana emkhatsini wekukholwa kanye nemisebenti? (Buka nesitfombe.)

¹² Esibonelweni sekucala, Jakobe wakhuluma ngekutsi emaKhristu akukafaneli akhetse endleleni laphatsa ngayo labanye. Kuze agcizelele leliphuzu wakhuluma ngendvodza leyakhombisa umusa umuntfu lonjingile kodvwa yambukela phasi loweswele. Jakobe watsi lendvodza ingahle itsi inekukholwa, kodvwa kuyahambisana yini nemisebenti yayo? (Jak. 2:1-5, 9) Esibonelweni sesibili, Jakobe wakhuluma ngemuntfu lobona ‘umzalwane wakhe nobe dzadzewakhe eswele kwekwembatsa nobe kudla’ kodvwa wangamsiti. Ngisho nobe loyo muntfu angatsi unekukholwa, bekungabonakali kuloko lakwentako; ngako bekulite. Jakobe wabhala watsi “kukholwa nakute imisebenti kufile.”​—Jak. 2:14-17.

13. Ngusiphi sibonelo lesasetjentiswa nguJakobe kuze akhombise kutsi kudzingeka sibe nekukholwa futsi sente tento letinhle? (Jakobe 2:25, 26)

¹³ Jakobe wakhuluma ngaRahabi losibonelo lesihle semuntfu lowakhombisa kukholwa  ngetento. (Fundza Jakobe 2:25, 26.) Bekevile ngaJehova futsi wabona kutsi bekawasekela ema-Israyeli. (Josh. 2:9-11) Wakhombisa kukholwa kwakhe ngetento, wavikela tinhloli letimbili tema-Israyeli ngesikhatsi tisengotini. Ngenca yaloko, lomfati longasuye umIsrayeli futsi lebekanesono kwatsiwa ulungile njenga-Abrahama. Sibonelo lasibekela sona sigcizelela kutsi kubalulekile kutsi kukholwa kuhambisane nemisebenti.

14. Sisho ngani kutsi loko lokwabhalwa nguPawula naJakobe kuyavumelana?

¹⁴ BoPawula naJakobe basebentisa tindlela letingafani nabakhuluma ngekukholwa nangemisebenti. Pawula bekatjela emaKhristu langemaJuda kutsi Jehova bekangeke awemukele ngekumane nje ente loko lokufunwa nguMtsetfo waMosi. Jakobe bekagcizelela kutsi onkhe emaKhristu kufanele akhombise kutsi ayakholwa ngekutsi entele labanye tintfo letinhle.

15. Ngutiphi letinye tindlela lesingakhombisa ngato kukholwa nemisebenti? (Buka nesitfombe.)

¹⁵ Jehova akasho kutsi nangabe sifuna kutsiwe silungile kufanele sikwente ncamashi loko lokwentiwa ngu-Abrahama. Ecinisweni, tinyenti tindlela lesingakukhombisa ngato kukholwa kwetfu. Singabemukela labo labasandza kucala kuta emihlanganweni yelibandla, sisite bazalwane nabodzadze labadzinga lusito futsi siwentele lokuhle emalunga emindeni yetfu, lokutintfo letitawemukelwa nguNkulunkulu futsi asibusise ngenca yato. (Rom. 15:7; 1 Thim. 5:4, 8; 1 Joh. 3:18) Umsebenti lobaluleke kakhulu lesingakhombisa ngawo kutsi sinekukholwa kutsi siwente ngekutimisela umsebenti wekushumayela. (1 Thim. 4:16) Sonkhe singakhombisa ngaloko lesikwentako  kutsi siyakholwa kutsi Jehova utawutifeza tetsembiso takhe nekutsi indlela yakhe yekwenta tintfo incono kakhulu. Nasenta njalo, singaciniseka kutsi Nkulunkulu utawutsi silungile futsi utawusibita ngekutsi sibangani bakhe.

16. Litsemba belihlobene njani nekukholwa kwa-Abrahama?

¹⁶ Incwadzi yaKubaseRoma sehluko 4 iveta lesinye sifundvo lesibalulekile lesingasifundza ku-Abrahama, lesifundvo kubaluleka kwelitsemba. Jehova wetsembisa kutsi nga-Abrahama ‘tive letinyenti’ betitawubusiswa. Cabanga nje kutsi leso bekusetsembiso lesihle kangakanani ku-Abrahama! (Gen. 12:3; 15:5; 17:4; Rom. 4:17) Nobe kunjalo, ngisho nobe Abrahama besekaneminyaka lengu-100, Sara analengu-90 bebasolo bangakayitfoli lendvodzana labeyetsenjisiwe. Ngekubuka kwemuntfu, bekungeke kwenteke kutsi Abrahama naSara babe nendvodzana. Loku kwamvivinya mbamba Abrahama. Kodvwa “wetsemba . . . , wakholwa kutsi utawuba ngubabe wetive letinyenti.” (Rom. 4:18, 19) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi lesetsembiso safezeka. Abrahama waba ngubabe wa-Isaka, lendvodzana lebekasolo ayibuke ngalabovu.​—Rom. 4:20-22.

17. Sati ngani kutsi singaba ngulabalungile futsi sibe bangani baNkulunkulu?

¹⁷ Nkulunkulu angasemukela futsi kutsiwe silungile, njenga-Abrahama umngani wakhe. Nguloko Pawula lakugcizelela nakabhala atsi: “Lamavi latsi ‘kwatsiwa ulungile’ akazange abhalelwe [Abrahama] kuphela, kodvwa abhalelwa natsi lokutawutsiwa silungile ngobe siyakholwa kuLoyo lowavusa Jesu.” (Rom. 4:23, 24) Njenga-Abrahama, kufanele sibe nekukholwa, sente imisebenti lekhombisa kutsi sinekukholwa futsi sibe nelitsemba. Pawula wachubeka wakhuluma ngelitsemba lesinalo KubaseRoma sehluko 5, futsi sitawucoca ngalo esihlokweni lesilandzelako.