Ukubutha Izinto Ezisezulwini Nezinto Ezisemhlabeni

“Kuvumelana nentando yakhe . . . ukuphinde abuthele ndawonye zonke izinto kuKristu, izinto ezisezulwini nezinto ezisemhlabeni.”—EFESU 1:9, 10.

1. Iyini ‘intando’ kaJehova ngezulu nomhlaba?

UKUTHULA EZULWINI NASEMHLABENI! Yileyo injongo ekhazimulayo kaJehova, “uNkulunkulu wokuthula.” (Hebheru 13:20) Waphefumulela umphostoli uPawulu ukuba abhale ukuthi ‘intando’ yaKhe ‘iwukuphinde abuthele ndawonye zonke izinto kuKristu, izinto ezisezulwini nezinto ezisemhlabeni.’ (Efesu 1:9, 10) Sisikiselani ngempela isenzo esihunyushwe ngokuthi “ukuphinde abuthele ndawonye” kuleli vesi? Isazi seBhayibheli uJ. B. Lightfoot sithi: “Le nkulumo isikisela ukuvumelana kwendawo yonke, engeke isaba nezici ezingafaneleki nezihlukanisayo, kodwa eyoba nezici ezigxile kuKristu zonke futhi ezimunye kuye. Isono nokufa, usizi, ukushiyeka nokuhlupheka, kuyophela.”

“Izinto Ezisezulwini”

2. Obani ‘abayizinto ezisezulwini’ ezidinga ukubuthwa?

² Umphostoli uPetru wafingqa ithemba elimangalisayo lamaKristu eqiniso lapho ebhala: “Kukhona amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha esikulindele ngokwesithembiso sakhe, futhi kukho kuyohlala ukulunga.” (2 Petru 3:13) “Amazulu amasha” athenjiswa lapha ayigunya elisha elibusayo, uMbuso KaMesiya. “Izinto ezisezulwini” uPawulu akhuluma ngazo encwadini yakhe kwabase-Efesu ziyobuthelwa “kuKristu.” Zingabantu abayinani elilinganiselwe abakhethwe ukuba babuse noKristu ezulwini. (1 Petru 1:3, 4) La maKristu agcotshiwe angu-144 000 “athengwé emhlabeni,” ‘athengwe kubantu,’ ukuze abe yizindlalifa ezikanye noKristu eMbusweni wakhe wasezulwini.—IsAmbulo 5:9, 10; 14:3, 4; 2 Korinte 1:21; Efesu 1:11; 3:6.

3. Kungashiwo kanjani ukuthi abagcotshiwe ‘bahlezi ezindaweni zasezulwini’ ngisho besesemhlabeni?

³ AmaKristu agcotshiwe athengwe, noma azelwe kabusha, ngomoya ongcwele ukuze abe amadodana kaJehova angokomoya. (Johane 1:12, 13; 3:5-7) Njengoba eba “amadodana” kaJehova okutholwa, aba abafowabo bakaJesu. (Roma 8:15; Efesu 1:5) Ngakho, ngisho esesemhlabeni, kuthiwa ‘avusiwe ahlaliswa ndawonye ezindaweni zasezulwini kuKristu Jesu.’ (Efesu 1:3; 2:6) Akulesi simo esiphakeme esingokomoya ngoba “[abekwe] uphawu ngomoya ongcwele othenjisiwe, oluphawu olunikezwa kusengaphambili lwefa” aligcinelwe ezulwini. (Efesu 1:13, 14; Kolose 1:5) Yilezi-ke “izinto ezisezulwini,” okwakudingeka zibuthwe zize zigcwalise inani uJehova alimisa kusengaphambili.

Ukubutha Kuyaqala

4. ‘Ukubuthwa kwezinto ezisezulwini’ kwaqala nini futhi kanjani?

⁴ Ngokuvumelana ‘nesimiso sikaJehova sokuqondisa,’ noma indlela yakhe yokusingatha izinto, ukubuthwa ‘kwezinto ezisezulwini’ kwakufanele kuqale “lapho kugcwala isilinganiso sezikhathi ezimisiwe.” (Efesu 1:10) Leso sikhathi safika ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. Ngalolo suku, kwathululwa umoya ongcwele phezu kwabaphostoli neqembu labafundi, abesilisa nabesifazane. (IzEnzo 1:13-15; 2:1-4) Lokhu kwaba ubufakazi bokuthi isivumelwano esisha sase siqalile ukusebenza, kwaba ukuqala kwebandla lobuKristu nokuzalwa  kwesizwe esisha sika-Israyeli ongokomoya, “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.”—Galathiya 6:16; Hebheru 9:15; 12:23, 24.

5. Kungani uJehova akha “isizwe” esisha esikhundleni sika-Israyeli wenyama?

⁵ Isivumelwano soMthetho esenziwa no-Israyeli wenyama asizange siveze “umbuso wabapristi nesizwe esingcwele” esasiyokhonza phakade ezulwini. (Eksodusi 19:5, 6) UJesu watshela abaholi benkolo bamaJuda: “Niyophucwa umbuso kaNkulunkulu unikwe isizwe esithela izithelo zawo.” (Mathewu 21:43) Leso sizwe, u-Israyeli ongokomoya, sakhiwa amaKristu agcotshiwe afakwa esivumelwaneni esisha. Umphostoli uPetru wawabhalela: “‘Niluhlanga olukhethiweyo, ubupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, isizwe esiyimpahla ekhethekile, ukuze nimemezele kabanzi ubuhle’ balowo owanibiza ukuba niphume ebumnyameni ningene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo. Ngoba kade ningesona isizwe, kodwa manje seniyisizwe sikaNkulunkulu.” (1 Petru 2:9, 10) U-Israyeli wenyama wayengasesona isizwe sikaJehova sesivumelwano. (Hebheru 8:7-13) Njengoba uJesu ayebikezele, ilungelo lokuba yingxenye yoMbuso KaMesiya laphucwa u-Israyeli wenyama lanikwa amalungu ka-Israyeli ongokomoya angu-144 000.—IsAmbulo 7:4-8.

Bafakwa Esivumelwaneni SoMbuso

6, 7. Yisiphi isivumelwano esikhethekile uJesu asenza nabafowabo abazelwe ngomoya, futhi lokhu kusho ukuthini ngabo?

⁶ Ngobusuku uJesu amisa ngabo iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe, watshela abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile: “Nina aningishiyanga ekulingweni kwami; ngenza isivumelwano nani, njengoba nje uBaba enze isivumelwano sombuso nami, sokuba nidle futhi niphuze etafuleni lami embusweni wami, nihlale ezihlalweni zobukhosi ukuze nahlulele izizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli.” (Luka 22:28-30) UJesu lapha wakhuluma ngesivumelwano esikhethekile asenza nabafowabo abangu-144 000 abazelwe ngomoya, ababeyohlala ‘bethembekile kuze kube ngisho nasekufeni,’ bazibonakalise ‘bengabanqobi.’—IsAmbulo 2:10; 3:21.

⁷ Labo abakha leli qembu elilinganiselwe badela wonke amathemba okuphila phakade emhlabeni njengabantu benyama negazi. Bayobusa noKristu ezulwini, bahlale ezihlalweni zobukhosi ukuze bahlulele isintu. (IsAmbulo 20:4, 6) Manje ake sihlole eminye imiBhalo esebenza kulaba abagcotshiwe kuphela futhi ebonisa isizathu esenza ukuba “ezinye izimvu” zingazidli izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo.—Johane 10:16.

8. Abagcotshiwe babonisani ngokudla isinkwa? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 23.)

⁸ Abagcotshiwe bahlanganyela ezinhluphekweni zikaKristu futhi bazimisele ukuzithoba ekufeni okunjengokwakhe. Njengomunye wabalelo qembu, uPawulu wathi wayezimisele ukudela noma yini ukuze ‘azuze uKristu ukuze amazi yena kanye namandla okuvuka kwakhe nokuhlanganyela ezinhluphekweni zakhe.’ Yebo, uPawulu wayezimisele ukuzithoba “ekufeni okunjengokwakhe.” (Filipi 3:8, 10) AmaKristu agcotshiwe amaningi aye akhuthazelela emizimbeni yawo yenyama “impatho ebulalayo eyanikezwa uJesu.”—2 Korinte 4:10.

9. Yimuphi umzimba omelelwa yisinkwa seSikhumbuzo?

⁹ Lapho emisa iSidlo Senkosi Sakusihlwa, uJesu wathi: “Lokhu kusho umzimba wami.” (Marku 14:22) Wayebhekisele emzimbeni wakhe ongokoqobo, owawusuzoshaywa uze wophe. Isinkwa esingenamvubelo sasiwufanekisela kahle lowo mzimba. Ngani? Ngoba eBhayibhelini, imvubelo ingamelela isono noma ububi. (Mathewu 16:4, 11, 12; 1 Korinte 5:6-8) UJesu wayephelele, futhi umzimba wakhe njengomuntu wawungenasono. Lowo mzimba ophelele wayezowunikela ube umhlatshelo oyisihlawulelo. (Hebheru 7:26; 1 Johane 2:2) Ukwenza kanjalo kwakuyozuzisa wonke amaKristu athembekile, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi anethemba lokuphila ezulwini noma lokuphila  phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi.—Johane 6:51.

10. Labo abaphuza iwayini leSikhumbuzo ‘bahlanganyela kanjani egazini likaKristu’?

¹⁰ Ngokuqondene newayini eliphuzwa amaKristu agcotshiwe eSikhumbuzweni, uPawulu wabhala: “Indebe yesibusiso esiyibusisayo, ayikona yini ukuhlanganyela egazini likaKristu?” (1 Korinte 10:16) Abaphuza iwayini ‘bahlanganyela kanjani egazini likaKristu’? Akukhona neze ukuthi bahlanganyela ekwenzeni umhlatshelo wesihlengo, ngoba kwabona badinga ukuhlengwa. Ngokholo abanalo emandleni okuhlenga egazi likaKristu, bathethelelwa izono futhi kuthiwe balungile ukuze baphile ezulwini. (Roma 5:8, 9; Thithu 3:4-7) Izindlalifa ezikanye noKristu ezingu-144 000 ‘zingcweliswa,’ noma zihlukaniswe, ngegazi likaKristu elachitheka, zihlanzwe esonweni ukuze zibe “abangcwele.” (Hebheru 10:29; Daniyeli 7:18, 27; Efesu 2:19) Yebo, uKristu wasebenzisa igazi lakhe elachitheka ukuze ‘athengele uNkulunkulu abantu kuzo zonke izinhlanga nezilimi nabantu nezizwe, abenze babe ngumbuso nabapristi kuNkulunkulu wethu, futhi bayobusa njengamakhosi phezu komhlaba.’—IsAmbulo 5:9, 10.

11. Abagcotshiwe babonisani ngokuphuza iwayini leSikhumbuzo?

¹¹ Lapho uJesu emisa iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe, wanika abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile indebe yewayini, wathi: “Phuzani kuyo, nonke; ngoba lokhu kusho ‘igazi’ lami ‘lesivumelwano,’ elizothululwa ngenxa yabaningi ngenjongo yokuthethelelwa kwezono.” (Mathewu 26:27, 28) Njengoba nje igazi lezinkunzi nelezimbuzi laqinisa isivumelwano soMthetho esasiphakathi kukaNkulunkulu nesizwe sakwa-Israyeli, negazi likaJesu laqinisa isivumelwano esisha uJehova ayezosenza no-Israyeli ongokomoya, kusukela ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. (Eksodusi 24:5-8; Luka 22:20; Hebheru 9:14, 15) Ngokuphuza iwayini elifanekisela ‘igazi lesivumelwano,’ abagcotshiwe babonisa ukuthi bafakwe esivumelwaneni esisha futhi bathola izinzuzo zaso.

12. Abagcotshiwe babhapathizelwa kanjani ekufeni kukaKristu?

 ¹² Kukhona okunye futhi abagcotshiwe abakukhunjuzwayo. UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe abathembekile: “Indebe engiyiphuzayo niyoyiphuza, futhi niyobhapathizwa ngobhapathizo engibhapathizwa ngalo.” (Marku 10:38, 39) Kamuva umphostoli uPawulu wathi amaKristu “abhapathizelwa ekufeni” kukaKristu. (Roma 6:3) Abagcotshiwe baphila ukuphila kokuzidela. Ukufa kwabo kuwumhlatshelo ngomqondo wokuthi bayawalahla wonke amathemba okuphila phakade emhlabeni. Ukubhapathizelwa kwala maKristu agcotshiwe ekufeni kukaKristu kupheleliswa lapho evuswa eyizidalwa zomoya ukuze ‘abuse kanye noKristu njengamakhosi’ ezulwini ngemva kokuba efe ethembekile.—2 Thimothewu 2:10-12; Roma 6:5; 1 Korinte 15:42-44, 50.

Ukudla Izifanekiselo

13. Kungani labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni bengazidli izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo, kodwa kungani beza eSikhumbuzweni?

¹³ Njengoba ukudla isinkwa nokuphuza iwayini elidluliswa phakathi neSikhumbuzo kuhilela konke lokhu, kusobala ukuthi ngeke kufaneleke ukuba labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni badle. Labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni bayaqonda ukuthi bona abawona amalungu agcotshiwe omzimba kaKristu, futhi abekho esivumelwaneni esisha uJehova asenza nalabo abazobusa noJesu Kristu. Njengoba ‘indebe’ imelela isivumelwano esisha, izifanekiselo zidliwa kuphela yilabo abasesivumelwaneni esisha. Labo abalindele ukuphila phakade bengabantu abaphelele emhlabeni ngaphansi koMbuso bona ababhapathizelwa ekufeni kukaJesu futhi ababizelwanga ukuyobusa naye ezulwini. Uma bengase bazidle izifanekiselo, lokho kungasho into engelona iqiniso kubo. Ngakho abadli, nakuba beba khona eSikhumbuzweni njengezibukeli ezihloniphayo. Bayakwazisa konke uJehova abenzele kona ngeNdodana yakhe, kuhlanganise nokubathethelela izono ngesisekelo segazi likaKristu elachitheka.

14. Ukudla isinkwa nokuphuza iwayini kubaqinisa kanjani ngokomoya abagcotshiwe?

¹⁴ Sekuseduze ukuba kuqedwe ukubekwa uphawu kwamaKristu ambalwa abizelwe ukubusa noKristu ezulwini. Ukudla izifanekiselo zeSikhumbuzo kuyabaqinisa ngokomoya abagcotshiwe, kuze kube yilapho kunqamuka ukuphila kwabo kwasemhlabeni okuyoba umhlatshelo. Bazizwa bemunye nabafowabo nodadewabo njengamalungu omzimba kaKristu. Ukudla kwabo isinkwa nokuphuza iwayini okuyizifanekiselo kubakhumbuza ngomthwalo wabo wemfanelo wokuhlala bethembekile kuze kube sekufeni.—2 Petru 1:10, 11.

Ukubutha ‘Izinto Ezisemhlabeni’

15. Obani abaye babuthwa futhi bazibandakanya namaKristu agcotshiwe?

¹⁵ Kusukela phakathi nawo-1930, inani elandayo ‘lezinye izimvu,’ ezingezona ‘ezomhlambi omncane’ futhi ezinethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni, liye lazibandakanya nabagcotshiwe. (Johane 10:16; Luka 12:32; Zakariya 8:23) Laba baye baba abangane abaqotho babafowabo bakaKristu, babasiza kakhulu ekushumayeleni “lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso” ukuze kube ubufakazi ezizweni zonke. (Mathewu 24:14; 25:40) Ngokwenza kanjalo, baye bazibeka ethubeni lokuba uKristu abahlulele ‘njengabayizimvu’ zakhe, ababeke “ngakwesokunene” sakhe, esimweni esamukelekayo, lapho ezokwahlulela izizwe. (Mathewu 25:33-36, 46) Ngenxa yokuba nokholo egazini likaKristu, bayoba yingxenye ‘yesixuku esikhulu’ esiyosinda “osizini olukhulu.”—IsAmbulo 7:9-14.

16. Obani abayoba phakathi ‘kwezinto ezisemhlabeni,’ futhi bonke laba bayolithola kanjani ithuba lokuba ‘abantwana bakaNkulunkulu’?

 ¹⁶ Lapho ukubekwa uphawu kwabangu-144 000 sekuphelile, “imimoya” yokubhubhisa isimiso sezinto esibi sikaSathane emhlabeni iyodedelwa. (IsAmbulo 7:1-4) Phakathi nokuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane KukaKristu nabapristi abangamakhosi abakanye naye, isixuku esikhulu siyohlangana noquqaba lwabavusiwe. (IsAmbulo 20:12, 13) Laba bayoba nethuba lokuba yizikhonzi zasemhlabeni zaphakade zeNkosi enguMesiya, uKristu Jesu. Ekupheleni kokuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, zonke lezi “zinto ezisemhlabeni” ziyovivinywa okokugcina. Labo abazibonakalisa bethembekile bayoba “abantwana bakaNkulunkulu” bokutholwa basemhlabeni.—Efesu 1:10; Roma 8:21; IsAmbulo 20:7, 8.

17. Injongo kaJehova iyofezeka kanjani?

¹⁷ Ngakho, ‘ngesimiso sakhe sokuqondisa’ esibonisa ukuhlakanipha okungenamkhawulo, noma indlela yakhe yokusingatha izinto, uJehova uyobe eseyifezile injongo yakhe ‘yokuphinde abuthele ndawonye zonke izinto kuKristu, izinto ezisezulwini nezinto ezisemhlabeni.’ Zonke izidalwa ezihlakaniphile ezulwini nasemhlabeni ziyobe zibuthelwe ndawonye zaba nokuthula, zizithoba ngenjabulo ekubuseni kokulunga koMenzi Wezinjongo Omkhulu, uJehova.

18. Abagcotshiwe nabangane babo kuzobazuzisa kanjani ukuba seSikhumbuzweni?

¹⁸ Yeka indlela okuzobaqinisa ukholo ngayo abagcotshiwe abambalwa nezigidi zabangane babo bezinye izimvu ukuhlangana ngo-April 12, 2006! Bazogubha iSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu, njengoba uJesu ayala: “Qhubekani nikwenza lokhu ningikhumbula.” (Luka 22:19) Bonke abazobe bekhona kufanele bakhumbule lokho uJehova abenzele kona ngeNdodana yakhe ethandekayo, uKristu Jesu.

Ake Sibukeze

• Iyini injongo kaJehova mayelana nezinto ezisezulwini nezinto ezisemhlabeni?

• Obani ‘abayizinto ezisezulwini,’ futhi baye babuthwa kanjani?

• Obani ‘abayizinto ezisemhlabeni,’ futhi banaliphi ithemba?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 23]

‘Umzimba KaKristu’

Kweyoku-1 Korinte 10:16, 17, lapho uPawulu ekhuluma ngalokho okushiwo yisinkwa kubafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshwe ngomoya, wasebenzisa elithi ‘umzimba’ ngomqondo okhethekile. Wathi: “Isinkwa esisihlephulayo, asikona yini ukuhlanganyela emzimbeni kaKristu? Ngenxa yokuthi isinkwa sinye, nathi, nakuba sibaningi, siwumzimba owodwa, ngoba sonke sidla leso sinkwa esisodwa.” Lapho amaKristu agcotshiwe edla isinkwa seSikhumbuzo, amemezela ubunye bawo ebandleni labagcotshiwe, elinjengomzimba oneNhloko enguKristu.—Mathewu 23:10; 1 Korinte 12:12, 13, 18.

[Izithombe ekhasini 23]

Kungani kungabagcotshiwe kuphela abadla isinkwa baphuze iwayini?

[Isithombe ekhasini 25]

Ngesimiso sikaJehova sokuqondisa, zonke izidalwa ezulwini nasemhlabeni ziyokwenziwa zibe munye