Ukuthi umKristu okhuthele uwubuza ngokungathi sína lo mbuzo kuyisizathu esanele sokuthola umnyombo wawo. Kuphinde kuthinte umnyombo wokuba umKristu. Ukuqonda izisekelo zevangeli akuvamile njengoba kukholelwa kakhulu. Lokhu akubangelwa ukuthi azicacile futhi ayinkimbinkimbi ukuze ahlakaniphe, kodwa ngenxa yenkungu ewugqinsi ezungeza umbuzo. Amadoda asungule amagama emfundiso yenkolo angahlangene kancane nemiBhalo. Kodwa uma saneliseka ngamazwi alula eBhayibheli, sizobona ukuthi ukukhanya kuyiqeda ngokushesha kangakanani inkungu yokuqagela kwemfundiso yenkolo.

“Ngokuba noKristu wahlupheka kwaba kanye ngenxa yezono, olungileyo ngenxa yabangalungile, ukuze aniyise kuNkulunkulu; wabulawa enyameni, kodwa wenziwa waphila ngoMoya.” ( 1 Petru 3,18:17 L1 ) Impendulo yanele. Noma kunjalo siyafunda: “Engikushoyo kuyiqiniso futhi kuthembekile: UKristu Jesu weza ezweni ukusindisa izoni... Futhi niyazi ukuthi yena wabonakala ukuze asuse izono zethu; futhi akukho sono kuye... Igazi likaJesu Kristu iNdodana yakhe liyasihlambulula ezonweni zonke.” ( 1,15 Thimothewu 1:3,5 NLB; 1,7 Johane XNUMX:XNUMX; XNUMX:XNUMX ) Ngakho-ke, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wawusihlanza esonweni.

Masifunde okwengeziwe: “Ngokuba sisebuthakathaka, uKristu wasifela esingamesabi uNkulunkulu. Manje akukho-muntu ofayo ngenxa yomuntu olungileyo; angase afake ukuphila kwakhe engozini ngenxa yokuhle. Kodwa uNkulunkulu ubonakalisa uthando lwakhe ngathi ngoba siseyizoni, uKristu wasifela. Kakhulu kangakanani-ke, manje siyakusindiswa ngaye olakeni, lokhu sesilungisisiwe ngegazi lakhe. Ngokuba uma sabuyisana noNkulunkulu siseyizitha ngokufa kweNdodana yakhe, siyosindiswa kakhulu kangakanani ngokuphila kwayo, lokhu sesibuyisene.”— Roma 5,6:10-17 LXNUMX.

Nakulokhu futhi: “Nani enakade ningabemzini futhi niyizitha emisebenzini emibi, usenibuyise manje emzimbeni wenyama yakhe ngokufa, ukuze anibeke phambi kwakhe ningcwele, ningenasici, ningenacala... Kunalokho, uma ekhona kuKristu, uyisidalwa esisha. Okudala kuhambile; into entsha isiqalile! Konke lokhu kuwumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Usenze sabuyisana naye ngoKristu, wasinika inkonzo yokubuyisana. Yebo, kuKristu uNkulunkulu wenze ukuba izwe libuyisane naye, ukuze angathwesi abantu iziphambeko zabo; futhi usiphathise umsebenzi wokumemezela lelivangeli lokubuyisana.” ( Kolose 1,21.22:2, 5,17; 19 Korinte XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX NG).

Bonke abantu bonile (KwabaseRoma 3,23:5,12; 8,7:5,10). Kodwa isono singubutha kuNkulunkulu. “Ngokuba inkanuko yomuntu iyibutha nentando kaNkulunkulu, ngokuba akuwuthobeli umthetho kaNkulunkulu, futhi akunakuwenza.” ( Roma XNUMX:XNUMX , NEW ) Omunye wale mibhalo ecashuniwe wakhuluma ngeqiniso lokuthi abantu badinga ukubuyisana ngoba eZitheni zenhliziyo kukhona izenzo zabo ezimbi. Njengoba bonke abantu bonile, bonke abantu ngokwemvelo bayizitha zikaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kufakazelwa kwabaseRoma XNUMX:XNUMX (bheka ngenhla).

Kodwa isono sisho ukufa. “Ngokuba ukunaka kwenyama kungukufa.” ( Roma 8,6:17 L5,12 ) »Isono sangena ezweni ngamuntu munye, nangesono kwangena ukufa. “Kepha udosi lokufa yisono.” ( 1 Korinte 15,56:1,15 ) Lapho isono sesembuleke ngokugcwele, sizala ukufa ( Jakobe XNUMX:XNUMX ).

Isono sisho ukufa ngoba siwubutha kuNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu "unguNkulunkulu ophilayo." Ukuye “umthombo wokuphila” ( IHubo 36,9:3,15 ). Manje uJesu ubizwa ngokuthi “umsunguli wokuphila” (IzEnzo 17,25.28:XNUMX NLB). Ukuphila kuyisici esikhulu sikaNkulunkulu. “Nguye osinika konke ukuphila nomoya ukuze siphefumule, futhi usinikeza zonke izidingo zethu zokuphila... Kuye siphila, seluka, futhi sikhona...ngokuba nathi singabenzalo yakhe. IzEnzo XNUMX, XNUMX:XNUMX NG/Schlachter) Ukuphila kukaNkulunkulu kungumthombo wayo yonke indalo; ngaphandle kwakhe akukho ukuphila.

Kodwa hhayi ukuphila kuphela, kodwa futhi ubulungisa kuyimfanelo enkulu kaNkulunkulu. “Akukho okubi kuye...indlela kaNkulunkulu iphelele.” ( IHubo 92,15:18,31; 17:8,6 L17 ) Ngenxa yokuthi ukuphila kukaNkulunkulu kuwumthombo wakho konke ukuphila futhi yonke into incike kuye, ukulunga kwakhe kuyindinganiso yabo bonke. izidalwa ezinengqondo. Impilo kaNkulunkulu ingukulunga okumsulwa. Ngakho-ke, ukuphila nobulungisa angeke kwehlukaniswe. “Ukunaka okomoya kungukuphila.” ( KwabaseRoma XNUMX:XNUMX, XNUMX )

Njengoba ukuphila kukaNkulunkulu kuyisilinganiso sokulunga, noma yini ehlukile ekuphileni kukaNkulunkulu kufanele kube ukungabi nabulungisa; kodwa “konke ukungalungi kuyisono” ( 1 Johane 5,17:XNUMX ). Uma ukuphila komuntu kuchezuka empilweni kaNkulunkulu, kufanele kube ngoba ukuphila kukaNkulunkulu akuvunyelwe ukugeleza ngokukhululeka kulowo muntu. Nokho, lapho ukuphila kukaNkulunkulu kungekho khona, ukufa kuyafika. Ukufa kusebenza kuwo wonke umuntu ongahambisani noNkulunkulu - ombona njengesitha. Akunakugwenywa kuye. Ngakho akusona isahlulelo esingenangqondo ukuthi inkokhelo yesono ingukufa. Lokhu kumane kuyimvelo yezinto. Isono siphambene noNkulunkulu, siwukuhlubuka kuye futhi asifani neze nemvelo yakhe. Ihlukanisa noNkulunkulu, futhi ukwehlukana noNkulunkulu kusho ukufa ngoba ngaphandle kwakho akukho ukuphila. Bonke abakuzondayo bathanda ukufa ( IzAga 8,36:XNUMX ).

Kafushane, ubudlelwano phakathi komuntu wemvelo noNkulunkulu bumi kanje:
(1) Bonke bonile.
(2) Isono siwubutha nokuhlubuka kuNkulunkulu.
(3) Isono siwukuhlukaniswa noNkulunkulu; abantu bayahlukaniswa futhi babe nobutha ngemisebenzi emibi (Kolose 1,21:XNUMX).
(4) Izoni zihlukanisiwe nokuphila kukaNkulunkulu (Kwabase-Efesu 4,18:1). Kodwa uNkulunkulu kuKristu uwukuphela komthombo wokuphila endaweni yonke. Ngakho-ke, bonke abaye baphambuka ekuphileni kwakhe kokulunga bayokufa ngokuzenzakalelayo. »Lowo onendodana unokuphila; loyo ongenayo iNdodana kaNkulunkulu akanakho ukuphila.”— 5,12 Johane XNUMX:XNUMX;

Obani ababedinga ukubuyisana? UNkulunkulu, umuntu noma kokubili?

Kuze kube manje kunento eyodwa esicace kakhulu: UJesu weza emhlabeni futhi wafela abantu ukuze babuyisane noNkulunkulu ukuze bathole ukuphila. “Mina ngizele ukuba babe-nokuphila... uNkulunkulu wayekuKristu ebuyisana nezwe… , ukunimisa phambi kwakhe ningcwele, ningenasici, ningenacala... [uJesu wahlupheka] ngenxa yezono, olungileyo ngenxa yabangalungile, ukuze asiyise kuNkulunkulu... Ngokuba uma senziwe sabuyisana noNkulunkulu ngokufa iNdodana yakhe, kunalokhu sasiseyizitha, kakhulu kangakanani thina esiyosindiswa ngokuphila kwayo sesibuyisene!” ( Johane 10,10:2; 5,19 Korinte 84:1,21 L22; Kolose 1:3,18-5,10; XNUMX Petru XNUMX:XNUMX; ( Roma XNUMX:XNUMX )

“Kodwa,” abanye bathi manje, “nawe, ukubuyisana kwenzeka kuphela kubantu; Ngaso sonke isikhathi ngangifundiswa ukuthi ukufa kukaJesu kwenza uNkulunkulu abuyisane nomuntu; ukuthi uJesu wafela ukwanelisa ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu nokumthokozisa.” Nokho, siye sachaza ukubuyisana njengoba nje imiBhalo ikubeka. Lisho okuningi ngesidingo sokuba umuntu abuyisane noNkulunkulu, kodwa alilokothi libhekise esidingweni sokuba uNkulunkulu abuyisane nomuntu. Lokho kungaba isihlamba esingathi sína ngokumelene nesimo sikaNkulunkulu. Lo mbono wangena eSontweni LamaKrestu ngokusebenzisa ubupapa, nabo bawuthatha ebuqaba. Lapho konke kwakumayelana nokubeka ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ngomhlatshelo.

Kusho ukuthini ngempela ukubuyisana? Kuphela lapho kunobutha lapho kudingeka khona ukubuyisana. Lapho bungekho ubutha, ukubuyisana kungaphezu kwamandla. Umuntu ngokwemvelo uhlukanisiwe noNkulunkulu; ungumhlubuki, ugcwele ubutha. Ngakho-ke, uma ezokhululwa kulobu butha, kufanele abuyisane. Kodwa uNkulunkulu akanabutha ngemvelo Yakhe. “UNkulunkulu uluthando.” Ngenxa yalokho, naye akakudingi ukubuyisana. Yebo, bekungeke kwenzeke ngokuphelele, ngoba akukho lutho lokubuyisana naye.

Nakulokhu futhi: “Ngokuba uNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangaka, waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo angabhubhi, kodwa abe nokuphila okuphakade.” ( Johane 3,16:8,32 ) Noma ubani othi ukufa kukaJesu kuyinhlawulo kaNkulunkulu ngomuntu. , ukhohlwe leli vesi elimangalisayo. Uhlukanisa uyise nendodana, wenze uyise isitha nendodana umngane womuntu. Kodwa inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu yayichichima uthando ngomuntu owile kangangokuthi “akazange ayigodle eyakhe indodana, kodwa wayinikela ngenxa yethu sonke” (Roma 17:2 L5,19). Ngokwenza kanjalo, wazinikela. Ngokuba “uNkulunkulu ekuKristu futhi wenza ukuba izwe libuyisane naye.” ( 84 Korinte 20,28:XNUMX XNUMX ) Umphostoli uPawulu ukhuluma “ngebandla likaNkulunkulu … alizuza ngegazi lakhe siqu!” ( IzEnzo XNUMX:XNUMX ) Lokhu kuyakwenza kude kube kanye ngomqondo wokuthi uNkulunkulu ufukamele ngisho nesiqephu sobutha kumuntu obungadinga ukubuyisana Naye Naye. Ukufa kukaJesu kwakuwukubonakaliswa kothando lukaNkulunkulu olumangalisayo ngezoni.

Kusho ukuthini okunye ukubuyisana? Kusho ukuthi izinguquko ezihlanganisiwe. Lapho umuntu efukamele ubutha enhliziyweni yakhe ngomuntu, kudingeka ushintsho olukhulu ngaphambi kokuba kwenzeke ukubuyisana. Yilokho kanye okwenzeka kubantu. “Uma umuntu engokaKristu, uyisidalwa esisha. Okudala kuhambile; into entsha isiqalile! Konke lokhu kuwumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Usenze sabuyisana naye ngoKristu, wasinika inkonzo yokubuyisana.” ( 2 Korinte 5,17:18-13,5 NG ) Ukuthi uNkulunkulu kumelwe abuyisane nomuntu akukhona nje ukumbeka icala ngobutha, kodwa futhi kusho ukuthi ukuthi uNkulunkulu naye wenze okubi, yingakho naye kufanele aguquke, hhayi umuntu kuphela. Uma kwakungekona ukungazi okungenacala okwenza abantu bathi uNkulunkulu kufanele abuyisane nomuntu, kwabe kuwukuhlambalaza okusobala. Lokhu kuphakathi “kwamazwi amakhulu nenhlamba” akhulunywa ngokumelene noNkulunkulu ngobupapa ( IsAmbulo XNUMX:XNUMX ). Asifuni ukunikeza leso sikhala.

unkulunkulu Ukube wayengeyena, ubengeke abe unkulunkulu. Uphelele futhi akaguquki. Angeke ashintshe. Zizwele wena ngokwakho, ngokuba mina Jehova angiguquki; Ngakho-ke nina, madodana kaJakobe, anibhubhanga.”— Malaki 3,6:XNUMX

Kunokuba kudingeke ukuba ashintshe futhi abuyisane nomuntu onesono ukuze asindiswe, okuwukuphela kwethemba lensindiso yabo ukuthi akaguquki kodwa uwuthando lwaphakade. Ungumthombo wokuphila nesilinganiso sokuphila. Uma izidalwa zingafani naye, zibangele lokhu kuphazamiseka. Akufanele asolwe. Uyindinganiso emisiwe wonke umuntu avumelana ngayo uma efuna ukuphila. UNkulunkulu akanakushintsha ukuze anelise izifiso zomuntu onesono. Uguquko olunjalo lwalungeke nje lumehlise futhi lunyakazise uhulumeni wakhe, kodwa futhi lwaluyoba obala: “Oza kuNkulunkulu umelwe ukukholwa ukuthi ukhona” (Hebheru 11,6:XNUMX).

Omunye futhi umcabango ngomqondo wokuthi ukufa kukaJesu kwakudingeka ukuze kwaneliswe ubulungisa obuthukuthele: ukufa kukaJesu kwakudingeka ukuze kwaneliswe uthando lukaNkulunkulu. “Kepha uNkulunkulu ubonakalisa uthando lwakhe ngathi ngalokhu ukuthi, siseyizoni, uKristu wasifela.” ( Roma 5,8:3,16 ) “Ngokuba uNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangaka, waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa.”— Johane 3,21:26 ) Ubulungisa bebuyokwenziwa ukube sonke isizukulwane esonayo sasife. Kodwa uthando lukaNkulunkulu lwalungenakukuvumela lokho. Ngakho-ke senziwe abalungileyo ngomusa wakhe ngaphandle kokufaneleka ngokuhlengwa okukuKristu Jesu. Ngokukholwa egazini lakhe, ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu - okungukuthi, ukuphila kwakhe - kubonakaliswa kithi. Ngakho-ke, ulungile futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo ulungisisa okholwa kuJesu (KwabaseRoma XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX)...

Kungani sigxila eqinisweni lokuthi umuntu kufanele abuyisane noNkulunkulu, hhayi uNkulunkulu nomuntu? Ngoba lokho kukodwa kuyisisekelo sethemba lethu. Ukube uNkulunkulu wake waba nenzondo ngathi, umcabango ongapheli wawungavela njalo, “Mhlawumbe akakaneliseki ngokwanele ukuba angamukele okwamanje. Ngokuqinisekile ngeke athande umuntu onecala njengami.” Lapho umuntu eqaphela ngokwengeziwe ukuthi unecala, kulapho ukungabaza kuqina khona. Kodwa sazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu akakaze abe nobutha kithi, kodwa usithanda ngothando oluphakade, waze wazinikela ngenxa yethu ukuze sibuyisane naye, singababaza ngenjabulo sithi: “UNkulunkulu ungakithi ongamelana naye. thina?”—Roma 8,28:XNUMX.

Kuyini ukuthethelela? Futhi kungani kwenziwa ngokuchithwa kwegazi kuphela?

Kusukela ekuweni komuntu, abantu bebelokhu befuna ukukhululeka esonweni noma okungenani emiphumeleni yaso. Ngeshwa, abaningi baye benza kanjalo ngendlela engafanele. USathane wabangela isono sokuqala ngokuqamba amanga ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu. Kusukela lapho, ubelokhu ezinikele ekwenzeni abantu baqhubeke nokukholelwa la manga. Uphumelela kangangokuthi iningi labantu libona uNkulunkulu eyisidalwa esiqinile, esingenaluzwela esibheka abantu ngeso eligxekayo futhi esikhetha ukubhubhisa kunokubasindisa. Ngamafuphi, uSathane uye waphumelela kakhulu ekuzibekeni esikhundleni sikaNkulunkulu emiqondweni yabantu.

Ngakho-ke, ukukhulekela kobuqaba okuningi bekulokhu kuwukukhulekela udeveli. “Abahedeni banikela lokho abakuhlabela amademoni, hhayi uNkulunkulu! Kodwa angifuni ukuba nibe nenhlangano yamademoni.” ( 1 Korinte 10,20:XNUMX ) Ngakho lonke ihlelo lobuqaba lisekelwe embonweni wokuthi imihlatshelo ijabulisa onkulunkulu. Ngezinye izikhathi le mihlatshelo yenziwa ngendlela yempahla, kodwa ngokuvamile isesimweni somuntu. Ngakho kwavela izixuku ezinkulu zezindela nezakhamuzi phakathi kwamaqaba futhi kamuva phakathi kwalabo ababethi bangamaKristu, abathatha imibono yabo ngoNkulunkulu kwabahedeni. Ngoba babecabanga ukuthi bangathola umusa kaNkulunkulu ngokubhaxabulwa nangokuzihlukumeza.

Abaprofethi bakaBhali bazisika ngemimese “kwaze kwagobhoza igazi phezu kwabo.” ( 1 AmaKhosi 18,28:XNUMX ) ngethemba lokuzenza bazwiwe nguNkulunkulu wabo. Ngombono ofanayo, izinkulungwane zalabo okuthiwa bangamaKristu zazigqoke izingubo zezinwele. Bagijima bengagqokanga zicathulo phezu kwezingilazi eziphukile, benza uhambo lokuthandaza beguqe ngamadolo, balala phansi noma umhlabathi oqinile futhi bazibhaxabule ngameva, babulawa indlala bacishe bafa futhi bazibekela imisebenzi engakholakali. Kodwa akekho owathola ukuthula ngale ndlela, ngoba akekho ongakwazi ukuzikhiphela lokho angenakho. Ngokuba ukulunga nokuthula akutholakali kumuntu.

Kwesinye isikhathi umqondo wokubeka ulaka lukaNkulunkulu uthathe izindlela ezilula, okungukuthi, kulula kumakholwa. Esikhundleni sokuzidela, badela abanye. Imihlatshelo yabantu yayihlale ingaphezulu, ngezinye izikhathi iyingxenye yokukhulekela kobuqaba. Umcabango wemihlatshelo yabantu yezakhamuzi zasendulo zaseMexico nasePeru noma wama-druid usenza sithuthumele. Kodwa ubuKristu obucatshangwayo (hhayi bangempela) bunohlu lwabo lwezinto ezesabekayo. Ngisho naleyo ebizwa ngokuthi i-Christian England yanikela ngeminikelo yokushiswa yabantu engamakhulu ukuze isuse ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ezweni. Nomaphi lapho kunoshushiso olungokwenkolo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lucashe kangakanani, lusuka embonweni oyiphutha wokuthi uNkulunkulu ufuna ukuzidela. UJesu wabonisa lokhu kubafundi bakhe: “Ihora liyeza ngisho nalapho noma ubani onibulalayo eyocabanga ukuthi wenzela uNkulunkulu inkonzo.” ( Johane 16,12:XNUMX ) Lolu hlobo lokukhulekela luwukukhulekela udeveli hhayi ukukhulekela uNkulunkulu weqiniso.

Nokho, amaHeberu 9,22:XNUMX athi: “Ngaphandle kokuchithwa kwegazi akukho ukuthethelelwa.” Kungakho abaningi bekholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ufuna umhlatshelo ngaphambi kokuba athethelele abantu. Kunzima ngathi ukugqashula embonweni wobupapa wokuthi uNkulunkulu uthukuthelele umuntu ngenxa yesono kangangokuthi angashweleza kuphela ngokuchitha igazi. Akusho lutho kuye ukuthi igazi liphuma kubani. Okubalulekile ukuthi umuntu uyabulawa! Kodwa njengoba ukuphila kukaJesu kwakubaluleke ngaphezu kwakho konke ukuphila kwabantu kuhlangene, wawamukela umhlatshelo wakhe wokubuyisela ngenxa yabo. Nakuba leyo kuyindlela enonya kakhulu yokubiza i-spade nge-spade, iyona ndlela kuphela yokufika ephuzwini. Umqondo wamaqaba ngoNkulunkulu unonya. Ihlambalaza uNkulunkulu futhi idikibalisa umuntu. Lo mbono wobuqaba uye wamelela kabi amavesi amaningi eBhayibheli. Ngeshwa, ngisho namadoda amakhulu ayeyithanda ngempela iNkosi anika izitha zawo ithuba lokuhlambalaza uNkulunkulu.

“Ngaphandle kokuchithwa kwegazi akukho ukuthethelelwa.” ( Hebheru 9,22:3,25 ) Kusho ukuthini ukuthethelela? Igama elithi afesis (αφεσις) elisetshenziswe lapha ngesiGreki livela esenzweni esithi ukuxosha, ukudedela. Yini okufanele ihanjiswe? Izono zethu, ngoba siyafunda: “Ngokukholwa egazini lakhe wabonakalisa ukulunga kwakhe, esusa izono ezenziwa ngaphambili ngokubekezela kwakhe.” ( Roma XNUMX:XNUMX ) Ngokuvumelana neNkosi uJakobe, sifunda ukuthi ngaphandle kokuchithwa kwegazi igazi azikho izono ezingasuswa.

Igazi lini elisusa izono? Kuphela Igazi LikaJesu »Ngokuba alikho elinye igama phansi kwezulu elinikiwe phakathi kwabantu esingasindiswa ngalo! … Niyazi ukuthi yena wabonakala ukuze asuse izono zethu; futhi asikho isono kuye... Niyazi ukuthi anikhululwa ekuphileni okuyize, hhayi ngezinto ezibhubhayo njengesiliva noma igolide, njengoba ifa okhokho benu, kodwa ngegazi eliyigugu lewundlu yomhlatshelo elihlanzekile futhi elingenabala. igazi likaKristu... Kepha uma sihamba ekukhanyeni, njengalokhu yena esekukhanyeni, sinenhlanganyelo omunye nomunye, negazi likaJesu Kristu iNdodana yakhe liyasihlambulula kuso sonke isono” ( IzEnzo 4,12:1; Johane 3,5, 1; 1,18.19 Petru 1:1,7, XNUMX NE; XNUMX Johane XNUMX:XNUMX.

Kodwa kwenzeka kanjani ukuthi ukuchitheka kwegazi, negazi likaJesu ngaleso sikhathi, lisuse izono? Kalula nje ngoba igazi liwukuphila. “Ngokuba egazini kukhona ukuphila; mina ngokwami ​​ngayala ukuba kunikelwe e-altare ukwenzela imiphefumulo yenu ukubuyisana. Ngalokho niyakubuyisana nami, Jehova, ngegazi.” ( Levitikusi 3:17,11 NIV/Slaughterer ) Ngakho-ke lapho sifunda ukuthi akukho ukuthethelelwa ngaphandle kokuchithwa kwegazi, siyazi ukuthi lokho kusho ukuthini: Okungukuthi izono kuphela ezingaba khona. asuswe yimpilo kaJesu. Asikho isono kuye. Lapho enikela ngokuphila kwakhe emphefumulweni, lowomphefumulo uyahlanzwa ngokushesha esonweni.

UJesu unguNkulunkulu. “ULizwi wayenguNkulunkulu,” “uLizwi waba yinyama, wakha phakathi kwethu” (NgokukaJohane 1,1.14:2, 5,19). “UNkulunkulu wayekuKristu futhi wenza izwe libuyisane naye.” ( 84 Korinte 20,28:20,28 LXNUMX ) UNkulunkulu wazinikela kumuntu ngoKristu. Ngoba siye safunda ‘ngebandla likaNkulunkulu . . . alithenge ngegazi lakhe siqu!’ ( IzEnzo XNUMX:XNUMX ) INdodana yomuntu, okwakukhona kuyo ukuphila kukaNkulunkulu, yeza ukuzokhonza “nokunikela ngokuphila kwayo ukuphila kwayo okuphakade.” isihlengo sabaningi.”— Mathewu XNUMX:XNUMX .

Ngakho-ke isimo sezindaba yilesi: bonke bonile. Isono siwubutha kuNkulunkulu ngoba sihlukanisa umuntu nokuphila kukaNkulunkulu. Ngakho isono singukufa. Ngakho umuntu wayekudinga kakhulu ukuphila. Ukuze anikeze lokho, uJesu weza. Kuye kwakukhona ukuphila isono esasingenakukuthinta, ukuphila okwakunqoba ukufa. Ukuphila kwakhe kungukukhanya kwabantu. Umthombo owodwa wokukhanya ungakhanyisa amashumi ezinkulungwane ezinye izibani ngaphandle kokuncipha. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umuntu oyedwa uthola ukukhanya kwelanga okungakanani, bonke abanye abantu bathola okuncane; noma ngabe bekunabantu abaningi ngokuphindwe kayikhulu emhlabeni, bebeyoba nokukhanya kwelanga okulinganayo. Kunjalo nangeLanga Lokulunga. Anganikela ngokuphila kwakhe kuwo wonke umuntu futhi abe nokuphila okungako.

UJesu weza ukuzoletha ukuphila kukaNkulunkulu kumuntu. Ngoba yilokho kanye ababekuswele. Ukuphila kwazo zonke izingelosi ezulwini kwakungenakuhlangabezana nesidingo. Hhayi ngoba uNkulunkulu engenasihe, kodwa ngoba abakwazanga ukukudlulisela kubantu. Babengenayo ukuphila okungokwabo, ukuphila kuphela uJesu abanikeza kona. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wayekuKristu ngakho ukuphila okuphakade kukaNkulunkulu kuye kunganikezwa noma ubani owayekufuna. Lapho enikela ngeNdodana yakhe, uNkulunkulu wayezinikela, ngakho-ke umhlatshelo wawungadingeki ukuze kushwelezwe intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, uthando lukaNkulunkulu olungachazeki lwamenza wazidela ukuze aphule ubutha bomuntu futhi abuyisane nomuntu.

“Kodwa kungani engazange asinike ukuphila kwakhe ngaphandle kokufa?” Khona-ke omunye angase abuze, “kungani engazange asinike ukuphila kwakhe ngaphandle kokusinika?” Sasikudinga ukuphila, futhi uJesu kuphela owayenokuphila. Kodwa ukunika ukuphila kungukufa. Ukufa kwakhe kwasenza sabuyisana noNkulunkulu lapho sikwenza ngokwethu ngokholo. Sibuyisana noNkulunkulu ngokufa kukaJesu, ngoba ngokufa wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe futhi wasinika kona. Njengoba sihlanganyela ekuphileni kukaNkulunkulu ngokukholwa ekufeni kukaJesu, siba nokuthula naye ngoba ukuphila okufanayo kugeleza kithi sobabili. Bese “sisindiswa ngokuphila kwakhe” (KwabaseRoma 5,10:XNUMX). UJesu wafa kodwa uyaphila futhi ukuphila kwakhe kithi kulondoloza ubunye bethu noNkulunkulu. Lapho sithola ukuphila kwakhe sikhulule lokhu kuvela esonweni. Uma siqhubeka nokugcina ukuphila Kwakhe ngaphakathi kwethu, uyasigcina lokhu ngaphambi kwesono.

“Kuye kwakukhona ukuphila, futhi ukuphila kwakuwukukhanya kwabantu.” ( Johane 1,4:8,12 ) UJesu wathi: “Mina ngiwukukhanya kwezwe. Ongilandelayo kasoze ahamba ebumnyameni, kodwa uzakuba lokukhanya kokuphila.” ( UJohane 1:1,7 ) Khathesi siyakuzwisisa lokhu: “Kodwa nxa sihamba ekukhanyeni njengalokhu yena esekukhanyeni, siyabe silenhlanganyelo. omunye nomunye, negazi likaJesu Kristu iNdodana yakhe liyasihlambulula ezonweni zonke.” ( 2 Johane 9,15:XNUMX ) Ukukhanya kwakhe kungukuphila kwakhe; ukuhamba ekukhanyeni kwawo kungukuphila impilo yomuntu; uma siphila kanje, ukuphila kwakhe kugeleza kithi njengomfula ophilayo, esihlanza kuso sonke isono. “Kepha makabongwe uNkulunkulu ngesipho sakhe esingakhulumekiyo.” ( XNUMX Korinte XNUMX:XNUMX )

'Sizothini kulokhu? Uma uNkulunkulu engakithi, ubani ongamelana nathi na? Yena ongazange ayigodle eyakhe indodana, kodwa wayinikela ngenxa yethu sonke, ungesiye kanjani futhi asinike konke kanye nayo na?” ( Roma 8,31.32:XNUMX, XNUMX ) Ngakho-ke isoni esibuthakathaka nesesabekayo singase sibe nesibindi futhi sithembele kuNkulunkulu. Nkosi . Asinaye uNkulunkulu ofuna umhlatshelo kumuntu, kodwa lowo othandweni lwakhe wazinikela njengomhlatshelo. Sikweleta uNkulunkulu ukuphila okuvumelana ngokuphelele nomthetho waKhe; kodwa ngenxa yokuthi ukuphila kwethu kungokuphambene, uNkulunkulu kuJesu uthatha indawo yokuphila kwethu afake ukuphila Kwakhe siqu, ukuze ‘sinikele imihlatshelo yomoya eyamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu.’ ( 1 Petru 2,5:130,7.8 ) Ngakho-ke, “Israyeli, nethemba kwabangcwele kuNkulunkulu.” NKOSI! Ngokuba kuJehova kukhona umusa, futhi kuye kukhona ukuhlengwa ngokugcwele. Yebo, uyakukhulula u-Israyeli ezonweni zakhe zonke.”— IHubo XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX .

Ishicilelwe ekuqaleni ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi: «Why Did Christ Die?« ku: Iqiniso Lanje, September 21, 1893