Ivangeli inhlangwini Yabantu Abatshutshwa Ngomthetho

INdevu eSasana eSangweni sokutshutshiswa

1 Korinthia 6:1-8

NguDavide Strain

Niyakwenza nokuthatha ikhophi yeZibhalo nina ezandleni zenu niwe ndingithatheleni ekhanda 1 Korinthia isahluko 6; 1 Korinthia isahluko 6, kwiphepha 954 ukuba usebenzisa enye yeebhayibhile zenkosho yethu. Ngawo, kwixesha lokugqibela besikwisahluko 5, saza saqala ukucinga ngeendawo ezinzima eziya kuqalisa ukuzigubungela uPawulos kwisahluko esiseleyo seNcwadi yoku-1 Korinthia. Isahluko 1 kuye 4 ibe nkulu kwaye ithule, kodwa njengoko besitshilo kwisahluko 5, ukusukela apha kuya phambili yinto yokuhamba ngomkhombe emanzini agobhozayo; ukuhamba kwakhe kuye kwaba nzima. Kukho izinto ezinzima. Kwixesha lokugqibela kwisahluko 5, uyakhumbula, wajongana nengxaki yokuziphatha okubi ngokwesondo kunye nendisiplini yeCawa. Kule ndawo ingxaki egquba iicawa zaseKorintho ihambelana nabakholekileyo bengathandana, bahlala besingathana ngenxa yengxabano phakathi kwesangqa seCawa yendawo, ezinkantolo zoluntu. UPawulos ubhala ukubotanisa nokujongana nengxaki enobuthi.

Naye njengoba sitshela kukafikisa imicabango yethu ngemfundisho kaPawuli lapha, zikhona izindaba ezimbili zokuqala ezingasiza njengoba sisondela emxtweni ukuze siwuthole futhi siwusebenze kahle. Eyokuqala ihlobene nokuthi uPawuli akasheli engathi ku 1 Korinte 6, imisebe 1 kuya ku 8. Akasheli engathi izindaba zomthetho wobugebengu kufanele zigcinwe zithule futhi ziphathwe ngaphakathi yiBandla. Akasheli engathi izindaba ezinjalo akufanele zithathwe enkantolo noma zithathwe ngaphandle komthetho. Eqinisweni, lapho edingwa, umpostoli uPawuli wayelungele ukusebenzisa amalungelo akhe asemthethweni njengomakhelwane waseRoma futhi wazikhangela enkantolo yobulungisa ukuze athole isinxephezelo. Umgwebi wembulunga, uyatshengisa eRom 13, ungumkhonzi kaThixo, umkhonzi Wake, omthiyile uThixo waze wamqoka ukuba ngowethu. Ngakho uPawuli akasheli engathi akufanele sifake isikhalazo ngomthetho welizwe lapho kunesidingo. Zikhona izimo lapho abakholekileyo bashiywa ngaphandle kokukhetha, basebenza ukuze bazivikele bona noma abanye, ngokusebenzisa umthetho welizwe lapho kungekho okunye okusele.

Akusiyo loo nto eyayingenzeka eKorinte, noma kunjalo. Kubonakala eKorinte, amalungu eBandla ayengakhumbuli izibopho zabo njengamakholwa ukuxolelana nomunye nomunye nokuthandana nomunye nomunye nokusebenzisa isineke nomunye nomunye. Futhi esikhundleni salo, ayesebenzisa iNkantolo ukuze athole amanqaku, ukwenza imali, nokuthola inzuzo yokuncintisana ebhizinisini nasekuhlaleni ngokusithikisa abazalwane nabahesteri kuKristo. Naye njengoba ungacabanga, lokho kwakwenza umonakalo omkhulu emihlanganweni yebandla lamaKorinte. Naye yilo loko lokuqala ukukhumbula njengoba sisebenza ku 1 Korinte 6:1-11. UPawuli akayedeli ukusebenzisa umthetho wembulunga kahle lapho kunesidingo, kodwa uyakiphononga ukusetshenziswa kwakhe kokuziphindiselela nokuhlukumeza okwakuthandwa eKorinte.

Icala lesibili lokulungiselela elisazosisiza njengoba sifuna ukuqonda umyalezo kaPawuli lapha unento yokwenza nokuthi zihluke kangakanani izigaba 1 kuya ku 8 uma uzibeka kumxholo kule ngxenye yencwadi. Isahluko 5, khumbulani, uPawuli, wabandakanya kuhlupheka oluthile nokunzima lwezenkhaliphu zokungcola. Wakhuluma ngedisipline yebandla kwabakhaliphile ngokobulili nabalekelekileyo. Emva kwalokho isahluko 6, uya kubuyela kwinkatho yezonono zokobulili. Kwaye ngokwemvelo, uya kutshintshela. Ngakho isahluko 5 nakwisiqingatha sesibili sesahluko 6, ukhuluma ngezono zokobulili nokungcola. Kwaye ngokwemvelo isahluko 7, uya kukhuluma ngamashadi nokobulili okulungile nokuhlonipha uThixo. Yaye yonke into iyavakala; kunengqiqo kuko.

Kwaye siyazifumana sikuguqula isahluko 6, 1 kuya ku 8, sikaraba iintloko zethu kancinane kuba kanye lapha phakathi kolu xoxo lobulili bomntu kukhona le ngxaki yezomthetho. Yintoni na isahluko 6, 1 kuya ku 8, sikwenzayo lapha? Ndicinga ukuba zintso zinto zimbini ekufuneka uzikhumbule ezinokuncedisa ukuphendula lo mbuzo. Okokuqala, khumbulani, ukuba isahluko 5 uPawuli wabitsa abaKhorinte ukuba benze idisipline yebandla; babengavumi, babengathandi ukwenza idisipline yebandla kwimeko yobulili obunzima, obucwangcisiweyo, likhululekile, phakathi kwabanye amalungu. Ngakho isahluko 5, abavumi ukuthatha amanyathelo eziko, akekele, angokomoya angokwesono. Kodwa isahluko 6 – yintoni le yokuthelekisa – babonakala bevuma ukuthatha amanyathelo anzima, abateleganga, asemthethweni nezomthetho kuphela ukuze bafumane imali ngokukhawuleza.

Izinto ezimbili zitezi bonana nhle kwaphela. Ngazo? Ukhona umehluko, ukuphikisana, yaye sifanele sizwe ubuhlungu balo. Bakhathazekile ngenxa yombono wokuqondisa umkhandlu webandla, kodwa abana ngxaki yokumangalela umuntu oxhumana naye ebandleni ngenxa yesenti ngayinye abanayo, uma nje behlangana nethuba. Izinto zikufanele zingabi njalo, kusho uPawuli.

Nenkonzo yesibili yokuthi izinto zikwenzeka njalo kungenzeka zihlobene nendlela izinto zavezwwa ngayo kuPawuli yiKhorinthiya ekuqaleni. Yaye uphendula kuzo ngendlela zavezwwa ngayo. Yaye uphendula kuzo ngononina, noma kungaba ukwehlukana ebandleni kwizahluko 1 kuya ku 4 noma ukungcola ngenxa yobulili noma ukuqondisa umkhandlu webandla noma imilayezo phakathi kwabakholekile, uthatha inkonzo ngayinye, njengokungathi ikaso yokufunda, ukukhombisa ukuthi, ngaphezu kwenkinga engenzeka yona, impendulo nenkonzo yayo zinjengo. Ufaka iNgilazi kaJesu Kristu owesulwa enhliziyweni nasemilayeni yabakholekile eKhorinthu. Yaye uthi, “Uma njengoba niqonda lokhu, lokhu kwaqala ukungena futhi kuphinde kuxhume futhi kuphinde kucwangcise ukucabanga kwenu kusukela phansi, khona konke okunye kuzoshintsha.” Inkinga yangempela eKhorinthu ihlobene nokushindwa kwabo ukuqonda nokufaka iNgilazi.

Kwaqala isahluko 6, 1 kuya ku 11, yinkonzo nje enye phakathi kweziningi kule ncwadi ekhombisa ukuthi izindaba ezinhle ngoJesu zisebenza ngempela emihlambweni yezwe elonakele, elingathi lethina. Ngakho masifikele ndawonye, njengoba sifunda izinto ngomzuzu, ukugcina imiqondo yokuqala nemiqondo ezingqondini zethu. Zizositusa, ngiyacinga, siqonde ingqondo yaPawuli. Ngaphambi kokuthi sifunde iZwi ndawonye, masikhukhule izinhloko zethu sipraye!

Yise, iZwi lakho liseduze kwethu. Siprayela umusa wokulizwa nokulithola ngumyalezo, yaye ngalo, kutusa ukubuyela, ukukhama amadolo ethu phambi kukaThixo Jesu oyiNkosi yezinkosi neNkosi yezinduna. Ngoba siyacela egameni LHis, amen.

1 Korinthians isahluko 6 kumavesi 1. IyiNkosi yedwa, uThixo:

Nini enye uma nkulumu phakathi kwenu, ingabe udla umthetho phambi kwabantu ababi kunokuba phambi kwaba ngcwele? Oda nawuzi ukuba aba ngcwele bayakutwahlula umhlaba? Yaye uma umhlaba uza kutwahlulwa nguwe, ingabe anifanele ukutwahlula amacala amancane? Oda nawuzi ukuba siza kutwahlula izithunywa zeNkosi? Ndithe ke, izinto zokuphila kweli lizwe! Kwaye ukuba nina amacala anjalo, kutheni ke niziweka phambi kwabantu abanawo mfumano ecwameni? Ndithe oku ukuze niwushiye ihlazo. Ingabe akuziko linawe nxani olumka ngokwaneleyo ukulungisa ingxabano phakathi kwabazalwana, kodwa umzalwana udla umthetho umzalwana, yaye phambi kwabani abangakholwayo? Ukuba nelahleko phakathi kwenu yinto yokuzihlazisa. Kutheni ke ningenakunyamezela ukwenziwa okungalunganga? Kutheni ke ningenakunyamezela ukudukiswa? Kodwa nina ngokwenu wenziwa okungalunganga, nidu kisana – yaye oku phakathi kwabazalwana!

Oda nawuzi ukuba ababi abayifumani ibulkingi yedwa kaThixo? Musani kukhohliswa: indadi yesini, abakhanini, abahlukanisi, amadoda akhwelana namadoda, izontshontsho, abahamisi, abanxilayo, abasihlazisayo, naba phosayo abayifumani ibulkingi yedwa kaThixo. Yaye abanye babu njengo. Kodwa nina wawuhlambwa, wawu ngcweliswa, wawu thethelelwa egameni leNkosi uYesu Kristo yaye ngomoya kaThixo wethu.

Amen, yaye siyamtumela uThixo ukuba uthethile ngeLizwi Likhulu.

Ukuba sifanele ukuhlonla ingxaki ekwenziweni kwentshaba eKhorintho, eyona ngxaki isobala ngoku ichazwa ngumphengululi oyibiza ngokuthi “ukhohlwa iNgilazi.” Ukhohlwa iNgilazi – yinto abantu baseKhorintho bayehlupheka ngayo. Ndafunda ibali – eneneni ndalibona eli bali kwindawo yendaba kwintsuku ezinyangekileyo malunga nendoda egama linguBenjamin Kyle owayefunyenwe eqhekeze waze washiywa yedwa, aze ngoku ahlupheke kukhohlwa okunzima. Usichitha sonke ixesha lakhe kule mihla ujikeleza kwiindawo zeendaba ezingxamisekileyo ukuze azifumane; uzama ukugcwalisa ibali elingekhoyo. Ulahlekelwe yinkani yakhe; akazi ukuba ungubani.

Abantu baseKhorintho benza – kwenzeka kaninzi kweminye imiba eyahlukeneyo uPawulos ayalungisa, siyabona oku. Benza ngathi into enjalo yenzekile kubo. Bane uhlobo lokhohlwa iNgilazi. Iindaba ezimnandi zikaYesu, inkani yabo entsha kuye, ibeyihoyiwe waze yalibaleka kwimeko nangkutha. Ukuba ujonga ndima yethu, uya kubona Pawulos edubula eso sikrokrothi ngumbuzo wakhe othi, “Anazi na?” Kanjalo ume verse 2, “Anazi na ukuba abantu abalungileyo banokwahlula umhlaba?” Verse 3, “Anazi na ukuba siza kuhlula izithunywa?” Verse 9, “Anazi na ukuba abantu ababi baneze kuze kuthi ukumkani kaThixo?” Zinto abafanele zazi. Pawulos wabafundisa; uKefas wafundisa abanye babo. uApolos wabayehlalisa waze wafundisa; abanye bavulele uBhaliswa kubo. Pawulos wabhala kubo ngaphambili. Bafundiswe kakuhle kwizinto zikaThixo yaye bafanele zazi. Kodwa babonakala balibale. Yabo yimeko yokhohlwa iNgilazi. Iminyanya emibi iyabalandela.

Kakhulukazi, baqala ukumangalelana bebeka eceleni isimilo esikhulu kunazo zonke esikhumbuza ngempilo yabo yanaphambili kunempilo entsha okufanele ibenze njengoKristu. Yaye uPawuli wabuza evesini 1, “Nxa omunye wenu enenkinga nomunye, uyathanda yini ukuya enkantolo phambi kwababi kunaphambi kwaba ngcwele?” Yibo abanjalo. Ba ngcwele. Hhayi, ba ngabakhethiweyo – babekwe eceleni ngumusa nomsebenzi kaThixo empilweni yabo kuNkosi uJesu Kristu; bamenyezelwe Yena. Futhi akufanele besaphila njengoba besaphila ngaphambili ngokwezimiso zomhlaba, kodwa njengoko zimiso zikaKumkani uJesu oziphethayo. Bebekhathazeka ngenkinga enkulu kunazo zonke thina sikhathazeka nayo. Bebekhathazeka, njengoba sebenguKristu, ukulahla imikhwa nemifumo nezimiso zempilo yabo yanaphambili. Mamela, nje ngomzuzu, ngindlela isazi esichaza ngayo ukuthi iinkantolo zisebenza kanjani emhlabeni wabaseKorinte. Uthi, “Ekuthatheni isigqibo sokumangalela, kwakufanele umuntu aqale abale izindleko namathuba okunqoba, hhayi ngokusekelwe ekufanele kwicala, kodwa ngokusekelwe kwisimo somphangi nokuxhumana kwakhe okunamandla. Abantu emhlabeni wakudala,” uthi, “balwela ukuhlonishwa enkantolo. Futhi umuntu uthola ukuhlonishwa ngokushaya umphangi. Ukulandela kwecala kwakufuthi kuncane ukwenza ngokuvisisana nokulandela ubulungiswa.”

Nokho yileyo inkinga eKorinte! Bebengathélandi kukulunga; babengathélandi ekukhuliseni kwabo siqu emphakathini ngenkostenko yabanye ababebethé ukuma kwabo ngendlela ethile. Futhi nokuthi babengabakholeki noma bekungabakholeki abahle kwakungabalulekile kubo. "Izikhalazo zabo ezincane," njengoba uPawuli ezibiza ngazo evesini 2, zazinukela uk pride nokuziphakamisela kanye nokungathandana njengoba zisebenza ngendlela efanayo nabo ngaphambi kokuba babe abakristu. Babebekhathazwa yiGospel amnesia. Babengalikhumbulanga ukuthi njengoba sebekhona "ekhristu," njengoba uJesu abahlokohlisile, sebengabantu abatsha abafanele ukuphila impilo entsha emcimbini wobuthakathi bukaThixo omusha - ibandla likaJesu Kristu.

Kanti uPawuli uyabaphatha le amnesia yabo lapha ngezinyathelo ezintathu, izindlela ezintathu zokuthi iGospel yethu yangempela ifanele ukubentuko esiyoba yikho. Eyokuqala, uma nibheka umpassage, eyokuqala emavesini 1 kuya ku-3 ukhuluma ngekusasa lethu, lapho siyahamba khona njengabakristu; ikusasa lethu. Eyibili, emavesini 4 kuya ku-8, ukhuluma ngesikhathi samanje, asibhekane nalindlela esiphila ngayo njengabakristu. Futhi ekugcineni emavesini 9 kuya ku-11, ukhuluma ngephast; abantu abatsha abasibekayo ngomusa kaThixo nguye owenza abakristu. Uma singakwazi ukuqonda lezi, uPawuli uthi, siyahleleka ukuthola umuntu omusha wangempela wokuthi singobani abantu besilisa nabesifazane ekhristu na lokho kuyakushintsha yonke into.

Ikusasa Lethu

Ngakho, masibukele ndawonye imisho yesi-1 kuye ku-3, ndapha. UPawuli usikhomba ekuseni, ekuseni yethu, lapho siya khona njengabakristu. Njengabakristu, yena uyaphikisana nokuthi umphakathi wabakristu ukwazi ukulamula ezimpikiswini zangaphakathi futhi ulethe usawoti phakathi kwabodade kanye nababazi ngaphandle kokuya ezinkantolo zivilakazi ezindabeni eziningi. Isonto, ngaphandle kwabanye, lixhaswe ngomoya kaThixo, aboni abasindisiwe ngomusa abamathela kuKrestu. Kwaye yena uyabuza emshweni yesi-5, “Kungenzeka yini ukuthi akukho namnye phakathi kwenu okwazi ukulamula impikiswini phakathi kwabodade?” Isonto likwazi ukwenza njalo. Kodwa lapha imisho yesi-1 kuye ku-3 yena uyasitshela ukuthi kutheni kufanele silungise izindaba zangaphakathi xa abakristu behlukana bebangana.

Ikuseni Yethu Ekuseni

Kwaye yena uyasikhomba ekuseni yethu. Bukani emshweni yesi-2. “Awazi yini ukuthi abalandeli bakaThixo bayakwahlula umhlaba? Kwaye uma umhlaba uyakwahlulwa nguwe, ingabe anikwazi ukwahlula amacala amancane? Awazi yini ukuthi siyakwahlula izithunywa zikaThixo? Kuwe kangaka yini, izindaba ezingumongo kule ngxenye yobomi?” Ekumlandleni, kungenzeka, zikhona iindima ezifana noMathewu 19:28, amazwi kaJesu, lapho yena atshele khona abafundi bakhe ukuba bazohlala naye ezitulweni, behlulela u-Israyeli ekudalweni okusha. Kwaye iincwadi zeTestamente Yakudala, ezifana nencwadi kaDaniyeli isahluko 7, lapho, kuDaniyeli 7, umprofeti “wabona efana noNyana kaThixo ongenwa isidlangalathi nesigunyathi nesikhundla.” Kwaye kuDaniyeli 7:27 sifunda, “Isidlangalathi nesigunyathi nobukhulu bemikhakha yezikhundla phakathi kwezulu lonke iyakunikwa abantu babalandeli bakaThixo oPhezulu.” Siyakubusa nokwahlula kanye noJesu Krestu. Yileyo ikuseni yethu exhumeneyo neyokuzukiswa.

Kodwa abaseKorinte, uPawuli uthi, ngokuphambene, bahlala bejikisa ingqwalasela yabo kwiimeko ezingelutho, nangona bekufanele bagwebe izithunywa zeengelosi ngomnye usuku. Ngokuqinisekileyo, nanje kanye phambi kwesikhathi sokugqibela, isonto elinomfanelo onjalo kufanele likwazi ukulungisa izinto phakathi kwabakholekileyo. “Khumbulani apho niya khona,” uthi kithi. Khumbulani isidima esiphakamileyo nendima ekhethekileyo enye ngenye uya kuyigcwaliseka kwinkundla yasezulwini. Niya kuba ngabagwebi! Kufanele niwakhathalele njani na apha ngaphambi kokuba nikhanyeleyo? Niya kuba ngabagwebi bezithunywa zeengelosi, kodwa niyakwenzana ngani apha? Niya kuhlala noKristu kwitribhunal yokugqibela, kodwa niyasenza njani isebenzisa amaqhinga ehlabathi ukuze nikhulise isimo senu apha, nangona oko kubiza kakhulu kwaye kubacaphukisa abaya kusebenza nina njengo bazalwana nosisters ngomhla wokugqibela? Khumbulani umfanelo wenu wokugqibela kwaye uhlaleni ngokukhanya kwawo. Ikamva lethu, apho siya khona, ngoku ukuba singabakristu.

Okwethu Okwamanje

Emva koko, kowesibili, uPawuli uthi kithi kufanele sijongene nokwamanje kwethu – indlela esiphila ngayo, rhoqo nangona singabakristu. Khangelani kwiivesi 4 ukuya ku 8. Isitshixo kwingxabano kaPawuli apha kukuphawula kokuphinda kwelizwi elithi, “umzalwana.” Khangelani umpasso; iivesi 4 ukuya ku 8:

Ngoko ukuba ninjalo iimeko, kutheni nidlulisela phambi kwabantu abangenawo umfanelo ecwengwini? Oku kuthiwa ngihlazo lenu. Ngaba kunokwenzeka ukuba akukho namnye phakathi kwenu okwazi ukulungisa ingxabano phakathi kwabazalwana, kodwa umzalwana uyea enkundleni ngokuchasene nomzalwana, yaye phambi kwabangathembeki? Ukuba nezikhalazo phakathi kwenu sesivele siyimpumelelo. Kutheni kungezehlupheke? Kutheni kungezehlupheke? Kodwa nina ngokwenu niyahlupha niyakhohlisa – nabazalwana benu!

Ukukhohlwa kwabo iVangeli kusho ukuthi isaznakazi sabo kuKristu siyekile ukusebenza nokusebenza ngendlela ephilileyo ekucabangeni kwawo nasekuphilaneni kwawo. Inyani yokuthi babengabazalwane nabasisters ngokholo kuJesu, ukuthi babengumndeni, bekufanele ukuba benze umehluko wonke. Kodwa esikhundleni salokho, babefuna ukuphikisana phambi kwabantu abangenawo uhlu ekwenziweni kwesonto, isigaba 4. Ngakho uPawuli wathi, isigaba 5, bekufanele ukuba babe namahloni ngabo. Ngokuqinisekile isonto linamakhono asisisekelo nezipho ezidingekayo phakathi kwabaholi balo ukusiza ukulungisa izimpi ezisisekelo nezincane? Kukhona umuntu ohlakaniphile ngokwanele, ngokuqinisekile! Abakhorinte, niyakukhumbula, babengak pride enhlakanipheni yabo ephezulu. “Hhayi,” uPawuli wathi, “ukuba uhlakaniphile kangaka, akukhona na umuntu ongamsiza ukuba aphakathi kwabantu abalimele ngokholo?”

Ivangeli Victory

Kodwa, babeya phambi kwabangathembeki, kwabongaklwezi, ukuze bathole isinqumo. Futhi uthi eveseni 7 ukuthi “yokwenza njalo yinto yokuhlulwa kwenu. Kunalokho, thubeni ukhulu lokubi noma ukhohlweke kunokwenza njalo.” Njengani yinto yokuhlulwa kwabakristu ukwenza njalo? Yinto yokuhlulwa ngoba iVangeli lithi ukuba ngowamJesu kungukuba ngumshana noma udade wabantu ababengaba abangabazi lutho ngawe. Awubazi; ababazi! Isizinda sabo, ubuzwe babo, ukhokho wabo – konke kungaba yinto engaziwa ngawe, ngaphandle kwendawo yakho yokuzihlola. Kodwa njengani, konke lokho ningakunaka, manje usube nanye nabo ekhristeni. Njengani usuku lwenu! Abomshana nabodade. Usenxibene ngamabondle angcwele wothando lweVangeli. Futhi njengani, kufanele uxolele; kufanele uphinde umhlane. Kufanele uzilolonge ukubekezela; kufanele ushiye isipho sakho kwi thembhe nawe uhambe uyaxolelana nomshana wako. Futhi uma ukwenza njalo, umhlaba ubuka, njengani ubuhlobo buxinegwa kwabanye befuna ukuqhekeka nokuhlukana nokubiwa njengani ibandla lenzi ithanda omunye ngothando lweVangeli kusaka ukuxolelana, uPauluthi yinto yokuwina. Yinto yokuwina yeVangeli. Umhlaba ubona ukuthi ungumfundi kaKristu ngothando lwakho kowodade!

Gospel Defeat

Kodwa oko kwakungeyona into eyenzekayo eKorinte, kwaba njalo? Esikhundleni sokunqoba kwePhakhe, njengokuba ubudlelwane buya ngaphansi kwengcindezi, njengoba zonke ubudlelwane zethu kufanele, babuyela emva kwesikhundleni esidala sempilo yabo kodwa esikhundleni sokunqoba kwePhakhe njengokuba umhlaba obukele ubona oko okwenziwa ngumusa – ukuguqula iqela lonke labantu ekufananeni noKristu abayothumeka nokwenzela omnye nomnye ngisho nangezindleko zabo – esikhundleni saloko, babona abantu besola iikhotho phambili baye bazitsalisa enye kwenye phambi kweyabahluleli, baye besihlazo omnye nomnye baye benza iPhakhe lihlazo. Yinto yokuhlulwa! Xa umhlaba phakathi kwethu uwa ekwahlukana nasekuthandabuzayo nasekuthukutheleni kancinane kanti loo ma thukuthelo aya qhubeka phambili ekwahlukana nasekuhlukani okungapheli, xa umhlaba wenza njalo abantu bakaThixo bayothanda uxolo nokubuyisana, bayothanda ukuphila ngoxolo omnye nomnye ngokusemandleni abo, bayothanda ukuthethelela omnye nomnye kanye njengokuba uThixo ngoKristu abathethelele, xa umhlaba ubona oko, oko kunqoba kwePhakhe.

Ndiya kubuza ukuba umhlaba ubona oko kuthi? Unqoba kwePhakhe? Othabathayo ubona kwathi ukuhlulwa kwathi thuba lokubuyela ekuthandabuzayo, ekuthukutheleni kancinane ekubuyeleni ekuthandabuzayo, ekuthukutheleni kancinane nasekuthukutheleni okungapheli “Sifanele sikhathazwe yithi,” kusho uPaul, “xathi thina njengabazalwane nabasisters sisengathi umhlaba.” UKristu ufilele kithi. Umoya wakhe uhlala ngaphakathi kwethu. ILizwi lakhe liqondisa iindlela zethu kanti thina siya emthandabuzayo nasekuthukutheleni kancinane nasekuthukutheleni okungapheli phambi kwabahluleli ababukele. Yinto yokuhlulwa. Yinto yokuhlulwa. Ngako uPaul usibiza ukuba sikhumbule ikusasa lethu, ikusasa lethu – abo thina sikuza kuba ngubani kanye nomsebenzi esiyothumeka kuwo njengeejaji phezu kwehlabathi lonke kunye noKristu uMjaji Omkhulu – nokuphila ekukhanyeni kwekusasa elayo. Kanye usibiza ukuba sibukeke kithi njengathi, sibone ukuba ezo zinto azifanelanga.

Okidlulileyo Kwethu

Naye ekugcineni, uma nibheka nami emavesini 9 kuya ku 11, uyasikhumbuza ngeyethu nakadlula – ubani esaba ngabo, ngomusa kaThixo, uThixo asenza abantu baseKristo. Sizobuya emavesini 9 kuya ku 11, uThixo ethanda, ngesikhathi esizayo ukuze sibheke kancane kula mavesini, yini, ngakho, manje, ingabe uyaphawula nje ukuthi uPawuli uyabakhumbuza ngiqiniso, iqiniso elingasetshenziswa baze balibhoqe. “Ingabe anazi ukuthi ababi abayeniukumba ilizwe likaThixo?” umvesi 9. Yilowo uPawuli abechaza ngabo abahluleli, abahluleli bezanenekazi abaphambi kwabo amaKhorinthia ayebaletha bodwa bodwa emacaleni awo emvesi 1, ababi. Nalapha uthi, “Hhayi, manje mak nginikhombise isiphetho sababi.” Ubalichaza emavesini 9 na 10 ngezono zabo ezibambezelayo. “Musanikhohliswa: labo abaziphatha ngobulili, labo abakhonza izithombe, labo abaphinga, labo abantu abaziphatha ngobulili njengamadoda, labo abeba, labo abahamukelayo, labo abanxila, labo abasola, labo abadukisa abayeniukumba ilizwe likaThixo.” Aboni abavunyelwa ebusweni bukaThixo; yilowo ayesho. Isithombe esimnyama.

Ba Ngu Ubani Really!

Ngeni, uyabhekisa into enkulu; “Futhi abanye benu bebunjalo! Kodwa beniwe, benhlanganyelwa, benethethelelwa egameni likaNkosi Jesu Kristo nangenxa yoMoya kaThixo wethu.” “Abakhorinthia, inqubo yangempela yile into eni yikhohlwe ngokuphelele, uma nje eni yayiqonda kahle ekucabheni kweni kungaba sekuqalile ukuwashintsha. Futhi indlela eni phila ngayo manje ayingekho ekunqobeni, kodwa ngempela kungaba sekuqalile ukuba, ekugcineni, ukunqoba. Inqubo yangempela yile! Ngiwoshohlamvini ukuba eni ningasani abani eni bebani. Njengoba uJesu Kristo aphihliza ekuphileni kweni ngenxa yePhakethe, konke kuye kwashintsha. Enisakhohlwa ukuba eni ningani abani eni bebani. Njengoba uJesu Kristo ephihliza ekuphileni kweni, eni niye wahlanjwa, niye wahlanganyelwa, niye wanelingiswa phambi kukaThixo ekhothameni yasezulwini, niye wagqokwa ngobulungisa bukaJesu Kristo. Yileyo abani eni beni ngempela manje uma eni ngumkholwa. Yileyo abani eni beni! Isikhathi sokuqala ukuphila njengalo. Isikhathi sokuqala ukuba abani eni beni ngempela! Akumangalisi ukuthi eni nisengxabano ekulwa nesono ekutheni kweni uma eni niqhubeka ukuzibona ngubani eni bebani hhayi ngubani eni beni ngempela kuJesu. Khumbulani eyenu, ubuni bokweli. Enifike kuKristo yingakho okudala kuye kwadlula yingakho okusha kuvele. Enini bantu abasha. Bani abani eni beni ngempela!”

Ubani Bakho Obusha kuKristo

Nazi yinto eyangiyidingayo, yinto oyidingayo nokungabala, ekungquzulweni kwakho kwenzululwana, ekulweni kwakho kwenzululwana yokuphila ngenxa yenkazimulo kaKristu nokulandela ubungcwele obenzekayo. Abantu abaningi kithi bathemaneka ukucabanga, "Yinto eyangiyidingayo yinto ekhethekile yokuziphakamisa, into yokungeza ukuze injini yomphefumlo wami ikhanye ukuze ingisize ngithobele. Into ekhethekile! Into entsha!" Yinto leyo ayikho ingeluleko likaPaulusi. Ingeluleko lakhe aligcini ekufuneni into entsha, into ekhethekile. Ingeluleko lakhe, kodwa, ukubuya kwinto uNkulunkulu asebenzile ngayo kuwe ngoJesu Kristu, ukuqonda iNgilazi nawe njengeyakho entsha Kuye. Ukuyenza icace. Ukuyenza ibe yinto oyiphathayo kuzo zonke izinto zakho zokomoya. Ukuyenza ibe yinto oyiphathayo kuzo zonke izinto zakho zokomoya, ukuze uyiphile ngokukhanya kwayo. Ungasabi yinto edla ngenono. Ungasabi yinto edla ngempilo yakudala. Umntwana wokuhawukeka. Wamkelwa emndenini. Uzalo kabusha ngomoya kaNkulunkulu. Ngathi nokulunga, hhayi ngokulunga kwami njengokungathi izinto zikaPaulusi zintshintsheleni zikukhathaze noma zikwenze uphuke. Cha, ngiyothola umbuso, wena, umkholwa ngoJesu, uyothola umbuso, hhayi ngenxa yokuthi awukwenzi kodwa ngenxa yokuthi ubalwa njengolunga kuKristu.

Naye uma uqonda lokho, ukumangalisa nokujabula kwako kuqala kuzoqala ukuvuselela futhi kunike amandla isandla sakho ukunika okomoya ekufuneni kwako, ukuthatha isinqufo, ukuze uqale ukulandela ukuthobela uNkosi uJesu ngenhliziyo ejabulayo. Uzoqala ukucindezela phakathi uma ubuhlobo buqala ukuqhekeka. Esikhundleni sokuhlehla, uzolandelela ukubuyisana uma yonke into ngaphakathi kwako ithi uyahlehla emuva endleleni yezwe, ukuma ngemuva kwemigadi yakako futhi uphonse amabhomu komunye nomunye futhi ulimaze futhi wabulale komunye nomunye. Cha, uma uqonda ukuthi ungubani ngempela kuKristo, ube yisic奴 komunye nomunye bese ulandelela ukubuyisana. Lokho ngeke kube yink敗, njenga? Njengoba umhlaba ubheke ukubona ukuthi abaKristu bazitwayela njani phakathi komcindezelo. Cha, lokho kungaba yimpumelelo. Njengoba bebona kithi, njengoba siphila ndawonye, babona kubuhlobo bakithi obunzima, obulukhuni, obusengathi, abantu abangahlehlisi futhi abahlehlisi, kodwa abalandelela komunye nomunye ngothando ngoba siyisibalo futhi siphakathi kuKristo. Lokho kungaba yimpumelelo ngempela. Yini ukubonakalisa kwamandla eNgiliso.

Lokho ndio yona uPawuli abiza kithi. Kakhulu y ukuba sikhumbule ikusasa lethu – lapho sikhona khona njengabaKristu. Ngolunye usuku sihlukumeze umhlaba, sihlukumeze izithunywa. Sibejaji besikhashana esiphezulu ngolunye usuku. Lapha, sise ekulolongeni. Kufanele siphile ngokwazi ukuthi lokho kuba yisiko lethu ngolunye usuku. Sikhumbule ubukhosi bethu – ukubona lokho okuzindeni apho namhlanje siphila khona kulelo ndawo, kude kakhulu ngaphansi kwesazelo nendawo yethu. Kude kakhulu ngaphansi kwempilo esibizwa kuyo. Kanye kufanele siduke. Kanye kufanele sikhumbule okwedlule – lokho uThixo akwenze kuKristo ekhoneni nasezinhliziyweni zethu nguKristo ngeNgiliso, usenza sisha. Kanye uma siqonda lokho, kufanele siqale ukuphila ekukhanyeni kwako, ukubona abantu ngempela esiyabo. Inkalweni iNkosi isinike umusa wokwenza lokho? Masithandaze ndawonye!

O yethu Baba, siyavuma izikhathi lapho sinikeze indawo yokulibala iVangeli, siye sabandlulula ubuwakazi bethu, siye saphila njengomathi besinguye esasingaba, hhayi singuye esiyikho manje kuKristo. Ngiyacela, usithethelele ngokuphila phansi kakhulu kunenzuzo yethu njengamadodana oNkulunkulu, yamukelwa ngomusa wakho, ahlanzwa futhi abekwa eceleni ngenkazimulo yakho futhi aqinisekiswa ezinkantolo zasezulwini. Usihawulele. Futhi njengoba siqonda kahle ukuthi unguye owenze ukuba sibe, ngabe uyasikhulisa futhi uyasivumela ukuba siphile njengomathi singuye? Ngoba siyacela egameni likaJesu, amen.