Ivangeli eNkambeni Yezimpi Zomthetho

INkosi Yezulu eNkambweni Yabantu Abangalawuli

1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Ngokuqoshwa kukaDavid Strain

Kafushane nje ukuthatha ikhophi yeZibhalo ezingcwele ezandleni zakho, uphenduke nami uze ku-1 Corinthians isahluko 6; 1 Corinthians isahluko 6, kwiphepha 954 uma usebenzisa enye yezincwadi zethu zeBandla. Njengoba kwenzeka kwimvuselelo yethu yokugcina besikwisahluko 5, saqala ukucabanga ngeminye yezindawo ezinzima okwakumele uPawuli aqale ukuzibandakanya ekupheleni kwencwadi ye-1 Corinthians. Isahluko 1 kuya ku-4 sibe seduze, kwathi njengoba besikusho kwisahluko 5, ukusukela lapho kuqhubeka konke kuba njengokuhamba ngomkhumbi emanzini agubhozayo; ukugibela okumanzima kakhulu. Kukhona izinto ezinzima. Kwimvuselelo yethu yokugcina kwisahluko 5, niyakukhumbula, wabandakanyeka enkingeni yokuziphatha okubi ngocansi nedisiplini yeBandla. Kule mvuselelo inkinga eyabahlupha imibandla yaseCorintho ihlobene nokuthi abantu abathembekile bamangalelana, ngezinini ezincane phakathi komphakathi webandla lendawo, ezinkantolo zabasebenzi. UPawuli ubhala ukubabambelele kubo nokubhekana nalolo nkinga oluyingozi.

Njengoba sizama ukucabanga ngokuqondakalayo ngemfundisho kaPawuli lapha, kunezindaba ezimbili zokuqala ezingasiza njengoba sisondela emxtweni ukuze siwuqonde futhi siwusebenze kahle. Eyokuqala ihlobene nokuthi uPawuli akusho ini ku-1 Korinte 6, imisebe yesi-1 kuye ku-8. Akasho ukuthi izindaba zomthetho wobugebengu kufanele zigcinwe zithule futhi ziphathwe ngaphakathi yiBandla. Akusho lento. Akaphakamisi ukuthi ukwebiwa noma ukuhlukunyezwa noma izindaba zalolu hlobo kufanele zigcinwe ngaphandle kwezikhotho noma ngaphandle komthetho. Ngempela, lapho edingeka, umpostoli uPawuli wayelungele ukusebenzisa amalungelo akhe asemthethweni njengobani waseRoma futhi wazikhangela yena ekhotho zenkululeko ukuze athole isinxephezelo nokulungiswa. Umgwebi wombulunga, uyakutshela eRoma isahluko 13, ungumkhonzi kaNkulunkulu, umkhonzi Wakhe, uNkulunkulu amthuma futhi amqoka ngenxa yenzuzo yethu. Ngakho uPawuli akasho lapha ukuthi asifanele sikhangelwe emthethweni welizwe lapho kunesidingo. Kunezimo ezithile lapho abakholekileyo bashiywa khona ngaphandle kokukhetha, behamba ukuze bazivikele bona noma abanye, ngokusebenzisa umthetho welizwe lapho kungekho okunye ukukhetha okusele.

Akusiyo into eyenzekayo eKorinte, noma kunjalo. Kubonakala ukuthi eKorinte, amalungu eBandla ayengalikhumbuli izibopho zakhe njengamaKristu ukuthethelela omunye nomunye nokuthandana nomunye nomunye nokuzilolonga ukubekezela nomunye nomunye. Futhi esikhundleni salo, ayesebenzisa izikhotho ukuze athole amaphuzu, ukwenza imali, nokuthola inzuzo yokuncintisana ebhizinisini nasekuhlakanipheni ngaphezu kwabrafu nabahlo eKristo. Futhi njengoba ungacabanga, lokho kwakwenza umonakalo omkhulu emafellowship eBandla laseKorinte. Futhi ngakho yinto yokuqala ukuyikhumbula njengoba sisebenza ku-1 Korinte 6:1-11. UPawuli akayedeleli ukusetshenziswa kahle komthetho wombulunga lapho kunesidingo, kodwa uyakiphononga ukusetshenziswa kwakhe kokuziphindiselela nokuhlukumeza okwakujwayelekile eKorinte.

Icala lesibili eliphambili elizosisiza njengoba sifuna ukuqonda umyalezo kaPawuli lapha linento yokuthi kuthiwani ngevesi 1 kuya ku 8 uma uzibeka kumxhaka walo mhlanga wale ngxenye yencwadi. Ngakho isahluko 5, khumbulani, uPawuli, wabandakanya icala elithile nelinzima lokungcola ngeshani. Futhi wakhuluma ngesiyalezo sesonto kubantu abangcola ngeshani nabo bengazikhathazanga. Kisha ngesigamu sesibili sesahluko 6, uyabuyela kwicala lokonakala ngeshani. Futhi kisha ngokwemvelo, uyadlulela. Ngakho isahluko 5 nasigamu sesibili sesahluko 6, ukhuluma ngezehlakalo zocansi ezingahlelekile nezonakele. Futhi ngakho kisha, ngokwemvelo isahluko 7, uyakhuluma ngemshado nocansi oluhlelekile nohloniphekile kuNkulunkulu. Futhi konke lokho kunesigaba esithile sokuzwisana; kunengqiqo kulokho.

Futhi ngakho sithola ukuthi sijika kwisahluko 6, 1 kuya ku 8, sikanyakanya imihlathi yethu kancane ngoba phakathi nansi phakathi kwabanye abantu abakhuluma ngeshani kukhona le bhizinisi mayelana nezimpikiswano. Yini emhlabeni isahluko 6, 1 kuya ku 8, sikwenzayo lapha? Ngicabanga ukuthi zikhona izinto ezimbili okufanele zikhunjulwe abantu abangasisiza kuphendula lo mbuzo. Okokuqala khumbulani, ukuthi isahluko 5 uPawuli wabiza abakwaKhorinte ukuba benze isiyalezo sesonto; babengavumi de facto, babengathandi ukwenza isiyalezo sesonto kwicala lokungcola kabuhlungu, okwembek’ isihlamba, esinye sezihlamba zikawesilongo phakathi kwabanye babo. Ngakho isahluko 5, bakala ukuthatha isenzo esidingekayo, esingokomkhandlu, nesokomoya ngokuchesana nesono sezoni. Kodwa isahluko 6 – kuthekani lokhu ngokuphambene – babonakala benenjabulo enkulu yokuthatha isenzo esingadingeki, esinobuthi, esingokomthetho nesokomwahlulelo kuphela ngenxa yokwenza imali ngokushesha.

Zonke izinto ezimbili zedonke ukuhlanganiseka kahle. Ziyakwenza? Kukhona ukuphambana, ukuphikisana, futhi kufanele sizwe ubuhlungu balokho. Bakhathazekile ngenxa yokucabangela isiyalezo sebandla, kodwa abanawo nhlobo uvalo lokumangalela umuntu ozalwa ebandleni labo ngenxa yayo yonke imali abanayo, uma nje benaithuba. Lezi zinto akufanele zibe njalo, uPawuli uyakusho.

Kungenzeka ukuthi isizathu sesibili sokuba lesi sikhala sikhona kungenxa yokulandelana kwezindaba ezethulwa kuPawuli ngabaseKhorinthu ekuqaleni. Yena uyaphendula kuzo ngokulandelana kwazo. Yena uyaphendula kuzo ngonke, njengokungathi ngumthando, ukuze abonise ukuthi, ngaphezu kwenkinga efingqiwe phambi kwethu, impendulo kanye nokwelapha kuzo zonke kuyafana. Ufaka iVangeli likaJesu Kristu eliphambanisiwe enhliziyweni nasempilweni yabaseKhorinthu. Yena uyakusho, “Uma ngempela niqonda lokhu, uma ngempela lokhu kuqala ukungena futhi kuphindeke futhi kuphindeke ekucabangeni kwenu kusukela phansi, khona-ke konke okunye kuyashintsha.” Inkinga yangempela eKhorinthu ihlobene nokushindwa kwabo ukuqonda nokufaka iVangeli.

KwaNkosi, isahluko 6, 1 kuya ku-11, yisifundo esinye nje phakathi kwezimbili eziningi kule ncwadi, esibonisa ukuthi izindaba ezinhle ngoJesu zisebenza kanjani emihlambini yezwe elonakele, njengale yethu. Ngakho masifikeleleni ndawonye, njengoba sifunda isikhala ngomzuzu, ukugcina imiqondo nezigaba zokuqala ezingqondweni zethu. Zizosisiza, ngicabanga, uqonde umongo wengxabano kaPawuli. Ngaphambi kokuba sifunde iZwi ndawonye, masikhukhule izinhloko zethu sipraye!

Yise, iZwi lakho liseduze kwethu. Siprayela umusa wokulizwa nokulithola umyalezo, nalo, ukudonsekela emuva, ukukhama amadolo ethu phambi kukaNkosi Jesu oyiNkosi yezinkosi neNkosi yezinduna. Ngoba siyacela egameni LHis, amen.

1 Korinte chapter 6 at verse 1. Lena ndio Nkwazi kaThixo Onkezi:

Nini umunye wenu enenkinga enomunye, ingabe unesib胆 sokuya enkantolo phambi kwababi kunokuba phambi kwaba ngcwele? Oda nawuzi ukuba aba ngcwele bayokwahlula umhlaba? Yabe ke umhlaba ufanele uhlulelwe nguwe, ingabe nina impumputhe ekuletheleni amacala angabalulekile? Oda nawuzi ukuba thina bayokwahlula izingelosi? Unjani na ukwedlula, ngoko, izindaba ezikulo msindo? Kungenxa yini ukuba nina bacala amacala phambi kwabantu abangaboni ebandleni? Ngiyabona lokhu ukuze nidlazeke. Ingabe akukho munye oyazi ukululamisa ingwazo phakathi kwabazalwane, kodwa umzalwane uya enkantolo umelene nomzalwane, phambi kwabantu abangakholwa? Ukuba nelwaka phakathi kwenu yinto yokudlala. Ngenjani na ungahlupheki? Ngenjani na ungakhotheki? Kodwa nina ngokwenu niyahlephisa ukhotheka – nobani bazalwane!

Oda nawuzi ukuba ababi abayokuthola umbuso kaThixo? Musa kukhohliswa: labo abaziphatha ngobulili njengesono, namaqala, nabahlukanisi, nabaziphatha ngobulili njengamadoda, nabatshontshi, nabahamukisayo, nabakhakhi, nabaqambi, naba phosakele, abayokuthola umbuso kaThixo. Futhi abanye babu nguwe. Kodwa nina bahlanjwa, nina ba ngcwele, nina ba qinisekiswa egameni leNkosi uJesu Kristo nangeMoya kaThixo wethu.

Amen, yabe ke siyamdumisa uThixo ngokuthi ukhulumile eNkwazini Yakhe Engcwele.

Kungabe kudingeka ukuhlonla inkinga ekwenziweni kwentshontsho eKorinte, ukuxilonga okuhle kakhulu engikutholile yinto umuntu oyedwa wabona ukuthi “ukhohlwa iNkosi.” Ukhohlwa iNkosi – yilokho abahlukumezwa kukho eKorinte. Ngifunde indaba – empeleni ngiyibonile le ndaba kuwebhusayithi yezindaba ngosuku oluthile mayelana nomuntu ogama lakhe uBenjamin Kyle othathe watholakala eshukiwe wabe esashiywa yedwa futhi manje uhlushwa ukhohlwa okubi. Uchitha konke ukusithatha kwakhe kulezi zinsuku ufuna iwebhusayithi zabantu abashunqayo ukuze azifune; uzama ukugcwalisa isikhala esingekho emva kwakhe. Ulahlekelwe ubuwena; akazi ukuthi ungubani.

AbakKorinte lapha benza – futhi ngokuphindaphindiwe kwizindaba ezahlukahlukene abaziphathayo uPawuli, sibona lokhu. Benza njengokungathi okuthile okunjalo kwenzeke kubo. Bane uhlobo lokhohlwa iNkosi. Izindaba ezinhle ngeJesu, ubuwena obusha kuye, sekuyikhohlwa futhi kunganakwa futhi kwakhohlwa esimweni ngasinye. Uma ubheka umbhali wethu, uyobona uPawuli enza lokho ngombuzo wakhe othi, “Awazi na?” Kanjalo ume verse 2, “Awazi na ukuthi abalungileyo bayokwahlula umhlaba?” Verse 3, “Awazi na ukuthi siyokwahlula izingeloi?” Verse 9, “Awazi na ukuthi ababi abayokuthola ilifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu?” Kunazo abazikhileyo. UPawuli wabafundisa; uKefasi wafundisa abanye babo. uApolo wabena nabo wabafundisa; abanye bavulele iziBhalo kubo. UPawuli waye wabhalela kubo ngaphambili. Babefundiswe kahle ezintweni zikaNkulunkulu futhi babazikhileyo. Kodwa babonakala sengathi bayikhohlwe. Yibo lokhohlwa iNkosi. Imiphumela edabukisayo iyalandela.

In particular, they are beginning to sue one another with behavior more reminiscent of their old life than the new life that ought to characterize them as Christians. And so Paul asks in verse 1, “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?” That’s who they are now. They are saints. That is, they are holy ones – set apart by the grace and work of God in their lives unto the Lord Jesus Christ; designated His. And they ought no longer to live as once they did according to the values of the world, but now according to the values of King Jesus to whom they belong. They were struggling with a problem so many of us still struggle with. They’re struggling, now that they’ve become Christians, to throw off the old habits and patterns and values of their previous life. Listen, just for a moment, to the way one scholar describes how law courts worked in the Corinthians’ world. He says, “In deciding to sue, one first had to calculate the cost and chances of winning, not on the basis of the merits of the case, but on the defendant’s social status and powerful connections. People in the ancient world,” he says, “contended for honor in the law courts. And one gained honor by beating down a rival. The pursuit of litigation often had little to do with the pursuit of justice.”

Izulazwe, baqala ukuthatha icala komunye nomunye ngendlela ekhumbuza kakhulu ubuphila babo bakudala kunobuphila obo bafanele ukuphila njengamaKristu. Kwaye yingakho uPawuli ebuza emvuleni we-1, “Lapho eninye yenu enenkinga ngokumelene nomunye, ingabe uyathanda ukuya enkantolo phambi kwababi esikhundleni sabangcwele?” Yibo abanjalo manje. Bangcwele. Okusho ukuthi, bangabantu abangcwele – babekelwe eceleni ngomusa nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ezimpilweni zabo kuNkosi uJesu Kristu; baqokwa Njengakuye. Futhi abafanele ukuphila njengoba bephila ngaphambili ngokuvumelana nemilinganiso yezwe, kodwa manje ngokuvumelana nemilinganiso yoKumkani uJesu ozibanga zakhe. Bebekhathazwa yinkinga eziningi zethu namanje. Bakulwela, njengoba sebenguKristu, ukulahla imikhuba nemifumo nemilinganiso yobuphila babo bangaphambili. Lalela, nje ngomzuzu, ngendlela isazi esichaza ngayo ukuthi izinkantolo zisebenza kanjani emhlabeni waseKhorinthia. Uthi, “Ekuthatheni isigqibo sokumangalela, kwakufanele umuntu aqale abale izindleko namathuba okunqoba, hhayi ngokusekelwe ebufakweni besicelo, kodwa ngokusekelwe kwisimo senhlalo sommangaliwa kanye nezixhumanisi ezinamandla. Abantu emhlabeni wakudala,” uthi, “balwela ukuhlonishwa ezinkantolo. Futhi umuntu uthola ukuhlonishwa ngokwehlisa umphikisi. Ukulandela amacala kwehukumu kwakuvame ukuba kuncane ukulandela ukulunga.”

Nansi yabe yingxaki eKorinte! Bebengazi ngezinto zeqiniso; babegxile ekukhuphukeni kwabo emphakathini, bekwehlisa abanye ababebethaca endleleni yabo. Futhi noma babengabakholeki noma bekholo, lokhu kwakungabalulekanga kubo. “Izikhalazo zabo ezincane,” njengabakubiza uPawuli evesi 2, zazinukela uk pride nobuzenzele nothando olungenalo, njengoba basebenza ngendlela efanayo nabo basebenza ngayo ngaphambi kokuba babe abakristu. Babengaphansi kwekhumbulo yevangel; babengalikhumbulanga ukuthi njengoba sebekhona “ekristu,” njengoba uJesu ebakhululile, sebengabantu abasha abafanele ukuphila impilo entsha emvelo wobudlelwane bomphakathi omusha kaNkulunkulu – ibandla likaJesu Kristu.

UPawuli ubhekana nekhumbulo yabo yokulahleka apha ngezindlela ezintathu, izindlela ezintathu zokuthi isaznako sethu sangempela sevangel sifanele sibentuko luthi singobani. Okokuqala, uma nibheka umBhalo, okokuqala evesi 1 kuya ku-3, ukhuluma ngezinto zethu zikusasa, lapho thina sikhona njengabakristu; isiphetho sethu. Okwesibili, evesi 4 kuya ku-8, ukhuluma ngezinto zethu zamanje, asibhekane nalindlela thina siphila ngayo njengabakristu. Okwesithathu, evesi 9 kuya ku-11, ukhuluma ngezinto zethu zakuqala; labo esibengu ngomusa kaNkulunkulu ngokuWenza abakristu. Uma singakwazi ukuqonda lokhu, uPawuli uthi, siyakuthola kwakhanya isaznako sethu sangempela njengamadoda nabantu besifazane ekristu, lokho kuyakushintsha yonke into.

Isiphetho Sethu

Ngakho-ke masibuke ndawonye imisho yesi-1 kuye i-3, ngicela. UPawuli usaqondisa ekusasa, ekusasa lethu, lapho siya khona njengabantu abakholelwa kuKristu. Njengaye, manje uzophikisa ukuthi umphakathi wabantu abakholelwa kuKristu kufanele ukwazi ukulamula ezimpikiswini zangaphakathi futhi ulethe usawoti phakathi kwabazalwane nabahesteri abakholelwa kuKristu ngaphandle kwesidingo sokuya ezinkantolo zivilakazi ezindabeni eziningi. Isonto, ngaphandle kwabanye, liyinhlangano eyabelwe iNkosi, aboni abasindisiweyo abamathela kuKristu. Ngakho-ke uzabuza emshweni wesi-5, “Kungenzeka yini ukuthi akukho namnye phakathi kwenu okwazi ukulamula impikiswini phakathi kwabazalwane?” Isonto kufanele likwazi ukwenza kanjalo. Kodwa lapha emisweni yesi-1 kuye i-3 uthi kithi kungani kufanele silungise izindaba zangaphakathi lapho abantu abakholelwa kuKristu behlukana futhi bengavumelani.

Ikusasa Lethu Elikhazimulayo

Ngakho-ke usaqondisa ekusasa lethu elikhazimulayo. Buka emshweni wesi-2. “Awazi yini ukuthi abaNgcwele bayakwahlulela umhlaba? Futhi uma umhlaba uhlulelwa nguwe, ingabe anikwazi ukwahlulela amacala amancane? Awazi yini ukuthi siyahlulela izithunywa zikaNkulunkulu? Kakhulu kangakanani-ke, izindaba ezizaphakama ekuphileni kwethu?” Ekungemfihlo lapha, cishe zikhona iziqephu ezifana noMathewu 19:28, amazwi kaJesu, lapho akutshela khona abafundi bakhe ukuthi bazohlala naye ezitulweni, behlulela u-Israyeli ekudalweni okusha. Kanye nezibhalo zeTestamente Elidala, njengakwincwadi kaDaniyeli isahluko 7, lapho, kuDaniyeli 7, umprofethi “ebona owodwa oyedwa njengoNdodana kaNkulunkulu onikwa isikhundla nomgadhuli nombuso.” Futhi kuDaniyeli 7:27 sifunda, “Umbuso nomgadhuli nobukhulu bemibuso ngaphansi kwasonke isibhakabhaka kunikwa abantu abaNgcwele baKulunkulu oPhezulu.” Siyakwazi ukubusa nokwahlulela kanye noJesu Kristu. Yileyo ikusasa lethu elikhazimulayo neliphakanyisiwe.

Nokho abakwaKhorinthi, uPawuli uthi, ngokuphambene, baphatheke ngokubalulekile ngamacala amancane, nakuba bekufanele baweke amacala phakathi kwabangeloyelwa ngosuku oluthile. Ngokuqinisekile, ngisho nakuze kube manje, ngaphambi kokuphila kusekude, uthi, “ezindabeni ezibhekisele ekuphileni kwamanje,” ibandla elinomfanelo onjalo kufanele likwazi ukuxazulula izinto phakathi kwabakholekileyo. “Khumbulani lapho nikhamba khona,” uthi kithi. Khumbulani isikhundla esiphakeme kanye nendima ephakanyiswe enye yenu ekhaya enkundleni yasezulwini. Niyakuba ngahluleli! Kufanele niweke njani lapha ngokukhanya kwalowo mfanelo wekusasa? Niyakwahlulela abangeloyelwa, ingabe niphambana phakathi kwenu lapha? Niyakuhlala noKristu ekhaya ekhaya lokugcina, ingabe nisebenzisa amaqhinga omhlaba ukuze nikhuthaze isikhundla senu lapha, ngisho nangezindleko nangokulimaza labo abayosebenza kanye nina njengabazalwane nabafowethu ngalolo suku lokugcina? Khumbulani umfanelo wenu wokuzayo uphile ngokukhanya kwawo. Ikusasa lethu, lapho sikhamba khona, njengabakwaKristu.

I-Present Yethu

Ubesibili, uPawuli uthi kithi, kufanele sibhekane nomphakathi wethu – indlela yokuphila kwethu, kaningi naphezu kweqiniso lokuthi siyabakwaKristu. Bhekani emavesini 4 kuya ku-8. Isitshixo sokuphikisa kukaPawuli lapha ukubona ukuphindaphinda kwezwi, “umzalwane.” Bhekani umpassage; emavesini 4 kuya ku-8:

Kungaba njalo, uma nina namacala anjalo, kungani niwabekela abantu abangenawo umfanelo ebandleni? Ngithi lokhu ukuze niwine. Ingabe akunabantu abahlakaniphile phakathi kwenu abangaxazulula ingxabano phakathi kwabazalwane, kodwa umzalwane uthweswa icala ngokumelene nomzalwane, yize ibe phambi kwabangaKristu? Ukuba namalawsuit phakathi kwenu yinto yokunshabalala kwenu. Kungani kungezehlupheke? Kungani kungezehlupheke? Kodwa nina ngokwenu niyahlupha futhi niyakhohlisa – ngisho nabazalwane bakenu!

Ukukhohlwa kwabo iVangeli kusho ukuthi ubuwazi babo kuKristu bayeke ukusebenza nokusebenza ngendlela ephilayo ekucabangeni kwabo nasekuphileni kwabo. Iqiniso lokuthi babengabazalwane nabahlo ngokholo kuJesu, ukuthi babengumndeni, bekufanele benze umehluko wonke. Kodwa esikhundleni salokho, babefuna ukuphikisana phambi kwabantu abangenamkhuba ebandleni, isigaba 4. Ngakho uPawuli wathi, isigaba 5, bekufanele babe namahloni ngabo. Ngokuqinisekile ibandla linamakhono asisisekelo nezipho ezidingekayo phakathi kwabaholi balo ukusiza ukuxazulula izimpi eziyisisekelo nezincane? Kukhona umuntu ohlakaniphile ngokwanele, ngokuqinisekile! Abakhorinte, niyakukhumbula, babengak pride ngobohlakaniphile babo. “Hhayi,” uPawuli wathi, “uma ni hlakaniphile, khona kungenabani oqeqeshelwe ukusiza ukulamula phakathi kwabantu abakholelwa abahlukumezekile?”

Ukunqoba kweVangeli

Kodwa, babeya phambi kwabangathembi, kwabongaklwezi, ukuze bathole isinqumo. Futhi uthi evesi 7 ukuthi “lokho njalo ukuhlulwa kwenu. Kunalokho, thubani okungalunganga noma ukhohlwe kunokwenza lokho.” Njengani lokho ukuhlulwa kwabKristu ukwenza njalo? Ukohlulwa yingoba iVangeli lithi ukuba ngowamJesu kumalana nokuba ngumshana noma udade wabantu okungenzeka bengenanto yakuvumelana nayo. Awubazi! Awabazi! Nabona akwabazi! Isizinda sabo, ubuNhlanga babo, isizukulwane sabo – konke lokho kungaba yinto engavamile kuwe, ngaphandle kwendawo yakho yokuzidla. Kodwa njengani, konke lokho ningakunaka, manje usube nanye nabo eKristu. Njengani, niyindlu! Nabona ngabashana nabadade. Nisibambene ngamabondla angcwele wothando lweVangeli. Futhi njengani, kumelwe nikuthethele; kumelwe nivule elinye isihlathi. Kumelwe wenzani ukubekezela; kumelwe nishiye isipho senu se altarini, hamba niwe nibe nokuthula nomshana wenu. Futhi nini nenza lokho, umhlaba ubuka, njengoba ubudlelwane buya phansi komfutho, futhi kunesizathu esikhulu sokuthi buphulwe, buphazanywe, bube bubi, kodwa esikhundleni salokho ibandla lenza uthando, lifune ukuthula, uPawuli uthi lokho ukunqoba. Lokho ukunqoba kweVangeli. Umhlaba ubona ukuthi niyabafundi bakaKristu ngokuthandana kwenu!

Ivangeli Lokuhlulwa

Kodwa into eyayenzekayo eKorinte yayingeyiyo le, kwaba? Esikhundleni sokunqoba kwePhakhe, njengoba ubudlelwane buya ngaphansi kwengcindezi, njengoba nobudlelwane bonke kufanele, babuyela endaweni yokugcina yezimpilo zabo zasendulo kodwa esikhundleni sokunqoba kwePhakhe njengoba umhlaba obukayo ubona ukuthi umusa wenza ntoni – uguqulela iqembu lonke labantu ekufananeni noKristu abayokhonza ngisho nokulimala kwabo omunye nomunye – esikhundleni salokho, babona abantu bephonsa amacala enkantolo futhi badonsa omunye nomunye phambi kwabahluleli bomphakathi, behlaza omunye nomunye futhi beletha iPhakhe ekhathazweni. Yinto yokuhlazeka! Njengoba umhlaba wonke uguwa ekwahlukana nasekuthandabuzayo nasekuthukutheleni okuncane nokuthukutheleni okukhulu, njengoba umhlaba wenza kanje futhi abantu bakaNkulunkulu besifuna ukuthula nokubuyisana, befuna ukuphila ekuthuleni nomunye nomunye ngokuqonda ukuthi kuncike kubo, bethethelela omunye nomunye njengoba uNkulunkulu ekristu abathethelele, njengoba umhlaba ubona lokho, lokho kunqoba kwePhakhe.

Ngeke nginibuze ukuthi umhlaba ubona lokho kithi. Ukunqoba kwePhakhe? Noma ubona futhi futhi ukuhlazeka njengoba sibuyela ekugcineni kokuzivikela, ukuziqhenya ukuthandabuzayo ukubamba amabhethri nokuthukuthela nokucasukela? “Sifanele sihlazeke thina,” kusho uPawuli, “njengabazalwane nabahesteri kodwa sisengathi umhlaba.” UKristu udlekelele thina. Umoya Wakhe uhlala ngaphakathi kithi. IZwi Lakhe liqondisa izinyathelo zethu kodwa sisengaphenya izikhalazo zethu ezincane nezixabana zethu ezizithandazayo phambi kwabahluleli bomphakathi. Yinto yokuhlazeka. Yinto yokuhlazeka. Ngakho uPawuli usibiza ukuba sikhumbule ikusasa lethu, ikusasa lethu – abantu esiyoba abani ngeday elinye kanye nendima esiyokhonza yona njengabahluleli phezu kwezulu nomhlaba kunye noKristu uMahluleli Omkhulu – nokuphila ekukhanyeni kwaleyo ndima ezayo. Futhi usibiza ukuba sibhekane nalowo esiyiyo njengamanje, ukubona ukuthi lezi zinto akufanele zibe.

Umdlalo Wethu Ovuthiweyo

Kwayekho ekugcineni, uma nibheka nami emavesi 9 kuya ku-11, uyabasikhumbuza ngekepha yethu – ukuthi sibaba bani ngenxa yenceba kaNkulunkulu, lapho asenza abantu baseKristo. Sizobuya emavesi 9 kuya ku-11, uma uNkulunkulu ethanda, ngesikhathi esizayo ukuze sibheke kancane kula mavesi, yini, manje, ingabe ungabona nje ukuthi uPawuli wabasikhumbuza iqiniso, iqiniso eliyisisekelo abebelibalile. “Ingabe anazi ukuthi ababi abayikuthola umbuso kaNkulunkulu?” umvesi 9. Yilowo uPawuli awabiza ngababi abahluleli, abahluleli bezwe ababengaphambi kwabo abakwaKhorinthu bebahlukana ngamantshi emavesi 1, ababi. Futhi lapha uthi, “Hhayi manje makhandi nibonise ikusasa lababi.” Ubachaza emavesi 9 no-10 ngezono zabo. “Ninga kukhohliswa: labo abaziphatha ngobulili, labo abakhonza izithombe, labo abaphinga, labo abantu abaziphatha ngobulili njengamadoda, labo abeba, labo abahamukelayo, labo abanophuzo oludala, labo abasolayo, labo abakhohlisa abayikuthola umbuso kaNkulunkulu.” Aboni abavunyelwa embusweni kaNkulunkulu; yilowo ayesho. Isithombe esidabukisayo.

Yiba Yilo Okuyikho!

Khona-ke, uyaphusha ibhomu; “Futhi abanye benu bebengowakho! Kodwa beniwe, benhlanganyelwa, benethelelwa egameni leNkosi uJesu Kristo nangenxa yoMoya weNkosi yethu uThixo.” “Abakhorinte, inqubo yangempela yenqubo yenu eyezehlile ngokuphelele, uma nje ungayiqondisa kahle ekucabheni kwenu, ingaqala ukuwashintsha. Futhi indlela ohlala ngayo manje ingaba yimpumelelo, kodwa ingaba yimpumelelo yangempela, ekugcineni. Inqubo yangempela! Ulibale ukuthi awuseyena owakho ngoku. Njengoba uJesu Kristo engena ekuphileni kwenu ngenxa yeZwi elihle, konke sekushintshile. Awusaddefinwa ngempilo yakudala yesono.” Futhi uPawuli udwelise uhlu lwezono ezichaza abantu. Kodwa uthi, “Njengoba niwe yazi uJesu, zisono azisaddefinanga. Lokho akuseyena owakho, Abakhorinte. Niwe yahlanzwa wahlanganyelwa wabhalwa njengongcwele phambi koThixo etribhunaleni yasezulwini wembathiswa ngokulunga kukaJesu Kristo. Lokho yiwakho ngoku uma ungumkholwa. Lokho yiwakho! Isikhathi sokuqala ukuphila njengowakho. Isikhathi sokuqala ukubakho yiwakho! Akumangalisi ukuthi ulwela ekulweni nesono ekhethini lakho uma uqhubeka uzibona ngubani owaye wakho ngaphambili hhayi ngubani owakho ngoku kuJesu. Khumbula owakho omusha, owakho wokweli. Ufike kuKristo yingakho owakudala udlulile owakho omusha usafikile. Uyindalo entsha. Bakho yiwakho!”

Owakho Omusha kuKristo

Nakhu okudingayo ngempela, okudingayo ngempela nokungabazeki, ekungquzulweni kwakho kwansuku zonke, ekulweni kwakho kwansuku zonke ukuze uphile ngobukhazikhazi bukaKristu uphile ukuhlanzeka okusebenzayo. Abantu abaningi kithi bahleke wusizo lwamandla angaphezu kwawemvelo, amandla engeziwe ukusheshisa injini yomphefumulo wakho ukukusiza ulalele. Okuthile okwengeziwe! Okuthile okusha! Lokho akusiyo ingeluleko kaPaulusi nhlobo. Ingeluleko yakhe akuyona yokufuna okuthile okusha, okuthile okwengeziwe. Ingeluleko yakhe, kodwa, ukubuya kulokho uNkulunkulu asevele kukwenze kuJesu Kristu, ukuqonda iVangeli nawe njengeyakho entsha Kuye. Ukuthola lokho kucace. Ukuqala ukukucindezela phansi kuwo wonke umkhala nomkhanda womphefumulo wakho. Ukuyivumela ihambisane kuze kube sekupheleni bese uqala ukuphila ekukhanyeni kwayo. Ungasabi ngumkhululo wesono. Ungasabi phansi kwempilo yakudala. Umntwana wokuhalalisela. Wamkelwa emndenini. Uzalo kabusha ngomphefumulo kaNkulunkulu. Hlanzekile njengalunga, hhayi ngokulunga kwami njengokungathi izinto zokuthi uPaulusi azibhalanga azingeki zikulinge noma zikwenze ukhubeke. Cha, ngola uzuza umbuso, wena, umkholwa kuJesu, uya kuzuza umbuso, hhayi ngoba ungakwenzi ukwehluleka kodwa ngoba ubalwa njengalunga kuKristu.

Naye uma uqonda lokho, ukumangalisa nokujabula kwakho kokuqala ukuthuthumisa futhi kunike amandla isandla sakho ukunika okunethile ekuthandeni kwakho, ukuthatha isinqumo, ukuze uqale ukulandela ukulalela uNkosi uJesu ngenhliziyo ejabulayo. Uzoqala ukucindezela phakathi uma ubudlelwane buqala ukuphuka. Esikhundleni sokuhlehla, uzolandelela ukubuyisana uma konke ngaphakathi kwakho kuthi ukubuyela emva endleleni yomhlaba, ukuma ngemuva kwemigadi yakho nokuphonsa amabhomu komunye nomunye nokulimaza nokubhubhisa komunye nomunye. Cha, uma uqonda ukuthi ungubani ngempela kuKristo, ube yisic奴/servant komunye nomunye bese ulandelela ukubuyisana. Lokho ngeke kube yink敗, njenga? Njengoba umhlaba ubheke ukubona ukuthi abaKristu baziphatha kanjani ngaphansi kwengcindezi. Cha, lokho kuzoba yimpumelelo. Njengoba bebona kithi, njengoba siphila ndawonye, babona kubaTheni ubudlelwane obunzima, obulukhuni, obunganqobeki abantu abangahlehlisi futhi abahlehlisi, kodwa abalandelela komunye nomunye ngothando ngoba siyisibalo futhi siphila kuKristo. Lokho kuzoba yimpumelelo ngempela. Yini ukubonakalisa amandla eNgiliso.

Lokho ndio uPawuli abiza kithi. Kakhulu, khumbula ikusasa lakho - lapho siya khona njengabaKristu. Ngolunye usuku siyakwahlulela umhlaba, siwahlulele naboThangelo. Siyakuba ngabahluleli abakhulu kunolunye usuku. Lapha, siqeqeshwa. Kufanele siphile njengoba sazi ukuthi siyakuba yikusasa lethu. Kufanele sibhekane nesikhathi samanje, ukubona iindawo lapho namuhla siphila khona ngezansi, kude ngaphansi kwesaznako esisha nesikhundla. Kude ngaphansi kwempilo esibizwa kuyo. Kufanele siduke. Kufanele sikhumbule ikusasa lakithi - lokho uThixo akwenze kuKristo ethempelweni nasezinhliziyweni zethu nguKristo ngeNgiliso, usenza sisha. Naye uma siqonda, kufanele siqale ukuphila ekukhanyeni kwakho, ukube yiyo esiyiyo ngempela. Inkalweni uNkosi asinike umusa wokwenza njengoko kanye? Masithandaze ndawonye!

O yethu Babe, siyavuma izikhathi lapho sinikeze khona indawo yokulibala iVangeli, siye sabandlulula ubuwakazi bethu, siye saphila njengathi besingabantu esasiyikho ngaphambili, hhayi esiyikho manje kuKristo. Ngiyacela, usithethelele ngokuphila phansi kakhulu kunenzuzo yethu njengamadodana oNkulunkulu, atholiwe ngomusa wakho, ahlanzwa futhi abekwe eceleni ngenkazimulo yakho futhi aqinisekiswa ezinkantolo zasezulwini. Sicela unesisihawu kithi. Futhi njengoba siqonda umwondero wokuthi ungenezele ukuba yini, ngabe uyahlupha kuthi futhi usenza sikwazi ukuphila njengathi ngokuqinisile? Ngoba siyacela egameni likaJesu, amen.