Ukuqonda Ukuthi Kusho Ukuthini Ukubhapathizwa

1. Yini ebonisa ukuthi ubhapathizo luyimfundiso yeBhayibheli ebaluleke kakhulu?

SIJABULA kakhulu lapho abafundi abasha bebhapathizwa! Bewazi yini ukuthi le njabulo esiyizwayo lapho sibona abantu bebhapathizwa namaKristu ayesemhlanganweni wokuqala ngqa webandla lobuKristu ayizwa leyo njabulo? Kulowo mhlangano kunabantu ababhapathizwa futhi kwabekwa nenkulumo eyayichaza imfundiso yobhapathizo ebaluleke kakhulu. (IzE. 2:​38, 40, 41) Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala ukuthi ‘imfundiso yokuqala ephathelene noKristu,’ ihlanganisa “imfundiso ngobhapathizo.” (Heb. 6:​1, 2) Nakuba indaba yobhapathizo ingabonakala iyindaba evamile, kudingeka siyiqonde kahle. Kungani?

2. Kungani kudingeka siluqonde kahle ubhapathizo?

² Njengoba nje indlu idinga isisekelo esiqinile ukuze ime iqine, ukuluqonda kahle ubhapathizo kungasisiza sibe nokholo oluqinile. Kubalulekile ukuba siluqonde kahle kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sithuthukela ukufanelekela ukubhapathizwa noma sesineminyaka eminingi sibhapathiziwe. Ngakho kulesi sihloko, sizophendula le mibuzo: Kusho ukuthini ukubhapathizwa? Luhlanganisani ubhapathizo lobuKristu? Kungani sibhapathizwa egameni likaYise, eleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele?

KUSHO UKUTHINI UKUBHAPATHIZWA KWAKHO?

3. Lubonisani ubhapathizo?

³ Ukubhapathizwa kubonisa obala ukuthi ulamukele iqiniso ngoJehova uNkulunkulu nangoJesu Kristu, uphendukile ezonweni zakho, uyishintshile indlela ophila ngayo ukuze ukhonze uJehova, uyaqaphela ukuthi uJesu uyindlela kaNkulunkulu yokusisindisa futhi uthandazile kuNkulunkulu wamtshela ngesifiso sakho esiqotho sokwenza intando yakhe kanye nenhlangano yakhe. Lapho wenza leso sithembiso, noma uzinikezela futhi ubhapathizwa, uqala ukuhamba endleleni eya ekuphileni okuphakade.

4. Kufanekiselani ukucwiliswa emanzini ngokuphelele? (Bheka nesithombe.)

⁴ Lapho ubhapathizwa, ucwiliswa emanzini ngokuphelele bese uyakhishwa kuwo,a njengokungathi bewungcwatshiwe wabe sewuvuswa. (Qhathanisa neyabaseKolose 2:12.) Ubhapathizo lufanekisela izinguquko ezinkulu ozenzile ekuphileni kwakho. Kanjani? Lapho ucwiliswa emanzini, ubonisa ukuthi usuyishiyile indlela obuphila ngayo esikhathini esidlule. Lapho uphuma emanzini, uqala ukuphila okusha okugxile ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu.

5. Umsebenzi owenzayo ukuze ulungele ukubhapathizwa ufana kanjani nomsebenzi owenziwa uNowa ukuze akhe umkhumbi? (1 Petru 3:​18-21)

⁵ Funda eyoku-1 Petru 3:​18-21. Ngomqondo othile, singafanisa umsebenzi owenzayo ukuze ulungele ukubhapathizwa nomsebenzi owenziwa uNowa ukuze akhe umkhumbi. Uma usanda kuqala ukufunda ngoJehova, kungase kukuqede amandla ukucabanga ngomsebenzi okusamele uwenze, mhlawumbe uze ubonakale umkhulu njengomsebenzi wokwakha umkhumbi kaNowa. Sikhona yini ngempela isidingo sokwenza wonke lowo msebenzi? Ngokuqinisekile kwakudingekile ukuba uNowa awenze lowo msebenzi. UNkulunkulu ngokwakhe wanika uNowa iziqondiso zokuthi awakhe kanjani umkhumbi futhi uNowa kwakudingeka azilandele ngokucophelela lezo ziqondiso ukuze asinde lapho sekunoZamcolo. Ngokholo nangosizo lukaNkulunkulu, uNowa walalela wakha umkhumbi. NjengoNowa, nawe ungakwazi ukwenza ngokuvumelana nakho “konke uNkulunkulu [akuyalile].”—Gen. 6:22.

6. Ubhapathizo lungakusindisa ngamuphi umqondo?

⁶ Evesini 21, umphostoli uPetru wathi ubhapathizo ‘luyakusindisa.’ Yiqiniso ukuthi ukucwiliswa emanzini nje kukodwa akulethi insindiso; akusho nokuthi ngandlela-thile izono zakho sezithethelelwe. Yigazi likaJesu kuphela elenza uJehova akwazi ukuthethelela izono zakho. (1 Joh. 1:7) Noma kunjalo, ubhapathizo lubaluleke kakhulu uma kuziwa endabeni yokwenza konke lokho uNkulunkulu akuyalile futhi ‘luyisicelo sakho esenziwa kuNkulunkulu sokuba nonembeza omuhle.’ UJehova uyokujabulela ukukunika lokho okucelile. Ngaleyo ndlela, ubhapathizo ‘luyakusindisa,’ noma lukuholela ensindisweni.

LUHLANGANISANI UBHAPATHIZO LOBUKRISTU?

7. Kufanele lwenziwe kanjani ubhapathizo?

⁷ Ngaphandle kwemfuneko yokucwiliswa emanzini ngokuphelele, iBhayibheli alisitsheli imininingwane eminingi ngobhapathizo. Noma kunjalo, imiBhalo isisiza sazi ukuthi yini efanelekayo lapho kubhapathizwa abathile. Ngokwesibonelo, izimiso zeBhayibheli zisiza labo ababhapathizwayo bazi ukuthi kufanele bagqoke kanjani, zisize nalabo ababukele bazi ukuthi kufanele baziphathe kanjani. (1 Kor. 14:40; 1 Thim. 2:9) Namuhla, ngokuvamile umuntu obhapathiza abantu umdala webandla futhi siyakugwema ukudumisa labo abanaleli lungelo lokubhapathiza. (1 Kor. 1:​14, 15) Ubhapathizo lubalulekile, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lubukwa abantu abaningi noma abambalwa.—IzE. 8:36.

8. Yimiphi imibuzo ebuzwa labo abazobhapathizwa, futhi kungani? (IzEnzo 2:​38-42) (Bheka nesithombe.)

⁸ IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi kufanele ‘sivume obala kube insindiso,’ okuwukuthi, silubonise ngezenzo ukholo lwethu. (Roma 10:​9, 10) Kuyafaneleka ngempela ukuthi yilokho kanye esikwenzayo lapho sibhapathizwa, okuyinto okubaluleke kakhulu ukuba siyenze uma sifuna ukusindiswa! Ngenxa yalokho, labo abazobhapathizwa babuzwa imibuzo emibili. Owokuqala uthi, “Ingabe uphendukile ezonweni zakho, wazinikezela kuJehova, wamukela nendlela yakhe yokusindisa abantu ngoJesu Kristu?” Lo mbuzo ugxile endleleni umuntu asuke ekulungiselele ngayo ukubhapathizwa futhi uyafana namazwi uPetru awatshela isixuku ngePhentekoste. Umbuzo wesibili uthi, “Ingabe uyaqonda ukuthi ukubhapathizwa kwakho kukwenza waziwe ngokuthi ungomunye woFakazi BakaJehova ozihlanganise nenhlangano kaJehova?” Lo mbuzo usikhumbuza ukuthi siphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwethu ngokulalela isiqondiso uJehova asinike sona ngenhlangano yakhe nangokukhonza uNkulunkulu namaKristu esikanye nawo, njengoba kwenza abafundi bangekhulu lokuqala. (Funda izEnzo 2:​38-42.) Labo abaphendula le mibuzo yomibili ngoyebo osuka enhliziyweni bayakufanelekela ukubhapathizwa.

9. Yiziphi izinto wonke umuntu okumele azenze ukuze ajabulise uNkulunkulu?

⁹ Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba uqale ukufunda iqiniso, kungenzeka wawuphila ukuphila okukahle futhi ungakaze wenze isono esikhulu. Noma kungenzeka wakhuliswa abazali abangamaKristu abakusiza ukuba uthande uJehova. Ingabe noma kunjalo kusadingeka uphenduke futhi ubhapathizwe ukuze ujabulise uNkulunkulu? Yebo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sikhule kanjani, sonke kumele sivume ukuthi sinesono esisizuze njengefa, esasihlukanisa noNkulunkulu. (IHu. 51:5) Kodwa, njengoba siya simazi kangcono uJehova, sikhetha ukubeka intando yakhe kuqala kunokubeka kuqala lokho okufunwa yithi. Uma senza kanjalo, singakwazi ukuphenduka ezonweni esazenza esikhathini esidlule, sishintshe ukuphila kwethu—siqale ukuphila ngendlela ejabulisa uBaba wethu osezulwini. Uma sesenze kanjalo, singakwazi ukubhapathizwa.—IzE. 3:19.

10. Yini okufanele uyenze uma wabhapathizwa njengelungu lenye inkolo esikhathini esidlule?

¹⁰ Uma wabhapathizwa njengelungu lenye inkolo esikhathini esidlule, kusadingeka ubhapathizwe njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi ngaleso sikhathi wawungaliqondi ngokugcwele iqiniso ngoJehova uNkulunkulu nangoJesu. Ngisho noma wathandaza ngesikhathi uzinikezela kuNkulunkulu, wawungayiqondi ngokunembile intando yakhe ngesikhathi wenza leso sithembiso. Ngesikhathi umphostoli uPawulu ehlangana namadoda ase-Efesu ayekade ebhapathizwe engayiqondi imfundiso yobuKristu okwakudingeka ayazi, wahlela ukuba aphinde abhapathizwe.b (IzE. 19:​1-5) Ngokufanayo namuhla, uJehova wamukela ubhapathizo uma lusekelwe olwazini olunembile lwentando yakhe kuphela.

“EGAMENI LIKAYISE NELENDODANA NELOMOYA ONGCWELE”

11. Kusho ukuthini ukubhapathizwa “egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele”? (Mathewu 28:​18-20)

¹¹ UJesu wayala ukuba abafundi abasha babhapathizwe “egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele.” (Funda uMathewu 28:​18-20.) Wayesho ukuthini? EBhayibhelini, ngokuvamile “igama” libhekisela edumeleni lomuntu. Lingabhekisela nasesikhundleni nasegunyeni elimelelwa yilelo gama. Ngakho lapho senza okuthile “egameni” lomuntu othile noma lento ethile, sisuke siliqaphela igunya elimelelwa yilelo gama. (Qhathanisa noMathewu 10:41.) Cabanga ngendlela ongabonisa ngayo ukuthi uyasiqaphela isikhundla negunya likaYise neleNdodana kanye nendima yomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.

12. Sibhapathizwa kanjani egameni likaYise? (IsAmbulo 4:11) (Bheka nezithombe.)

¹² Egameni likaYise. Siyaqaphela ukuthi uJehova unguBaba wethu osezulwini, noma uMniki-kuphila. UnguNkulunkulu ongumninimandla onke, uMdali wazo zonke izinto. (Funda isAmbulo 4:11.) Siyaqaphela ukuthi uyayilalela imithandazo yethu futhi sisebenzisa igama lakhe ngenhlonipho nangokukhululekile lapho sithandaza kuye nalapho sikhuluma nabanye ngaye. (IHu. 65:2) Kodwa kuningi okuhilelekile ekubhapathizweni egameni likaYise. Labo ababelalele uPetru ngePhentekoste babazi kakade ngoJehova, kodwa manje kwase kudingeka baqonde ukuthi nguJehova osinika insindiso yaphakade ngoJesu Kristu.—Roma 5:8.

13. Sibhapathizwa kanjani egameni leNdodana? (Bheka nezithombe.)

¹³ Egameni leNdodana. Siyaqaphela ukuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa. UJesu ‘uyindlela,’ nguye kuphela ongasenza sikwazi ukuba nobuhlobo obuhle noJehova. (Joh. 14:6) UJesu uphinde abe uMkhululi wethu, owasifela ukuze sizuze ukuphila. Ukwazi lokho kusenza sifune ukulingisa isibonelo sakhe zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwethu, hhayi nje lapho sibhapathizwa kuphela. (1 Joh. 2:6) Ngakho sishumayela ngentshiseko, njengoba naye enza, asivumeli lutho lusiyekise ukushumayela. (Luka 4:43) Sizimisele ngisho nokukhuthazelela ukushushiswa ngenxa yokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka. (2 Thim. 3:12) Sihlonipha uJesu ‘njengenhloko yebandla,’ ngakho sizithoba ngokuzithandela kulabo abaphathise umsebenzi wokuhola nowokunakekela abalandeli bakhe.—Efe. 4:​8, 11, 12; 5:23.

14. (a) Sibhapathizwa kanjani egameni lomoya ongcwele? (Bheka nezithombe.) (b) Yiziphi ezinye izindlela ababhapathizwa ngazo abagcotshiwe? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Ezinye Izindlela Ababhapathizwa Ngazo Abagcotshiwe.”)

¹⁴ Egameni lomoya ongcwele. Siyalamukela iqiniso ngokuphathelene nomoya ongcwele. Awuyena umuntu noma ingxenye kaZiqu-zintathu, kodwa ungamandla kaNkulunkulu asebenzayo. Siyaqaphela ukuthi umoya ongcwele waqondisa abaprofethi nababhali beBhayibheli, ngakho silifunda njalo iBhayibheli siphile nangezimfundiso zalo. (2 Pet. 1:​20, 21) Siyakugwema nokwenza izono ezinkulu ngoba ukwenza izono ezinjalo akugcini nje ngokuvimba umoya kaNkulunkulu ukuba usebenze kithi, kodwa kuwuvimba nokuba ugeleze ngokukhululekile ebandleni.—Efe. 4:30.

15. Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁵ Uma usungumKristu obhapathiziwe kakade, zimisele ukukuqonda konke lokho okushiwo “imfundiso ngobhapathizo”c nokuphila ngokuvumelana nesithembiso owasenza kuJehova lapho uzinikezela futhi ubhapathizwa. Kodwa kuthiwani uma ungakabi umKristu obhapathiziwe? Kukhona yini okukuvimbayo? Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngokuthi yini ongayenza ukuze uqhubeke usebenzela ukufanelekela ukubhapathizwa.