Isahluko 1 — Esingeniso

GSAM 21.1XA sithetha ngokuza kwesibini kukaKristu, sichaphazela umxholo eneneni obe lithemba labantu bakaThixo ukususela ekugxothweni kwabazali bethu bokuqala kwigadi yase-Edene. Kwamazwi athethwa kumnyoka, okuba isizalo somfazi siza kutyumza intloko yawo, kwakukho isiqinisekiso sokuba ekugqibeleni kuza kufika umbuyiseli, owayeza koyisa ukuthatha ngokungekho mthethweni kukaSathana, aze azalisekise injongo kaThixo emhlabeni. Kucingelwa ukuba uAdam noEva bacinga ukuba lo msebenzi uza kwenziwa kungekudala, nokuba inzala yabo ngqo iya kuba ngumoyisi. Noko ke, kwisicwangciso sikaThixo isithembiso soMsindisi kwintshabalalo eyayibonakala ikhona sasibandakanya konke okuye kwaphuhliswa ukusukela ngoko ekuphunyezweni “kwenjongo yakhe nobabalo lwakhe, esalunikwa thina kuKristu Yesu phambi kokuba kuqale ilizwe.”¹

GSAM 21.2Ukuba uAdam noEva bebenikwe ngoko nangoko umbono wentswelo nentlungu ebezakuzalisa ilizwe kumaxesha amade aphakathi kolonakalo lwalo nokubuyiselwa kwalo, usizi lwabo belunganyamezeleki. UThixo wasezulwini, ngenceba yakhe ethambileyo novelwano lwakhe, wabafihlela lo mbono, ebashiya benethemba elimnandi lokuba baya kukhululwa kungekudala kwinkululeko ezukileyo yabantwana bakaThixo. Ukucinga ukuba inkululeko isondele ngokwendalo kwakubakhuthaza ukuba babe nokuzimisela okukhulu ekulungiseleleni ukudibana nesi siganeko.

GSAM 22.1Kunjalo ke kuye kwaba ngabantu bakaThixo kuzo zonke izizukulwana ukusukela kwimihla kaAdam. Babesazi ngokuqinisekileyo ukuba isiganeko esikhulu nesibalulekileyo siza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo—ukuba uKristu ekugqibeleni uza kuza azise ulawulo lwakhe. Nabo, njengoAdam noEva, bakholelwa ukuba isiganeko siseduze, kwaye, njengabo, babengazi ukuba kuza kwenzeka ntoni phakathi kwexesha labo neso siganeko; kungenjalo, bebengade badimazeke ekuzimiseleni ukufikelela kumgomo wembasa.

GSAM 22.2Le ngcinga ingacaciswa ngokusebenzisa iziganeko ezenzeke ngendlela yokufunyanwa kwezinto ezinkulu. Amadoda awazisa ezi ziganeko, nangona ayengazi, eneneni ayegcwalisela injongo kaThixo; kodwa ke ayeqhutywa ziingcinga ezingazange zivumelane ngokupheleleyo neengcinga zawo ezazimkhuthaza ukuba enze.

GSAM 22Iziphumo Ezinobubanzi Zokufunyanwa kwezinto nguColumbus

GSAM 22.3UMontgomery, kwi-American History, ushicilelo ² luka-1902, kumaphepha 8, 9, ethetha ngethiyori eyakhuthaza uColumbus ukuba aqalise uhambo lwakhe, nokuphunyezwa kwesicwangciso sakhe sokufikelela kwi-Indiya yaseMpuma ngokuhamba ngenqanawa esiya ngasentshona, uthi:—

GSAM 22.4“UColumbus wayecinga ukuba angayiphucula iprojekthi kaKumkani wasePortugal. Wayeqinisekile ukuba ikhona indlela emfutshane nelungileyo yokufikelela kwi-Indies kunaleyo yayichazwe nguDiaz. Isicwangciso somatiloshe waseGenoa [uColumbus] besinesibindi njengoko besiyilwe ngokutsha. Endaweni yokuba ahambe ngenqanawa ngasempuma, okanye emazantsi nasempuma, wacebisa ukuhambela ngqo ngentshona. Wayene, njengoko wayekholelwa, izizathu ezithathu ezivakalayo neziluqilima zokuthatha inyathelo elinje: Okokuqala, njengoko kwakunjalo kwiincwadi zejografi ezigqwesileyo zexesha lakhe, uColumbus wayeqinisekile ukuba umhlaba awusicaba, njengoko abantu abaninzi babecinga, kodwa uyiglobhu. Okwesibini, wayicinga le globe incinci kakhulu kunokuba injalo, kwaye uninzi lwayo lulizwe endaweni yamanzi. Okwesithathu, njengoko wayengazi nto, kwaye engazange acinge, ngokubakho kwelizwekazi laseMelika okanye iLwandle iPacific, wacinga ukuba unxweme lwase-Asiya okanye lwe-Indies lwaluchasene ngqo neSpeyin kunye nonxweme olusentshona lweYurophu. Umgama wonke wokuwela usiya eCipango, okanye eJapan, waluqikelela ukuba mhlawumbi awuzukugqitha iimayile ezingaphantse zibe ngamawaka amane.

GSAM 23.1“Isicwangciso sakhe sasisithi: Wayeza kuqala eYurophu; aqhube inqanawa yakhe isiya ngasentshona eJapan, aze alandele ukugoba komhlaba de kumfikise koko wayekufuna. Entloko yakhe kwakubonakala kuqinisekile kwaye kulula njengokuba impukane ingahamba ijikeleze i-apile.

GSAM 23.2“Ukuba angaphumelela kolu hambo, wayeza kuba nale nzuzo enkulu: Wayeza kungena kwii-Indies ngqo ngocango olungaphambili, endaweni yokufika kuzo ngendlela ejikayo, nangocango olusecaleni, njengoko kwakufuneka kwenziwe ngamaPhuthukezi.

GSAM 23.3“Sibona ukuba le ndoda, eyayisazi izibalo ezenziwayo, ijografi, kunye nokukhangela indlela elwandle njengaye nawuphi na umntu wamaxesha ayo, yayichanile kwingongoma yokuqala,—imilo yomhlaba,—kodwa yaphosakala ngokupheleleyo kwezinye ezimbini.

GSAM 23Impazamo Enethamsanqa

GSAM 23.4“Noko ke, ngokumangalisayo, iimpazamo zakhe kwelinye icala zazimnceda. Impazamo ayenzayo ngokuphathelele kumgama yayiyeyethamsanqa elikhulu. Ukuba uColumbus wayebale ngokuchanekileyo ubukhulu beGlobe, kunye nobude bokwenene boluhambo olunjalo, mhlawumbi ngewayengazange ahambe ngenqanawa, kuba ngeyabona kwangoko ukuba indlela eyayicetyiwe yamaPhuthukezi yayimfutshane kwaye inexabiso eliphantsi. Kwakhona, ukuba ebenokucinga okanye ngandlela ithile wabona kwangaphambili ukuba ilizwekazi laseMelika lalimi kanye endleleni yakhe, loo nto ngokwayo ibingamkhuthazi ukuba aqalise uhambo lokufumanisa, kuba injongo yakhe yayingekuko ukufumana ilizwe elitsha, kodwa indlela entsha eya kwilizwe elidala.”

GSAM 23Ithemba Elikhulu Lamaxesha Onke

GSAM 23.5Ngoko ke abantu bakaThixo, ukususela kumaxesha amandulo, bebesoloko benethemba lokuza kukaKristu phambi kwabo “njengeankile yomphefumlo, eqinisekileyo nezinzileyo.”³ Nangona bahlala besezintlungwini nasekucinezelweni, bakhwaza besentlungwini besithi, “Kuthatha ixesha elingakanani, Nkosi, phambi kokuba kufike isindiso?” kodwa baye baqhubela phambili, kwaye njengoPawulos baye bathetha kwaye basathetha besithi, “Liyintoni ithemba lethu, okanye uvuyo lwethu, okanye isithsaba sovuyo? Asingabo na nina phambi kweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu ekubuyeni kwakhe?”⁴

GSAM 24UPawulos Womelezelwa Lithemba

GSAM 24.1Imizekelo embalwa yamandla axhasayo aleli themba, kulo mba, mayanele. Xa uPawulos wayemangalelwa phambi koFelix, waza wavunyelwa ukuba azithethelele, wathi, “Ngokwendlela abayibiza ngokuba yimfundiso yobuxoki, ndinqula uThixo woobawo, ndikholelwa kuzo zonke izinto ezibhalwe emthethweni nakwiNcwadi zamaProfeti; ndibe nethemba kuThixo, elithile nelo balivumayo nabo, lokuba kuza kubakho uvuko lwabafileyo, olwabalungileyo nolwabangenabulungisa.”⁵

GSAM 24.2Kwintetho yakhe enobuchule xa wayeziswa phambi kuka-Agrippa, uPawulos wathi, “Nanku ndimi ndigwetywa ngenxa yethemba lesithembiso sikaThixo esenziwa kootatomkhulu bethu; isithembiso ke eso, izizwe zakuthi ezilishumi elinesibini, zisebenzela uThixo ngokungapheliyo, ebusuku nemini, zithemba ukusifikelela. Ngenxa yeli themba, Kumkani Agrippa, ndityholwa ngamaYuda. Kutheni kungacingelwa njengento engenakukholelwa kuni, ukuba uThixo angavusa abafileyo?”⁶ Xa ekugqibeleni wayeseRoma eza kuvela phambi kukaKhesare, wathi kumaYuda, “Ngenxa yethemba lakwaSirayeli ndibotshelelwe ngale ntsimbi.”⁷

GSAM 24.3UPawulos wathetha ngokukhululekileyo ngaloo themba kwileta yakhe eya kuTito: “Kuba ubabalo lukaThixo oluzisa usindiso lubonakele kubo bonke abantu, lusifundisa ukuba, siphike ukungahloneli uThixo neminqweno yeli hlabathi, siphile ngokuzithiba, ngobulungisa, nangokuthembeka kuThixo kweli hlabathi langoku, silindele elo themba elisikelelekileyo, nokuvela okuzukileyo koThixo omkhulu neMsindisi wethu uYesu Kristu.”⁸

GSAM 24UPetros Ovuyayo Elithembeni

GSAM 24.4U-Petros uthetha ngale themba inye ngolu hlobo: “Makabongwe uThixo noYise weNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu, ongokwenceba yakhe eninzi wasizala ngokutsha ukuba sibe nethemba eliphilileyo ngokuvuka kukaYesu Kristu kwabafileyo, ilifa elingonakaliyo, nelingangcolanga, nelingapheliyo, egcinelwe nina ezulwini, nina abagcinwe ngamandla kaThixo ngokholo ukuya kusindiso olulungele ukutyhilwa kwixesha lokugqibela. Nto leyo eniyivuyela kakhulu, nangona okwangoku ixeshana, ukuba kuyimfuneko, nisele lusizi ngeentlobo ngeentlobo zokulingwa: ukuze ulingo lokholo lwenu, oluxabiseke kakhulu kunegolide eyonakayo, nangona ivavanywa ngomlilo, lufunyanwe lube yindumiso nembeko nodumo ekubonakaleni kukaYesu Kristu.”⁹

GSAM 25Injongo kaThixo ekuDaliseni

GSAM 25.1Izibhalo zityhila injongo kaThixo ekudaleni ihlabathi; kwaye kwilizwi leprofeto sikwafunda nesicwangciso sakhe malunga nexesha elizayo: “Itsho njalo iNkosi, eyadala izibhakabhaka, uThixo ngokwakhe owabumba umhlaba waza wawenza; wawuseka, akazange awudale ngelize, wawubumba ukuze kuhlalwe kulo.”¹⁰ Emva kokuba eyibumbile, wayinika umntu. UMdumisi uthi, “Izulu, ewe, amazulu, zeNkosi; kodwa umhlaba awunikile abantwana babantu.”¹¹ Kodwa xa wayinika umntu, umntu wayelungile, njengoko kwatshoyo umntu ohlakaniphileyo, “Oku kuphela endikufumeneyo kukuba uThixo wenza umntu ulungile; kodwa bona bafuna iingqikelelo ezininzi.”¹²

GSAM 25.2Sifunda ngendlela iNkosi ephatha ngayo uluntu, ukuba “xa wayahlula oonyana bakaAdam, wabeka imida yabantu ngokwenani labantwana bakaSirayeli,”¹³ oko kukuthi, ngokwenani likaSirayeli wokwenene oza ekugqibeleni ukuqokelelwa emhlabeni njengabantu bobukumkani bakhe obuzayo. Ichazwe nguPawulos ngala mazwi: “UThixo ... wenze ngegazi elinye zonke iintlanga zabantu ukuze zihlale kuwo wonke umhlaba, wamisela amaxesha amisiweyo ngaphambili, nemida yendawo abahlala kuyo; ukuze bayifune iNkosi, mhlawumbi bayiphuthaphuthe, bayifumane; kuba ayikude kumntu ngamnye kuthi; kuba kuyo siphila, sisinyakaza, sibekho.”¹⁴ Xa le njongo yokuqala emalunga nomhlaba igqityiwe, “nabantu bakho baya kuba bonke bengamalungisa.”¹⁵ Kwakhona kuthethwa ngabo kwelo xesha, “Okuhlala kuwo akayi kuthi, Ndiyagula: abantu abahlala kuwo baya kuxolelwa isono sabo.”¹⁶ Loo nto iya kuba lixesha eliya kuthi “abathobekileyo baya kulifa umhlaba; baze bazonwabise ngobuninzi bexolo.”¹⁷

GSAM 26Ukubuya kweSibini kukaKristu Akuyontsomi

GSAM 26.1Kuchazwe kwincwadi yesibini kaPetros ukuba “asizange silandele iintsomi eziqulunqwe ngobuqhetseba, xa sasinazisa kuni ngamandla nokuza kweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu, kodwa saba ngamangqina azibonela ubungangamsha bakhe. Kuba wafumana uzuko nobungangamsha kuThixo uYise, xa kwavakala ilizwi elinje eliza kuye livela eluzukweni olugqwesileyo elithi, Lo nguNyana wam endimthandayo, endonwabileyo kuye. Kwaye le ilizwi elavela ezulwini saliva, sise naye entabeni engcwele. Sikwanalo nelizwi lesiprofeto eliqinisekileyo ngakumbi, enilunga ngokuba niliqaphele, njengesibane esikhanyayo kwindawo ephantsi kwesithunzi, de kuse, neNkwenkwezi yasemini ivuke ezintliziyweni zenu.”¹⁸

GSAM 26.2Kwesi sibhalo umpostile ubhekisa kuguquko-simo entabeni njengobungqina bokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu. Phambi kwesi siganeko uMsindisi wethu wayethe kubapostile bakhe, “Bakhona abanye abemi apha, abangayi kungcamla ukufa, bade bambone uNyana womntu eza ebukumkanini bakhe”¹⁹ — njengoko kubhalwe nguLuka, “Bakhona abanye abemi apha, abangayi kungcamla ukufa, bade bayibone imbuso kaThixo.”²⁰

GSAM 26.3Esi sithembiso sazaliseka ngokwenene kule nguqu-mbonakalo ngokwayo. Kulo “mbono” entabeni bambona uYesu edunyiswe, njengoko eza kubonakala xa eza kubuya ebukumkanini bakhe. Babona uElias (uEliya), owathathwa waya ezulwini engakangcamli ukufa, emele abo baza kutshintshelwa—batshintshwe ukusuka ekubeni ngabantu abafa baye ekungafini—“ngomzuzwana, ngokuphaphazela kweliso,” xa iNkosi isiza.²¹ Kwakukho noMoses, umntu owayeswelekile, emele abo baza kuvuswa kwabafileyo ukuze badibane neNkosi. Ngoko ke kulo “mbono” babona uKristu esiza ebukumkanini bakhe, njengoko wayebathembise.

GSAM 27Isiprofeto Ilizwi Eliluqinisekileyo Ngakumbi

GSAM 27.1Nangona abapostile babeyibone le mbono ibalaseleyo kwintaba yokuguqulwa, kwaye balive ilizwi lokuvunywa kukaThixo, umpostile uPetros uqinisekisa esithi: “Sinelizwi lesiprofeto eliqinisekileyo ngakumbi.” Ngale ntetho akazityesheli izinto ababezibonile nababezivile kuloo msitho ukhumbulekayo. Ngelo xesha baliva ilizwi likaThixo kanye, kodwa kwimigca emikhulu yesiprofeto, efikelela ukuya kutsho ekubuyeni kukaKristu okwesibini, sinelizwi likaThixo eliphindaphindwayo. Enyanisweni, sonke isiprofeto esicacileyo esizalisekisiweyo okanye esibhalwe kwimbali lilizwi likaThixo kuthi. Kufuneka kube ngale ndlela ilizwi lesiprofeto “eliqinisekileyo ngakumbi.” I-Revised Version iliguqulela ngokuthi, “lenziwe laqiniseka.” Isiprofeto senziwa siqiniseke ngayo yonke inkcazo ezalisekisiweyo. Isiganeko ngasinye esiprofethiweyo, xa sizalisekisiwe, siqinisekiso lokuba iziganeko eziseleyo eziprofethiweyo ngokuqinisekileyo ziya kwenzeka.

GSAM 27Ubume Besiprofeto

GSAM 27.2Ezi ngxelo zilandelayo ezivela kubafundi beBhayibhile abaziwayo malunga nobume besiprofeto zinamandla:—

GSAM 27.3UThomas Newton uthi “isiprofeto yimbali elindelekileyo nesishwankathelweyo; imbali sisiprofeto esifezekisiweyo nesandisiweyo. Kukho iziprofeto zobuxoki ebezikhona ehlabathini; kodwa yonke ubukrelekrele nobubi babantu needemoni ayinakwenza naziphi na iiprofeto ezifana nezo zirekhodwe kwiZibhalo.”

GSAM 27.4USir Isaac Newton unobungqina bokuba “ukumamela iimboni luphawu olusisiseko lwebandla eliyinyani.”

GSAM 27.5UGqr. A. Keith uthi “isiprofeto silingana nalisiphi na isimangaliso, kwaye sisimangaliso ngokwaso.... Ilizwi laMandla Onke kuphela elinokubiza abafileyo emangcwabeni,—ilizwi loLwazi Lonke kuphela elinokuxela yonke into efihlakeleyo kwikamva elimnyama, elingangeneki kumntu njengamakhaya abafileyo,—kwaye zombini ngokufanayo zililizwi likaThixo.”

GSAM 28.1UMatthew Henry wathi “ngexesha likaThixo, elona lixa lilungileyo, nakwindlela kaThixo, eyona ndlela ilungileyo, isiprofeto siza kuzaliseka ngokuqinisekileyo. Ilizwi ngalinye likaKristu linyulu kakhulu, kwaye ngenxa yoko liqinisekile kakhulu.”

GSAM 28Injongo Yesiprofeto

GSAM 28.2Singafunda kumazwi kaKristu akhangelene nabapostile bakhe enye injongo yeNkosi ekunikezeni isiprofeto. Ethetha ngokwasesiprofetweni ngezinto ebeziza kwenzeka kubomi bukaYuda, wathi, “Ndinixelela phambi kokuba kwenzeke, ukuze, xa sele kwenzekile, nikholwe ukuba ndim.”²²

GSAM 28.3INkosi ikwatsho ngomprofeti Isaya, “NdinguThixo, kwaye akukho unjengam, echaza isiphelo ukusukela ekuqaleni, nokusukela kwixesha elidala izinto ezingekenzeki, isithi, Icebo lam liya kuma, kwaye ndiya kwenza konke endikuthandayo.”²³

GSAM 28.4Kwakhona, “Ndibhengeze izinto zangaphambili kwasekuqaleni, zaphuma emlonyeni wam, ndazibonisa; ndazenza ngequbuliso, zaza zaba yinyani.... Ndikubhengezelele zona kwasekuqaleni; phambi kokuba zenzeke ndakubonisa; hleze uthi, Isithixo sam sizenzile, nomfanekiso wam oqingqiweyo nomfanekiso wam otyhidiweyo, iziyalele. Uve, khawubone konke oku; ingaba anizakukubhengeza na? Ndikubonisile izinto ezintsha ukususela ngoku, ezi zizinto ezifihlakeleyo, kwaye wawungazazi. Zidalwe ngoku, hayi ukususela ekuqaleni; nakwangaphambi kosuku apho wawungazivanga khona, hleze uthi, Nantsi, ndandizazi.”²⁴

GSAM 28.5Kolu lwimi kubonakala amandla okuzaliseka kweziprofeto njengobungqina bomvelaphi wobuthixo besiprofeto, kunye nokuba buboniso lwamandla eNkosi ngaphezu kwazo zonke izithixo zabantu abangakholwayo. Kukwabonakala kwezi zivakalisi ukuba isiprofeto sithatha indawo ebaluleke kakhulu kwizibhalo zenyaniso. Ezi zinto zinyanisekileyo, kuyamangalisa ukuba baninzi abantu abangakuhoyiyo okanye abangakuhoyiyo ngokwaneleyo ukufundwa kwamacandelo eziprofeto kwiZibhalo eziNgcwele.

GSAM 29Isiprofeto Asizivalwanga

GSAM 29.1Abangafundanga bathi abazi, kwaye ngenxa yoko abakwazi ukuqonda iziprofeto. Kwelinye icala, abaninzi kubantu abafundileyo, nabanye kubo abakubulungiseleli, bathi: “Iziprofeto zitywiniwe, kwaye azinakuqondwa. Sonke siyazi ukuba incwadi yeSityhilelo yincwadi etywiniweyo.”

GSAM 29.2Kwencwadi yeSityhilelo, uYohane othandekayo wanikwa umyalelo okhethekileyo wokuba angayitywini le ncwadi.²⁵ Kwakhona kule ncwadi kubhengezwa intsikelelo kwabo “beeva amazwi esiprofeto esi, baze bagcine ezo zinto zibhalwe kuso.”²⁶ Zingagcinwa njani izinto ezikwincwadi etywiniweyo ukuba bezingaqondwa, kwaye bezingenakuqondwa? INkosi yathi ngoMoses, “Izinto eziyimfihlo zezeNkosi uThixo wethu; kodwa ezo zityhilweyo zezethu nezabantwana bethu ngonaphakade, ukuze senze onke amazwi alo mthetho.”²⁷

GSAM 29.3Ukuba iNkosi yayicwangcise iziprofeto zikaDaniyeli ukuba ziqondwe kuyabonakala kumazwi ayo kubafundi bayo ngazo. Sifunda: “Nani ke, xa niyibona into elisikizi yentshabalalo, ekuthethwe ngayo nguDaniyeli umprofeti, imi endaweni engcwele (nabani na ofundayo, makakuqonde),”²⁸ nto leyo ethetha phantse ukuba, Kuqondeni uDaniyeli umprofeti.

GSAM 29.4INkosi iveza ubuxoki bebango lokuba isiprofeto asinakuqondwa, ngala mazwi: “Umbono wayo yonke into ube kuwe njengamazwi encwadi etywiniweyo, abantu abayinike umntu ofundileyo, besithi, Ndiyakucela, yifunde le ncwadi: aze athi, Andikwazi, kuba itywiniwe: yaye incwadi inikwa lowo ungafundanga, kusithiwa, Ndiyakucela, yifunde le ncwadi: aze athi, Andifundanga. Kungoko iNkosi yathi, Ngenxa yokuba esi sizwe sisondela kum ngomlomo waso, nezindebe zaso zindihlonipha, kodwa zisuse iintliziyo zaso kude kum, noloyiko lwazo kum lufundiswe ngemigaqo yabantu: ngoko ke, nantsi, ndiza kwenza umsebenzi omangalisayo phakathi kwesi sizwe, umsebenzi omangalisayo nommangaliso: kuba ubulumko bezilumko zabo buza kutshabalala, nokuqonda kwabaziingcaphephe zabo kuza kufihlwa.”²⁹ Ukuba abantu umprofeti athetha ngabo apha bebeyalandela ilizwi eliqinisekileyo lophrofeto, bebengayi kuphambuka kumthetho kaThixo, baze endaweni yemiyalelo yakhe babeke imiyalelo yabantu.

GSAM 30Isiprofeto Asingokutolika Komntu Ngamnye

GSAM 30.1Asikokuba isiprofeto sinentsingiselo enzulu, efihlakeleyo, neyamfihlakalo le nto abantu abaninzi bengayiqondiyo. Umpostile uPetros uthe ngaso, “Nazi kuqala le nto, ukuba akukho siprofeto kwizibhalo esivela kutoliko lomntu ngokwakhe. Kuba isiprofeto asizange size mandulo ngokuthanda komntu; kodwa amadoda angcwele kaThixo athethile, eshukunyiswa nguMoya oyiNgcwele.”³⁰ Kucaca ukuba oko kubalulekileyo ekuqondeni isiprofeto kukwamkela loo moya wathetha ngabaprofeti. Ngalo moya, othembiswe bonke abawufunayo, kubhaliwe, “Uya kunikhokela kwinyaniso yonke.”³¹

GSAM 30Isiprofeto Esizalisekisiweyo

GSAM 30.2Kwifundo lwesiprofeto kukho iinyaniso ezithile ekufuneka zihlale zikhunjulwe: UThixo, ongenakusilela, nguye umbhali wesiprofeto, kwaye xa kufika ixesha lokuzaliseka koqikelelo, kuya kwenzeka kanye eso siganeko sibikezelweyo. Kwakhona, njengoko iNkosi, enamandla okubona kwangaphambili kanye into eza kwenziwa ngabantu, ichaza ixesha apho into iza kwenzeka khona, xa elo xesha lifika, kufunyanwa ukuzaliseka okuyinyani kwesiprofeto. Ngamanye amazwi, ukuzaliseka kobuxoki kwesiprofeto ngexesha elimisiweyo lokwenyani akunakwenzeka. Ngokuhambelana nesi siseko, sinokuthi, xa kufika ixesha leNkosi lokuba umyalezo wayo wenyaniso unikezelwe kwihlabathi, loo myalezo uyaqhubeka uvela ngalo lonke ixesha.

GSAM 30.3Ngelinye ixesha, xa umbhali wayenike intetho malunga nokuzaliseka kwesiprofeto, umntu ongakholwayo owayekhona waphuma phambili waza wathi, “Kufuneka ndinivuyisele nina bahlalutyi besiprofeto ngokuba nenethamsanqa elikhulu. Ekufundeni kwenu imbali, nibonakala niyifumana ngokulula kakhulu loo nto ihambelana ncam nesiprofeto.” “Ewe,” satsho thina, “iyangena kuba yenzelwe ukuba ingene. Ukuba ungaya kwivenkile yee-gloves ukuya kuthenga iperi yeeglavu, awungekhe ulindele ukufumana ezingena esandleni sakho?” Waphendula wathi, “Ewe kunjalo, kuba zenziwe ukuba zingene.” “Ngoko ke,” watsho umbhali, “loo Thixo wayesazi kanye into eza kwenziwa ngabantu, wenza iingqikelelo ngabo, kwaye xa abo bantu bevela eqongeni lezenzo, baze benze kanye ezo zinto wayeziqikelele, umbhali-mbali wokwenene wenza ingxelo ngezenzo zabo, ezithi, xa zithelekiswa neqikelelo, zingene ngqo.”

GSAM 31Isiprofeto Sikhanya Ebumnyameni

GSAM 31.1Umpostile uPetros uthi masiyinike ingqalelo isiprofeto njengokukhanya okubengezela kwindawo ephantsi kobumnyama. Ngaphandle kwesibane sesiprofeto ikamva beliya kuba bubumnyama obupheleleyo. Injongo yokukhanya kukususa ubumnyama—xa uhamba kwindawo ephantsi kobumnyama, kukubonisa indlela, nokuyibonisa ngokucacileyo, ukuze umhambi akwazi, inyathelo nenyathelo, ukubona nokukhetha indlela. “Ilizwi lakho,” utsho umbhali wepsalme, “lilamphu yeenyawo zam, nokukhanya kwindlela yam.”³² Indoda elumkileyo yathi, “Indlela yabalungileyo ingathi kukukhanya okucacayo, okukhanya ngakumbi nangakumbi de kufike usuku olupheleleyo.”³³ Ngoko ke, njengoko siqhubela phambili kumlanjana wexesha, sibona ukuba ilizwi likaThixo, ingakumbi ekuzalisekeni kweziprofeto zalo, liya kuvuleka ngakumbi nangakumbi, lenze kucace ngakumbi nangakumbi kumfundi weBhayibhile ukuba ngokuqinisekileyo usendleleni eya kukukhanya okungunaphakade nakwisuku elingunaphakade.

GSAM 31Iziganeko Ezithathu Eziqapheleka Kakhulu Ukususela e-Edeni Ukuya Ekupheleni

GSAM 31.2Xa kujongwa indlela yabantu beNkosi ukusukela e-Edeni kude kuse esiphelweni, ngokukhanya kweZibhalo, kukho iziganeko ezithathu ezigqamileyo ngokukodwa. Eyokuqala kukufika kokuqala kukaKristu, ukuba ngumntu, ukufika kuka-Emmanuel, uThixo owabonakala enyameni; eyesibini, uHlaziyo olukhulu emva kweMihla eMnyama—iminyaka eyi-1260 yoxhatshazo, apho ilizwi leNkosi lathi lalinqandwa phantse ngokupheleleyo kubantu abaqhelekileyo—ukufika kwebandla lisuka kwimeko yalo yasentlango, nokubekwa kweZibhalo apho wonke umntu angazifunda aze azi ukuthanda kwakhe; eyesithathu, ukubuya kwesibini kweNkosi yethu ukuze kuzise amaxesha okubuyiselwa kwayo yonke into ethethwe ngomlomo wabo bonke abaprofeti bakhe abangcwele ukususela ekudalweni kwehlabathi; oku, kokuvala “imbambano yeenkulungwane,” imbambano phakathi kwesono nobulungisa, ukuze kuzise ixesha lobuqaqawuli, ezazisingise kulo zonke iinkulungwane.

GSAM 32Isiprofeto Sinika Iimpawu Zendlela Ukuya Esiphelweni

GSAM 32.1Ngokunikela ingqalelo kwilizwi eliqinisekileyo lophrofeto njengokukhanya okumele kukhokele amanyathelo ethu, kusityhilela indlela echanekileyo ebumnyameni, akunakuba ngenye indlela ngaphandle kokuba sifumane indlela iphawulwe ngokucacileyo kwilizwi lophrofeto kuyo yonke imisinga yexesha ukuya kutsho ekuzeni kwesibini kukaKristu. Ngenxa yokuba kunjalo, abo balandela ngokusondeleyo ukukhanya kwesiprofeto abazukubona kuphela iimpawu nezalathisi zokuba usuku olukhulu lukufuphi, kodwa baya kubona nomsebenzi weNkosi njengoko uqhubeka ngokuzinzileyo kwimiyalezo yenyaniso eza kulungiselela abantu ukuba bamhlangabeze ngoxolo ekufikeni kwakhe.

GSAM 32.2Nangona iZibhalo zibhengeza ukuba usuku lweNkosi luza kuza kwizihlwele njenge “isela ebusuku,”³⁴ ikwathi ngabo bemi kwingcebiso yeNkosi, “Nina, bazalwana, anikho ebumnyameni, ukuze loo mini inifikele ningalindelanga njengesela. Nonke ningabantwana bokukhanya, ningabantwana bemini.”³⁵

GSAM 32Khumbula Ukukhokelwa KweNkosi

GSAM 32.3Ekukhumbuleni ukukhokelwa kweNkosi kwintshukumo yokubuya, kulungile ukuqaphela ukuba ibisoloko iyinjongo kaThixo ukuba abantu bakhe bakhumbule iimpawu zolondolozo namandla akhe azibonakalisileyo ngenxa yabo. Ekunikezeni izizathu zokuwexuka kukaSirayeli kuThixo, umbhali wepsalme uthi, “Balibele uThixo uMsindisi wabo, owenzile izinto ezinkulu eJiputa; imisebenzi emangalisayo kwilizwe likaHam, nezinto ezoyikekayo ngaseLwandle oluBomvu.”³⁶ Ukuba bekulungile kumaSirayeli ukukhumbula ukukhokelwa kweNkosi kubo, akulunganga na nakuthi? Ekuchulumanceni umbhali wepsalme uphinda athi, “Sikelela iNkosi, mphefumlo wam, ungazilibali zonke iimfesane zakhe.”³⁷

GSAM 33.1Kuzo zonke iinkulungwane iNkosi ibisoloko inenyaniso ezibalulekileyo, ezicwangcisiweyo, ngobabalo lwayo, ukukhupha abantu ebukhobokeni besono, nokubalungiselela ukungena kwiKhanani yezulu; kwaye kuluncedo ukucingisisa ngeendlela iNkosi ephathe ngazo abo babhengeze ezi nyaniso.

GSAM 33Iziphumo Ezinkulu Ngezixhobo Ezincinci Kakhulu—Ubungqina bukaD'Aubigné

GSAM 33.2UD'Aubigné, kwi-History of the Reformation, uthi, “UThixo, olungiselela umsebenzi wakhe iinkulungwane, uwugqibezela ngezixhobo ezibuthathaka kakhulu, xa kufike ixesha lakhe. Ukuze kwenziwe iziphumo ezikhulu ngeendlela ezincinci kakhulu, ngumthetho kaThixo. Lo mthetho, ofumaneka kuyo yonke indalo, uyafumaneka nakwimbali.”³⁸

GSAM 33.3Xa uThixo, kwixesha elidala, waqala ukukhetha isizwe esikhethekileyo ukuze asimisele njengesizwe esahlukileyo sakhe, kwaba ngokubiza indoda enye—uAbraham—wayehlala phakathi kweentlanga, e-Ur yamaKhaledi. Kuye kwavela inzala eninzi; kodwa kubo, xa babesele benza isizwe, uThixo wasezulwini wathi: “INkosi ayizange inithande, ayizange inikhethe nina, kuba nani nalingaphezulu ngobuninzi kunaso nasiphi na isizwe; kuba nina ninani elincinci kunawo onke abantu.”³⁹

GSAM 33.4Kwakhona, xa wayeza kukhulula abantu bakhe kubukhoboka babo eJiputa, wakhetha njengomkhokeli wabo umntu othile, owathi, esengumntwana omncinci, wafihlwa iinyanga ezintathu endlwini kanina, waza emva koko wafakwa kwityeya elula eyenziwe ngeengcongolo yaza yathanjiswa ngentlaka, wathi wanikelwa kuMlambo iNayile ukuba ulondolozwe. Lo Moses ke, xa wayesele ekhulile ekuqondeni, wakhetha indlela ethobekileyo yokubandezeleka nabantu bakaThixo kunonwabo olufumaneka “kwezinto ezimnandi zesono okwethutyana.”⁴⁰

GSAM 34Uloyiso lukaGidiyon

GSAM 34.1Emva koko, xa iNkosi yayiza kukhulula uSirayeli kumaMidiyan namaAmaleki, ababeze kwilizwe labo “njengeentethe ngobuninzi,” baza batshabalalisa isivuno somhlaba, bengashiyanga “nto yokuphila kuSirayeli, nokuba yimvu, okanye inkunzi, okanye idonki,” iNkosi yathumela isithunywa kuGidiyon. Lo nyana kaYoash wayesele ekwimeko enzima kakhulu yokubhula ingqolowa encinci aze ayifihle kwiintshaba zakhe. Xa isithunywa samxelela ukuba uza kusindisa iSirayeli, uGidiyon wabuza emangalisiwe, “Ndiza kusindisa njani uSirayeli? Nanko, usapho lwam luhlwempuzekile kuManase, kwaye mna ndingoyena mncinci kwindlu katata wam.”⁴¹ Lo mntu unye ozithobileyo, ongenamali waphuma namadoda akhe angamakhulu amathathu, nezibane zabo ezilula nezitya zabo (isenzo esinokubonakala sisidenge kwingqondo enomda), baza, benze uThixo amandla abo, bafumana uloyiso olukhulu. Phambi kokuhlangulwa, uGidiyon usenokuba wakhwaza isikhalo esifana nesomprofeti uAmosi xa wabuza, “Uya kuvukiswa ngubani uYakobi? kuba mncinci.”⁴²

GSAM 34Usana Olusemkhumbini

GSAM 34.2Ngexesha elimisiweyo liNkosi, uMsindisi wabantu wazalwa, yaye abalusi bamfumana elele emkhumbini. Izihlobo zakhe zomhlaba zaziphilela izinto ezithobekileyo nangona ezihloniphekileyo ebomini. Ngokubhekisele kubuhlwempu bakhe bomhlaba uMsindisi wathi, “Iimpungutye zinemingxuma, neentaka zasezulwini zinezidleke; kodwa uNyana womntu akanandawo yokubeka intloko yakhe.”⁴³ Wakhetha abapostile bakhe “phakathi kweso sigaba siphantsi, esithi, nangona singesona siphantsi kakhulu, asifikeleli kwinqanaba labantu abaphakathi. Yonke into yayijolise ekubonakalaliseni kwihlabathi ukuba lo msebenzi awungowomntu, kodwa ungowakaThixo.”

GSAM 35Abambalwa Abakrelekrele Ababizwayo

GSAM 35.1UPawulos wathi ngomsebenzi kwiintsuku zebandla lamandulo: “Ubuyatha bukaThixo bunobulumko ngaphezu kwabantu; nobuthathaka bukaThixo bunamandla ngaphezu kwabantu. Kuba niyabona, bazalwana, isibizo senu, ukuba ababaninzi abantu abanobulumko ngokwenyama, ababaninzi abanamandla, ababaninzi abazizidwangube, ababiziweyo; kodwa uThixo ukhethe izinto ezibubuyatha zehlabathi ukuba zihlazise izilumko; kwaye uThixo ukhethe izinto ezibuthathaka zehlabathi ukuba zihlazise izinto ezinamandla; nezinto ezithotywayo zehlabathi, nezinto ezilahlwayo, uThixo ukhethe zona, ewe, nezinto ezingekhoyo, ukuba azitshabalalise izinto ezikhoyo; ukuze kungabikho nyama izidlayo phambi kwakhe.”⁴⁴

GSAM 35Amadoda Athobekileyo kuHlaziyo lweCawa

GSAM 35.2Sifumana lo mgaqo mnye ubonakaliswa kubomi baboBatshintshi abakhulu benkulungwane yeshumi elinesithandathu. Umbhali-mbali uthi: “UMtshintshi uZwingle wavela kwindlwana yomalusi yaseAlps; uMelanchthon, ingcali yezenkolo yoHlaziyo, wavela kwivenkile yomakhenikha wezixhobo; noLuther wavela kwindlwana yomsebenzi wasemgodini ongumhlwempu.” Malunga naye, uLuther wathi: “Abazali bam babengamahlwempu kakhulu. Utata wam wayengumgawuli wamaplanga ongumhlwempu (kamva waba ngumsebenzi wasemgodini), kwaye umama wam ubesoloko ethwala iinkuni emqolo, ukuze afumane indlela yokukhulisa abantwana bakhe. Banyamezele umsebenzi onzima kakhulu ngenxa yethu.”

GSAM 35.3Umpostile uYakobo, ethetha ngokubizwa kwabantu enkonzweni yeNkosi, uthi, “Mamelani, bazalwana bam endibathandayo, ingaba uThixo akakhethanga abampofu beli hlabathi, abazizityebi elukholweni, nabalifa bobukumkani ababuthembisileyo abo bamthandayo?”⁴⁵

GSAM 35AmaMethodist okuqala

GSAM 35.4Xa sijonga umgca wabavuseleli owawusiya phambili ukuya kwiintsuku zokuqala zeMethodism, xa isifundo sobabalo olusisimahla sasibhengezwa ngenkuthalo, sifumanisa ukuba sasihamba namandla kaThixo. Njengoko sasibekwa phambi kwabantu ngokunyanisekileyo, ngothando oluthambileyo lukaKristu, kwaye sasibanjwa kukholo oluphilayo, abakholwayo abazange bafumane uxolelo lwezono zabo ezadlulayo kuphela, kodwa nabo bafumana amandla angcwalisayo okubenza bakwazi ukuphila ubomi bobungcwele. IMethodism yaba nesiqalo esithobekileyo, yaza yasikelelwa ngokokholo nokuthemba okulula kwabafundisi kunye nabantu abaqhelekileyo.

GSAM 36.1Xa silandelela iziganeko namava anxulumene nentshukumo yokubuya kweNkosi, sifumanisa ukuba, njengakumsebenzi wonke weNkosi apho umntu athatha inxaxheba, imvelaphi yayo ibiphakathi kwabantu abangamahlwempu nabangaziwayo; kodwa makangabikho umntu uthatha isigqibo esichasene nayo ngenxa yesi sizathu phambi kokuba ahlolisise ngononophelo ubungqina osekelwe kubo lo msebenzi mkhulu, hleze afunyanwe ekwimeko yabo abo iNkosi yababuza, “Ngubani odelele usuku lwezinto ezincinci?”⁴⁶

GSAM 36Impendulo ka-Eck kuLuther

GSAM 36.2Ukuze kuxhamle abo banokuthanda ukugqiba enoba ingongoma yenkolo ilungile na okanye ayilunganga ngokusekelwe kubantu abambalwa okanye abaninzi abayamkelayo, sicaphula, ngokuyinxenye, impikiswano phakathi kukaLuther no-Eck. Njengoko uLuther wayesekele isimo sakhe kwizibhalo ezingcwele, waza waba nesibindi sokuphikisa ilungelo labantu lokubeka izimvo zabo ngaphezu kwelizwi likaThixo, u-Eck waphendula ngala mazwi ahlekisayo: “Ndimangalisiwe kukuzithoba nokuzithiba kukaGqirha ohloniphekileyo ekuthabatheni umthwalo wokuchasa, eyedwa, ootata becawa abadumileyo abaninzi kangaka, aze azenze ngathi uyazi ngaphezu koopopu abongamileyo, amabhunga ecawa, oogqirha, neeyunivesithi! ... Kungamangalisa, ngokwenene, ukuba uThixo wayifihle inyaniso kubangcwele nabangamartyr abaninzi kangaka de kwafika uBawo ohloniphekileyo.”

GSAM 36.3Le mpendulo ingaphendulwa kakuhle ngeyikaZwingle kuJohn Faber, eZurich, xa lo wamva wathi “umangaliswe kakhulu yimeko izinto ezazifikelele kuyo, xa izithethe zakudala ezazihleli iinkulungwane ezilishumi elinesibini zazilahliwe, kwaye kwafunyaniswa ngokucacileyo ukuba ubuKristu bebuphosakele iminyaka eliwaka elinamakhulu amane.” UZwingle waphendula ngokukhawuleza wathi “impazamo ayiphantsi kokuba yimpazamo ngenxa yokuba ukukholelwa kuyo kuye kwathatha iminyaka eliwaka elinamakhulu amane, nokuba kunqulo lukaThixo, ubudala bendlela yokwenza abuyonto ngaphandle kokuba isiseko okanye isiqinisekiso sayo sinokufunyanwa kwiZibhalo ezingcwele.”⁴⁷

GSAM 37Ilizwi leNkosi vs. Ubulumko Bomntu

GSAM 37.1Ingozi yokuxhomekeka kwiimbono zabantu, endaweni yokusombulula umbuzo othi, “Yintoni inyaniso?” ngelizwi leNkosi, ichazwe ngokucacileyo ngumprofeti Hoseya xa esithi, “Nilime ububi, nivune ukungabi nabulungisa; nitye isiqhamo sobuxoki; ngokuba wathemba endleleni yakho, kwisihlwele samadoda akho anamandla.”⁴⁸ Umkhwa wentliziyo yomntu ubesoloko ukukholelwa emntwini; kodwa njengoko sisondela kwixesha apho iNkosi iza “kuvuka ize ingcangcazelise ngamandla umhlaba,” umprofeti Isaya uyalukhuthaza, “Yekani ukuthemba umntu, onomoya empumlweni yakhe; kuba ubaluleke ngantoni na?”⁴⁹

GSAM 37.2Ngenxa yokuba silumkiswe ngolu hlobo eZibhalweni malunga nengozi yethu kweli cala, makungabikho mntu ukhawulezayo ukugweba ngentshukumo yokubuya kweNkosi, ngokungathi ayifanele kuxatyiswa ngenxa yokuqala kwayo okuthobekileyo, okanye ngenxa yokuba abo babizwa ngokuba ngabantu abakhulu emehlweni ehlabathi abayixhasanga le nkalo. Endaweni yoko, makhe wonke umntu ayihlolisise ngenyameko izimangalo zayo. Inyaniso ixabiseke ngokungenakulinganiswa, xa ithelekiswa nayo izimvo nje zabantu ziyindiza engenaxabiso.